THOMAS BYLES, PRIEST

THOMAS BYLES, PRIEST - 15 APRIL

THOMAS BYLES, PRIEST

Father Thomas Byles was born as Russel David Byles in Leeds on February 26, 1870. His parents were Louisa and Alfred (a Protestant pastor). He began his studies in Oxford, where he converted to Catholicism and took the name Thomas after his great role model, St Thomas Aquinas. He then took up studies in Rome, where he was ordained a priest at the age of 32, and soon afterwards became parish priest in the English city of Ongar. He was known as a scholar, a good preacher, and a devoted priest.

HE CELEBRATED HOLY MASS FOR THE PASSENGERS

He had connections to the U.S.A. as his brother William (also a convert to the Catholic Church) lived in New York. He began his voyage across the Atlantic voyage on April 10, 1912 in Southampton. He boarded the "unsinkable" Titanic as a 2nd class passenger, which began its maiden voyage there. On Sunday morning, April 14, he celebrated Holy Mass for the second and later third class passengers. In his homily he said that prayer and the sacraments are the image of a lifebuoy that we need when the boat of our spiritual life begins to sink. He did not know that he would be celebrating the last holy Mass of his earthly life.

THE TITANIC COLLIDED WITH AN ICEBERG

The disaster happened in the night of April 14 to 15, 1912. This tragic event claimed over 1,500 victims. At about 11:00 pm the Titanic collided with an iceberg en route.

HE MANAGED TO GET THE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO PRAY THE ROSARY

At that time, Fr Thomas Byles was praying his breviary on the upper deck. He went down to the 3rd class deck, where he tried to calm the frightened passengers, talk to them, and hear their confessions. Thanks to his serenity, he managed to get the people together to pray the Rosary. When it became clear that the ship was in danger of sinking, he led the third class passengers to the upper deck, where he later helped them to reach the lifeboats.

HE WAS OFFERED A PLACE ON A LIFEBOAT TWICE

He was offered a place in a lifeboat twice, but each time he refused. When the last free lifeboat left the Titanic with a group of over 100 people, he knelt down, said the Rosary and prepared the others with his words for the encounter with God.

AN ACT OF CONTRITION

At 2:20 am, when the stern of the ship rose dangerously out of the water, they prayed an act of contrition together. Then he gave absolution to the passengers who had been left behind. He remained a priest until the last moment. His body was never found.

WELCOME

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