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Why would pilgrims have gone to visit Thomas Becket's shrine at Canterbury?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was seen as being a large, extended "family", existing not only on earth (church militant) but in heaven as well (church triumphant). The saints in Heaven cared about those on earth, and those on earth addressed prayers to them in Heaven. Saints were not prayed to as "gods" or in place of God, but as men and women, who, by the example of their lives, were especially close to God. They were called upon that God might work miracles through them. Relics of saints were venerated, for they were tangible links to them, and as it was believed that holiness could dwell in all aspects of God's creation. Catholics, some Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians still venerate relics.
Thomas Becket was martyred because he defended Church rights against the wishes of King Henry II of England and died for his beliefs in that regard. People flocked to his shrine in order to obtain special graces and good spiritual merit which such visits or pilgrimages were believed to impart. For the same reasons, Christians made pilgrimages to places in the Holy Land as well. Pilgrimages connected people to their religious and spiritual history, and gave them a sense of "family" and belonging. Even today, people visit the graves of politicians, social reformers, and movie stars, out of that same human desire to "connect" to something larger than themselves.
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Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThomas Becket was the Archbishop of Canterbury and personal friend of King Henry II who was murdered for refusing to follow the king's orders. He was canonized as a saint and the cathedral where he died became a place of pilgrimage for Christians to leave valuables and pray for illness to leave them.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoEven before the shrine was opened on 7 July 1220, miraculous cures had been associated with St Thomas (one of the requirements for sainthood), so many sick people came looking for a cure or in hope of assistance from the Saint.
The shrine itself was stunning and news of it must have spread very quickly, encouraging many people to travel simply to see it. We have contemporary descriptions, an image in a 13th century stained glass window and a single drawing made shortly before it was destroyed on the orders of Henry VIII:
The shrine was huge and raised up on steps, fronted by an altar. The shrine was in three parts - a stone plinth with an open arcaded base, the richly gilded and decorated casket containing the relics of St Thomas and a painted wooden canopy suspended from the roof above by a series of pulleys that enabled it to be raised or lowered, concealing or revealing the casket itself. The casket was covered in gold plate and fine gold trellis-work, encrusted with pearls, sapphires, diamonds, rubies and emeralds, rings and cameos of agate, cornelian and onyx. Some of the jewels were larger than a goose egg.
There was nothing like this anywhere in England, possibly not anywhere in Western Europe and it was an awe-inspiring spectacle for many hundreds of thousands of pilgrims during the 318-year life of the shrine.
Why would pilgrims not have gone to Canterbury to visit such a treasure?
It is a tragedy that nothing remains of this masterpiece today, save for a small candle kept burning to mark its place within the cathedral.
See link below for an artist's reconstruction of the shrine:
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoAfter he was made a Saint in 1173, a huge and spectacular shrine was built to house his remains at Canterbury cathedral in 1220. The design of the shrine allowed pilgrims to venerate and pray to the Saint and they could reach their arms through apertures to touch the stone coffin within.
People came to the shrine simply because it was the most spectacular one in England, because they believed that the Saint would be able to cure them of disease or disfigurement by a healing miracle, because they believed the Saint would bless their future lives, because they were in awe of a real, contemporary Christian martyr who died for his faith and beliefs, because they believed that pilgrimage would give them a guaranteed start on the journey towards Heaven when they died and because they knew it was the right, decent and Christian thing to do.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoThomas A. Becket was made a saint and a martyr by the Catholic Church. Catholics believe that saints will ask God to help them.
https://www.catholic.com/tract/praying-to-the-saints
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Whose shrine are the pilgrims planning to visit at Canterbury?
They are planning to visit the shrine of St. Thomas.
Why would pilgrims have gone to visit Thomas Becket shrine in Canterbury?
Pilgrims have gone to visit Thomas Becket shrine in Canterbury because he was a credit to them and he died for them so they prayed for him. Also because they thought he was a good person, so they worship God, at his shrine. That is so that they can become like Thomas Becket was, in order for them so that one day somebody can have the position that Becket had before he died.
Why did the pilgrims go to Canterbury?
Canterbury always had religious significance as a place of pilgrimage. However, after the death of Thomas Becket, his canonization by Pope Alexander and his elevation to sainthood, its popularity was assured. At Beckets death, locals collected cloth soaked with his blood. To touch or be touched by the blood reputedly cured blindness, epilepsy and all other ills. As this became known throughout the kingdom, Canterbury became THE place of pilgrimage.
Where were pilgrimages in the middle ages in Britain?
Yes, there were pilgrimages within medieval Britain. The most famous was to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury. The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer, is about a group making this pilgrimage.The link below has brief information about five or six pilgrim sites in Britain.
What property did Cromwell's agents seize from English monasteries?
They attacked statues, roods, and images, and dismantled the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury. He also set up one Bible in each church.
How are thomas Beckett and geoffery chaucer connected?
Geoffery Chaucer wrote a book called Canterbury tales about people travvelling to thomas beckets shrine. Geoffery Chaucer wrote a book called Canterbury tales about people travvelling to thomas beckets shrine.
Whose shrine are the pilgrims planning to visit at Canterbury?
They are planning to visit the shrine of St. Thomas.
Where were the pilgrims going and why in the Canterbury Tales?
The pilgrims in "The Canterbury Tales" were traveling to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral as a form of religious pilgrimage. They were seeking spiritual renewal and seeking forgiveness for their sins.
Why would pilgrimas have gone to visit beckets shrine at Canterbury?
Pilgrims visited Becket's shrine at Canterbury Cathedral to seek healing, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal. Becket was considered a martyr and saint, and his shrine was believed to have miraculous powers. Pilgrims also went to earn indulgences and blessings for themselves and their loved ones.
Which saint's shrine are the pilgrims going to visit in Canterbury?
St. Thomas Becket
What is the town the pilgrims started in in Canterbury Tales?
The pilgrims in "The Canterbury Tales" started their journey in the Tabard Inn in Southwark, London. They were traveling to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.
Why did the pilgrims in Canterbury Tales gather?
All of the characters in the Canterbury Tales are pilgrims, and the main reason they are traveling is to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. To be more specific about individual motivations though, you would have to specify a character by more than "pilgrim."
Why would pilgrims have gone to visit beckets shrine at Canterbury?
Pilgrims visited Becket's shrine at Canterbury to seek blessings, forgiveness, and healing, as it was believed to be a sacred and miraculous place associated with the martyrdom of Thomas Becket. They also sought spiritual fulfillment and to demonstrate their piety by making a pilgrimage to a site of religious significance. Additionally, pilgrimage to Canterbury was believed to offer protection, both physical and spiritual, to travelers.
Who were the Pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales on their way to see?
The Pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales were on their way to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. They embarked on a pilgrimage to seek spiritual renewal, forgiveness of sins, or to fulfill a vow.
Why would pilgrims have gone to visit Thomas Becket shrine in Canterbury?
Pilgrims have gone to visit Thomas Becket shrine in Canterbury because he was a credit to them and he died for them so they prayed for him. Also because they thought he was a good person, so they worship God, at his shrine. That is so that they can become like Thomas Becket was, in order for them so that one day somebody can have the position that Becket had before he died.
What literary piece provides an account of a group of pilgrims who travel from London to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral?
"The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer .
In The Canterbury Tales what place do the pilgrims gather before their journey?
The pilgrims gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, London, before embarking on their journey to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury.
