POPE ALEXANDER III
Bull of 12 March 1173, announcing the canonization of St Thomas on 21
February 1173
Source: English Historical Documents, volume II: 1042-1189. Edited by David C.
Douglas and George W. Greenaway. London and New York: Oxford, 1981; p. 827.
- Alexander, the bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his beloved sons, the prior
and monks of the church of Canterbury, greeting and apostolic benediction. The whole body
of the faithful should rejoice at the marvels wrought by that saintly and reverend man,
Thomas, your archbishop. But still greater joy and exultation should fill the hearts of
you, who have again and again witnessed his miracles, and whose church is especially
honoured by the presence of his most sacred body. Having therefore duly considered the
glorious merits by which his life was so highly distinguished, the public fame of his
miracles and the testimony given to them by our beloved sons, Albert, cardinal-priest of
St Laurence, and Theodwin, cardinal-priest of St Vitalis, legates of the apostolic see,
and by many other persons; having, moreover, full confidence in that testimony, and having
also taken counsel with our brethren in the presence of a large number of clergy and
laity, we have on Ash Wednesday lasts solemnly canonised the aforesaid archbishop and
ordained that he should be numbered in the roll of saintly martyrs. We command you and the
whole body of the faithful in England by our apostolic authority to observe his feast
every year on the day on which he ended his life by his glorious passion with due
reverence. Since therefore it is fitting and highly expedient for you that his sacred body
should be buried with the reverence and honour due to it, we command you by this our
apostolic rescript to hold a solemn procession on some high feast-day when the clergy and
people are met together, to inter his body devoutly and reverently behind the altar, or to
place it in a chest, elevated above the altar, whichever be more convenient, and by devout
supplication to God to obtain his intercession for the salvation of the faithful and the
peace of the universal Church. Given at Segni, 12 March.
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