This semester I am enrolled in the course "Lives of the Saints". I've thoroughly enjoyed the class. This afternoon I hand in a paper about a saint that a.) clashed with society, and b.) effected and changed culture and society by their presence in the world. I chose St. Thomas More. His life is pretty incredible...here's a little taste of why:
The Roman Catholic Church prides itself in the beautiful tradition of venerating its saints, that is honoring the deceased men and women who sincerely lived out the Catholic faith to the fullest and are now living their reward in heaven. These virtuous departed changed and shaped their culture, society, and history in a profound, unique way. The veneration of saints invites the faithful to pay respect and homage to those men and women who helped minister in the sanctification of humanity by their life and example and continue to do so by their intercession. By living out the Beatitudes, which always culminate in love of God and neighbor, the saints reflect the glory of God and aspects of His supernatural perfection. Often times, these men and women were perceived as a sign of contradiction to their societies and cultures. Yet these men and women genuinely changed the world by their beautiful presence. Saint Thomas More is an ideal example of such a person.
Thomas More, saint and martyr, was born in the year 1478 to Sir John More a barrister and judge, and his wife Agnes Graunger More in London, England. Thomas More received an education at Canterbury College in Oxford and later acquired a law degree at Lincoln’s Inn. Starting with entrance into the English Parliament in 1504, More began a series of promotions in the legal hierarchies that eventually led him to becoming the Chancellor of England, a position never before attained by a layman (Huddleston). More married his first wife Jane in 1505, whom he fathered four children with, his most beloved being his eldest daughter Margaret. More remarried in 1510 after the death of Jane (Walsh, ed. 189). More’s household was always one of charity, learning, warmth, and happiness. It was during this time that More embarked on fashioning his famous writings and letters, including his most eminent work Utopia (Ackroyd 184). More performed his duties as Chancellor faithfully, which included the laborious responsibility of enforcing laws against heretics, the most notorious being Henry VIII who had succeeded the English throne in 1509. Henry VIII sought to divorce Catherine of Aragon and establish himself as the “Protector and Supreme Head of the Church of England”. After refusing to recognize the King’s title because of its attack not only on the dignity of marriage but also on the Catholic faith, More was imprisoned in the Tower of London and was tried and found guilty of treason. More was beheaded on July 6, 1535 (Walsh, ed. 190). Thomas More, from the moment of his death, was honored by the faithful and was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935 (Huddleston).
“The two cities, therefore, were created by two loves: the earthly by love of oneself, even to the point of contempt for God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the point of contempt for oneself. The first glories in itself, the second in the Lord. The first seeks glory from human beings. God, who is the witness of the conscience, is the greatest glory of the other” (De Silva, ed. 1).These words written by St. Augustine reveal the essence of St. Thomas More’s life, namely his message of the supremacy of truth over human authority. More lived out the Gospel in such a way that he clashed with society, yet in the end that same society remained changed because of his presence. More’s message was ostracized by the secular world in which he lived. He believed in the weight of the “inalienable dignity of the human conscience” that, as the Church tells us is “the most intimate centre and sanctuary of a person, in which he or she is alone with God, whose voice echoes within them” (Pope John Paul II). Surrounded by political and moral corruption, More remained faithful to his ethical and religious values by promoting justice and peace, serving both country and God.
St. Thomas was a man revered by his contemporaries for his remarkable brilliance in the cultural, philosophical, theological, and classical arenas. Despite his broad intellectual knowledge and because of his earnest attitude towards Catholicism, More never compromised his moral and religious beliefs, even to the point of death. Under relentless psychological pressure during his imprisonment, More refused to take the oath of Henry VIII. The reason for his pious refusal is best explained in a prayer written by More, “Good Lord, give me the grace so to spend my life, that when the day of my death shall come, though I feel pain in my body, I may feel comfort in soul, and with faithful hope of thy mercy, in due love towards thee and charity towards the world, I may, through thy grace, part hence into thy glory” (More 80).
As a layman, More not only incorporated his faith into his household, but also deeply into his occupation as a politician. It would be impossible for More to separate the two, his faith life and occupation, because his faith was his life. He lived out his devotion to God daily, in every act and decision that he performed (Roper 30-31). The harmony between the natural and supernatural that More achieved helps define this great saint. His simplicity, humility, and good natured wit in the midst of an extreme public life is beyond laudable. More truly lived out the words of Pope John Paul II that were written centuries after the great martyr’s death, “The unity of life of the lay faithful is of the greatest importance: indeed they must be sanctified in everyday professional and social life. Therefore, to respond to their vocation, the lay faithful must see their daily activities as an occasion to join themselves to God, fulfill his will, serve other people and lead them to communion with God in Christ” (Pope John Paul II).
The ways in which Thomas More fundamentally changed his society and culture continue to resonate in our world today. More dealt with issues that humanity, and in particular every civil order, continues to contest at present, namely the rights and values of the moral conscience. In the world today, just as in the time of St. Thomas More, there is a desirous need for credible politicians who lead others on the path of truth. Today, more than ever, in an era that continually infringes upon the dignity of the human person, we need politicians who advocate the marginalized just as More so passionately did. More never wavered in his moral stance. By his actions, he demonstrated that government is above all an exercise of virtue, at the service to every human person, and should never be severed from morality (Pope John Paul II).
Just as with most great saints, Thomas More’s life changed society and culture. His presence in the world not only effected his own society, but ours today. This remarkable man, who is the patron saint of politicians and statesmen, proved that when following the call to truth, one’s conscience will steer his or her actions towards integrity. More is an example of a layman who lived out his vocation with passionate love for God and neighbor. He is a model for all of us here on earth to never negotiate truth, but rather live in it and for it.
Hope you are all getting excited for Thanksgiving, I know I am!!!-C
