Optional Memorial (1969 Calendar): June 22Feastday in the 1955 Calendar: July 9
St. Thomas More (1478 - 1535) was a knight, Lord Chancellor of England, and author that was born on February 7, 1478, and later suffered martyrdom on July 6, 1535, on the orders of the heretical King Henry VIII. His final words on the scaffold were: "The King's good servant, but God's First."
The following biography is from the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society:
Thomas More was a famous lawyer and writer. He was born in London in 1477. His father had been a lawyer, too, and a judge. Thomas was always grateful to his father for being so loving and for not spoiling him. Thomas' first wife, Jane Colt, died very young. More was left with four small children. He was married again, to a widow, a simple woman who could not even read or write. Her husband tried to teach her. Thomas made home life enjoyable for his family because he was so pleasant to be with. During meals, one of the children would read from the Bible. Then they would have fun and tell jokes. St. Thomas often asked poorer neighbors in to dinner, too. He always helped the poor as much as he could. He loved to delight his guests with surprises. He even kept some playful monkeys as pets. Yet few could have imagined how deeply spiritual St. Thomas really was. He prayed long hours into the night and performed penances, too. He was very much aware that being a true Christian took the grace and help of God.
Thomas held important government positions. For three years he was lord chancellor, another name for prime minister. Henry VIII used to put his arm affectionately around Thomas' shoulder. Yet although the saint was a most loyal subject, he was loyal to God first of all. In fact, when the king tried to make him disobey God's law, Thomas refused. Henry wanted to obtain a divorce from his wife to marry another woman. However, the pope could not give permission, since that is against God's law. Henry was stubborn and at last he left the Church. He wanted everyone to recognize him as the head of the Church in England. Thomas could not do that. He chose to remain faithful to the Catholic faith and to God. He was condemned to death for that, yet he forgave his judges. He even said he hoped he would see them in heaven. He really meant it, too.
At the scaffold, where he was to die, St. Thomas kissed his executioner on the cheek. Then he joked, saying that his beard should not be cut off because it had not done anything wrong. He was martyred on Tuesday, July 6,1535, at the age of fifty-seven. Along with his friend, Bishop John Fisher, Sir Thomas More was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1935. This saint is universally admired because he believed so much in the truth of his faith that he was willing to die for it. Thomas More risked losing everything: his fortune, his position, his own security and the safety of the individuals he loved most. But he held fast to the faith, even to the point of sacrificing his life. He makes us ask ourselves what we might do in a similar situation.
The following story, which is virtually unknown, powerfully shows how the birth of St. Thomas More was also a blessing from God:
During the time of the Crusades, a young English gentleman, named Gilbert, undertook a journey to the Holy Land, accompanied by his servant Richard, to fight against the Infidels who were at that time in possession of the holy places. Both were soon taken prisoners, and fell into the hands of a Saracen Prince, who treated Gilbert with some con- sideration on account of his superior education and excellent qualities. In this state of slavery the virtues and piety of Gilbert attracted the attention and admiration of his master's daughter, who took every opportunity of conversing with him unobserved. She questioned him regarding his country and religion, and the interest which she took in his answers encouraged him to unfold to her by degrees the truths of our holy Faith. He so moved the Princess that she took a resolution to embrace the Christian religion at any cost, whenever the opportunity occurred. Meanwhile a plan of escape was secretly formed among the slaves, and Gilbert and Richard found themselves once more at liberty after a captivity of eighteen months. The young Princess wept bitterly when she saw herself deprived of Gilbert's instruction and advice, and detest- ing from her heart the superstitions of Mahomet, took a generous resolution of seeking out Gilbert in the land of his birth, in order to procure through his means the grace of Baptism. Accordingly she fled secretly from her father's house, and embarking in an English vessel, arrived at length, destitute and friendless, in the city of London. Almighty God did not abandon a soul which had so generously corresponded with the call of grace. As the Saracen maiden was wandering in great distress through the busy streets of London, unable, on account of her ignorance of the language to make any inquiries as to the object of her search, she suddenly recognized among the crowd the form of Richard, who had been sent out on some message by his master. Overjoyed at this meeting, she acquainted him with the object of her journey, and implored him to conduct her to his master, that he might complete the work of her conversion. Gilbert, informed of her arrival, pro- cured a lodging for her in the house of a pious lady of his acquaint- ance, where, on the following day, he went to visit her. The young maiden, throwing herself at his feet, besought him with tears to procure for her that priceless gift of the Divine friendship, which he had declared to be more precious than life itself. Gilbert was deeply moved at her lively faith and generous dispositions, and not only promised to do his utmost to obtain for her what she asked, but felt himself inspired by God to make her the offer of his hand, that he might be able, with a better title, to devote himself to the work of her instruction. His resolution was approved of by the Bishop, whom he consulted on the subject. Shortly afterwards she was baptized under the name of Matilda, and then solemnly espoused to Gilbert in the presence of the Bishop, who himself gave the nuptial benediction to the holy couple. Soon after their espousals Gilbert, to fulfil a vow which he had taken, returned to the Holy Land, where he served for three years and a half against the Infidels. His time of service completed, Gilbert returned to England, to the joy of his virtuous spouse, and God blessed their union with a son, the great S. Thomas à Becket, who received the crown of martyrdom under Henry II., in defence of the liberties of the Church.
Collect:
O God, who didst raise up from among the English people, Thy blessed Martyrs, John and Thomas, to be the zealous defenders of the true Faith and of the primacy of the Roman Church, grant through their merits and prayers that, by the practice of the same Faith, we may all become and remain united in Christ. Through our Lord . . .
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