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Titanic priest Father Thomas Byles 'should be sainted' Titanic priest Father Thomas Byles 'should be sainted'
(10 days later)
A campaign is under way to have the Catholic priest who stayed on RMS Titanic instead of fleeing on a lifeboat made a saint.A campaign is under way to have the Catholic priest who stayed on RMS Titanic instead of fleeing on a lifeboat made a saint.
Father Thomas Byles, of St Helen's Church, Chipping Ongar, Essex, boarded the ship at Southampton to attend his younger brother's wedding in New York.Father Thomas Byles, of St Helen's Church, Chipping Ongar, Essex, boarded the ship at Southampton to attend his younger brother's wedding in New York.
But when it sank in 1912 he twice refused to join a lifeboat and instead remained with passengers to pray.But when it sank in 1912 he twice refused to join a lifeboat and instead remained with passengers to pray.
The current priest at St Helen's Church said Father Byles should be canonised.The current priest at St Helen's Church said Father Byles should be canonised.
Father Byles, educated in Fleetwood, Lancashire and Oxford, had been rector at St Helen's for eight years when he died.Father Byles, educated in Fleetwood, Lancashire and Oxford, had been rector at St Helen's for eight years when he died.
He had performed mass for second and third class passengers on board the ship, most notably on the morning of the tragedy. He had celebrated Mass for second and third class passengers on board the ship, most notably on the morning of the tragedy.
His sermon alluded to prayers and sacraments being spiritual lifeboats when in danger from the spiritual shipwreck of temptation.His sermon alluded to prayers and sacraments being spiritual lifeboats when in danger from the spiritual shipwreck of temptation.
His actions before perishing with 1,500 others aboard the Titanic were praised by Pope Pius X.His actions before perishing with 1,500 others aboard the Titanic were praised by Pope Pius X.
Father Graham Smith, current priest of St Helen's, said: "He's an extraordinary man who gave his life for others.Father Graham Smith, current priest of St Helen's, said: "He's an extraordinary man who gave his life for others.
"We need, in very old parlance, to raise him to the altar which means that the Vatican will recognise him as a martyr of the church."We need, in very old parlance, to raise him to the altar which means that the Vatican will recognise him as a martyr of the church.
"We are hoping and praying that he will be recognised as one of the saints within our canon.""We are hoping and praying that he will be recognised as one of the saints within our canon."
To be canonised - made a saint - at least two miracles must be attributed to the intercession of a candidate.To be canonised - made a saint - at least two miracles must be attributed to the intercession of a candidate.
A phenomenon is accepted by the Holy See as a miracle once certified by doctors as having no medical explanation.A phenomenon is accepted by the Holy See as a miracle once certified by doctors as having no medical explanation.
Father Smith said: "We hope people around the world will pray to him if they are in need and, if a miracle occurs, then beatification and then canonisation can go forward."Father Smith said: "We hope people around the world will pray to him if they are in need and, if a miracle occurs, then beatification and then canonisation can go forward."