St. Thomas More
Love the greater things more
St Thomas More was an English husband and father of 6 children, lawyer, theologian, author, social philosopher, statesman, and noted Renaissance humanist. He was the Lord High Chancellor to King Henry VIII of England, the highest-ranking officer in the Government next to the King.
No one ever became a saint by what they accomplished but rather by what they became: virtuous. Thomas More became a saint because he learned to love the lesser things less and love the greater things more, for virtue is rightly ordered love.
Family was his first responsibility
More was absolutely clear that his family was his first responsibility. So important to him were his family duties that he was willing to change his career rather than neglect them:
“I assure you that, rather than allow my children to be idle and slothful, I would make a sacrifice of wealth, and bid adieu to other cares and business, at attend to my children and my family.”
More took seriously his duty to educate his family in virtue
His fundamental principle in education was crystal clear:
· Put virtue in the first place…, learning in the second
· The point of a complete education is to help a person achieve the self-mastery need for reason to reign rather than the passions.
The greatest motivating factor he used was his deep friendship with each of his children.
· In all that he did, More sought to befriend his children and lead them to the divine Teacher within.
More led the family in prayer
· His children also knew that their father prayed more than just at these times.
· They saw him spend long periods in the family chapel and in the “New Building” which he had constructed at some distance from the main house to facilitate meditation and study.
Fight to love
The essence of the spiritual life is to fight to love – that is, to fight vigorously to love God with ever greater tenderness and ardor.
As long as this effort is foremost in one’s life, success in the battles against temptation is assured.
· Since God is not only all-powerful but also a very tender, loving father,
· he will not refuse whatever his children sincerely ask of him.
· Nor will he ever allow his faithful children to be tempted beyond their power.
Yet, such trust is achieved only through active cooperation with grace,
· a cooperation that requires the greatest personal effort
· this personal effort requires daily meditation:
More writes:
If you love your health; if you desire to be secure from the snares of the devil, from the storms of this world, from the hands of your enemies; if you long to be acceptable to God; if you covet everlasting happiness – then let no day pass without at least once presenting yourself to God in prayer, falling down before him flat on the ground with a humble affection and a devout mind; not merely with your lips, but from the innermost recesses of your heart, crying out these words of the prophet: The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not, but in Your mercy remember me because of Your goodness, O Lord.) Ps 25:7
Humor is one of the most powerful weapons
At 41 More was asked by King Henry VIII to enter his service as the Lord High Chancellor
King Henry VIII became infatuated with Anne Boleyn, and began to search for a way to divorce Catherine of Aragon
· He petitioned the Pope for an annulment
· The Pope denied this knowing it was a legitimate marriage
In response Henry proclaimed himself both the Pope and the King of England. Henry demanded everyone in England take Oath of Supremacy – rejecting the Pope as the Head of the Church. St Thomas More resigned as Lord Chancellor or England, refused to take the Oath, was convicted of treason, and placed in prison to be executed.
Yet through this all More had a remarkable sense of humor. In fact, right before he laid his neck on the executioner’s block, More, having a great gray beard said to the ax-man, “I pray you let me lay my beard over the block lest you should cut it.”
More had learned that humor is one of the most powerful weapons in the spiritual battle to overcome fear, pride, anger, resentment and even pessimism.
At the end of his life, More frequently expressed his desire to be merry together in heaven with those who were responsible for his destruction. This from a man who had every reason to be angry and pessimistic. He had been betrayed by his closet friends, only one Bishop in all of England had joined him in resisting a tyrannical king. The Church had been outlawed in England, he had lost everything he owned, even his reputation, his health was broken. Everyone abandoned him – even his own wife and family! They had all taken the oath – they all drank cool-aide.
Yet he was merry to the end. Why? Because his sense of humor was grounded in Divine Providence, an absolute confidence that God works all things for good for those who love him. Omnia in bonum. All for the good. This conviction helped him keep everything in perspective.
While still in prison More wrote:
The brothers of Joseph could never have done him so much good with their love and favor as they did him with their malice and hatred. Nothing can come accept what God wills and I make me very sure that whatsoever that be, even if nothing has ever appeared so bad, it shall indeed be the best.
July 6 1535 More was executed