Rev. Thomas Byles: A Saintly Priest Who Perished In The Titanic Disaster

Rev. Thomas Byles

The sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, is one of the most famous tragedies in history, inspiring countless books and films. The disaster claimed 1,496 lives during the maiden voyage of a ship once thought to be unsinkable. Among the passengers was Fr. Thomas Byles, who spent his final moments offering comfort and spiritual support to others. After his death, Pope Saint Pius X is said to have called him a “martyr,” and a plaque at his former parish honors his “heroic death in the disaster” for his selfless devotion to fellow passengers.

Sources

1. https://saintoftitanic.org/
2. https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/fr-byles.html
3. https://catholicexchange.com/priest-on-titanic-the-last-voyage-of-fr-thomas-byles/

Thomas Roussel Davids Byles was born on 26 February 1870, Grosvenor Road in Headingley, England, to Alfred Holden Byles and Louisa Davids, the eldest of their seven children. His father, Reverend Dr. Alfred Holden Byles, was both a congregational minister and a successful businessman, serving as the first pastor of Headingley Hill Congregational Church in Leeds. Records list the family’s home as York Road Council Schools, Leeds, Yorkshire.

Thomas studied at Leamington College for Boys and Rossall School in Fleetwood, Lancashire, from 1885 to 1889, before enrolling at Balliol College, Oxford, in 1889 to pursue theology, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1894. While studying at Oxford, Thomas converted to Catholicism. In 1899, he enrolled at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome to study for the priesthood and was ordained in 1902. In February 1903, he moved to Longcott, Gunnersbury, in west London, becoming one of the five founding members of the Catholic Missionary Society, a group devoted to converting English Protestants to the Catholic faith.

Byles made his way to New York City after receiving an invitation to officiate his younger brother William's wedding.

There were three priests aboard the Titanic. Fr. Byles was the only one who spoke English fluently, while the others were Fr. Juozas Montvila from Lithuania and Fr. Joseph Peruschitz from Bavaria. Each day on the ship, all three celebrated Mass for the passengers.

By all accounts, Fr Byles was twice offered a seat in a lifeboat but refused. After the last lifeboat had gone, he went to the aft end of the boat deck and led the recital of the Rosary for a large group kneeling around him. Fr Byles also exhorted the people to prepare to meet God. As 2:20am approached, and the stern rose higher and higher out of the sea, Fr Byles led the more than one hundred people kneeling before him in the Act of Contrition and gave them general absolution.

Witnesses gave testimony of Fr Byles' bravery while the ship was sinking: "When the crash came we were thrown from our berths ... Slightly dressed, we prepared to find out what had happened. We saw before us, coming down the passageway, with his hand uplifted, Father Byles. We knew him because he had visited us several times on board and celebrated Mass for us that very morning. 'Be calm, my good people,' he said, and then he went about the steerage giving absolution and blessings.... A few around us became very excited and then it was that the priest again raised his hand and instantly they were calm once more. The passengers were immediately impressed by the absolute self-control of the priest. He began the recitation of the Rosary. The prayers of all, regardless of creed, were mingled and all the responses, 'Holy Mary,' were loud and strong. He calmly asked them to join with him in prayer. Many did so - non-Catholics as well as Catholics - and when last seen, he was reciting the Rosary with them.”

Recalled another witness: “After I got in the boat, which was the last one to leave, and we were slowly going further away from the ship, I could hear distinctly the voice of the priest (Byles) and the responses to his prayers. Then they became fainter and fainter, until I could only hear the strains of ‘Nearer My God, To Thee’ and the screams of the people left behind.”

Fr Thomas Byles perished in the freezing water. His body was never recovered.

The cause for Fr Byles' canonization: https://www.change.org/p/the-saint-of-the-titanic-the-cause-for-canonisation-of-father-thomas-byles

Prayer for the Canonization of Servant of God Fr. Thomas Byles

O Merciful and Loving God, Thou didst call Thy servant, Father Thomas Byles, to be a shepherd most faithful, yea, even unto death's door. Upon that fateful night of the Titanic's sinking, he brought comfort to the fearful, hope to the despairing, and the light of faith to those in darkness. Through his courage, compassion, and steadfast trust in Thee, he became a witness to the Gospel of love. If it be Thy will, grant that he may be recognized by the Church as a saint and intercessor for Thy people. Through his prayers, may we be strengthened in our own tribulations, remain faithful to our calling, and bring Thy peace unto those in need; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of Request for the Intercession of Father Thomas Byles

Almighty God and Father, grant through the intercession of Thomas Byles, priest and messenger of Thy mercy, that I may have the confidence to face all trials in this life and those at my final hour with the same indominable spirit as Thomas faced at his own end, and to be reassured through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in and through the Most Holy Rosary, of eternal salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Father Thomas Byles: pray for us.