THOMAS, Bishop of Hereford, Saint. - In the world Thomas of Cantilupe, b. ca. 1218, d. near Montefiascone on 25 Aug. 1282.

He was an assiduous scholar; having obtained the degree of Magister artium in Paris, he devoted himself to the study of civil law at Orleans, then of the Decretals, and then of theology. His learning earned him the office of chancellor of the University of Oxford (1262), which he exercised scrupulously, imposing respect for discipline upon the students. The kings of England Henry III and Edward I entrusted him with the office of chancellor and councillor. He aroused wonder among his contemporaries for his probity, which led him to refuse the gifts offered to him by those seeking royal favors. T. treated his body harshly, wearing a hairshirt, fasting and spending nights in prayer. Some witnesses relate that during the celebration of Mass he shed abundant tears.

Elected bishop of Hereford in June 1275, he received consecration on 8 Sept. He held a provincial synod at Reading in 1279; he entered into conflict with his metropolitan John Pecham, who wished to usurp part of the jurisdiction of his suffragans. The archbishop of Canterbury, being unable to overcome T.'s resistance, excommunicated him; but the latter appealed to Rome and went to Pope Martin IV to defend his cause. The Pope and the cardinals gave him a warm welcome. On the way back to his homeland, T. fell ill near Montefiascone and died there.

His outstanding virtues moved the king of England and the episcopate to request his canonization; but the case was embarrassing. A commission of inquiry established that T. had confessed to a papal penitentiary, who had given him absolution, subsequently ratified by the Holy See. The canonization took place on 17 Apr. 1320. Feast on 3 Oct.

Bibliography6 works

BIBL.: Acta SS. Octobris, I, Antwerp 1765, pp. 539-704; H. Labande, Canonisation de st Thomas de Canteloup, in Biblioth. de l'Ecole des Chartes, 54 (1893), pp. 55-69; T. Bannister, The cathedral Church of Hereford. Its hist. and Constitution, London 1924, pp. 68-72, 167-75; Hist. littér. de la France, XXXV, Paris 1921, pp. 72-75; S. Baluze, Vitae Paparum Avenion., ed. G. Mollat, II, Paris 1927, pp. 240-41; III, ibid. 1927, pp. 298-99.

Guglielmo Mollat

@incollection{ec12_tommaso_vescovo_di_hereford_sa, author = {Mollat, Guglielmo}, title = {Tommaso, vescovo di hereford, santo}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {XII}, pages = {246}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1954}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/tommaso-vescovo-di-hereford-santo} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

Thomas, Bishop of Hereford, Saint

About this entry