St. Thomas More
One
When I was in graduate school in the early 90’s, my Spiritual Director often spoke of his friend, Thomas. He spoke so eloquently and respectfully, I though to myself, ‘wow, I’d like to meet this guy, Thomas.’ As it turns out, Thomas was Fr. Ed’s patron saint, St. Thomas 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. St. Thomas More embodied heroic virtue and supernatural courage because of his ability to prioritize wisely. He was the king’s good servant, as he admitted at his trail, but God’s first!
Fr. Ed taught me something not just about St. Thomas More, but indeed all saints: that they are real; they are intimately aware and involved in our lives; and that we should know and relate to them according to God’s plan for the Communion of saints. As the Psalmist states, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1). Since death no longer separates us from Christ, it no longer separates us from all of His members of His Mystical Body. Fr. Ed’s relationship with St. Thomas More was indeed a true friendship. May you and I seek the same.
Two
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 needed 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.
To deepen his friendship with his children, More led the family in prayer to deepen their friendship with Jesus.
His children also knew that their father prayed more than just the times they prayed together.
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.
His prayer life transformed him, making him the saint that he was. It was here in the sanctuary his heart where his relationship with God deepened. This in turn strengthened his faith and resolve; so much so that he understood clearly that sacrificing his life was less critical than sacrificing his faith.
Three
The essence of the spiritual life is complete abandonment to Divine Providence. We have a Father in heaven who so loves us that He wishes to be involved and direct every facet of our life according to His mercy.
St. Thomas 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).
More grounded his interior life so deeply in prayer that he could remain calm and steadfast in the face of his own martyrdom. He comforted his wife and daughter, even wrote his own epitaph for his grave. In his own humility, he courageously asked for prayers for his own repose:
“And that this tomb made for him in his life-time be not in vain, nor that he fear death coming upon him, but that he may willingly, for the desire of Christ, die and find death not utterly death to him, but the gate of a wealthier life, help him, I beseech you, good reader, now with your prayers while he liveth, and when he is dead also.” (Epitaph of St. Thomas More, 1532).
Four
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.
Five
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 by Henry VIII, exactly two weeks after Bishop St. John Fisher’s martyrdom. Both men were executed as martyrs for the Church’s moral authority over sex and marriage. It is no small coincidence that their feast day is two days before St. John the Baptist’s, another martyr for marriage. In our age where there are so many attacks against marriage and family, may their heroic witness and commitment to faith and prayer inspire us to stand with and for the truth, even in the face of our own persecution.