July 6, 1535 – just outside the walls of the City of London – Saint Sir Thomas More is brought from his cell in the Tower of London up a short distance to Tower Hill – and there he is executed by beheading – his body buried unmarked under the floor of the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London – His head – displayed on London Bridge for all to see – for he has been found guilty of high treason
What did Thomas More do? What brought him there to Tower Hill – found guilty of treason? Throughout his life, he was an influential statesman and effective lawyer – In times when bribery was rife, he refused to take part – As a member of parliament, he opposed the unjust seizing of funds from the poor for King Henry VII. As a lawyer, he stood for justice no matter the political situation – as a Chancellor, he dispatched justice fairly and without delay throughout England – Ultimately rising over time to be the Lord Chancellor of England – Effectively the most senior judge below the king and would preside of Parliament - A rarity as Thomas More was not a priest (his predecessor as Lord Chancellor was Cardinal Wolsey) nor nobility – just a commoner. He was a faithful servant to the king in all that he did, loving his king and his country – yet there was being executed for treason – There was no ill will for the king or nation anywhere in – For there is something, someone one he loves even more – Christ and his Church.
Christ says to his disciples – “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Saint Sir Thomas More shows just how this looks. – He did not seek the crown of martyrdom – he served his king the best he could – but his loves were in order – love Christ first – standing with Christ with things got challenging.
For King Henry VIII wanted to get rid of his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and marry Anne Boleyn – he petitioned Rome for an annulment – which Rome refused for the marriage was valid and was indissoluble – The king, used to getting what he wanted, turned to Parliament – By an act of parliament declared himself to be the head of the Church in England – proclaiming the Pope had no authority in England – Granted himself an invalid annulment – and invalidly married Anne Boleyn.
Further, it required that subjects to take the Oath of Succession, affirming the king’s supremacy over the Church, the marriage to Anne Boleyn – no faithful Catholic could take this oath – It denied the Papacy and the indesolvability of Marriage – It was a rejection of the Church Christ founded, and replacing it with one established under the authority of English parliament and the king.
What was Thomas More to do? - He resigned his post as Lord Chancellor – left all operations of law and of state – for he could not submit – for he Loved Christ and his Church – Leaving wealth and influence behind – A skilled lawyer, he did everything to stay out of the way – staying silent hoping to avoid troubled based on the legal principle Qui tacet consentit
But that was not enough for the king – he demanded Thomas More’s total submission – but More would only give that to Christ and his Church – As put by Thomas More, on the day before his trial – ‘I am, quoth I, the king’s true faithful subject and daily bedesman and pray for his highness and all his and all the realm. I do nobody harm, I say none harm, I think none harm but wish everybody good.And if this be not enough to keep a man alive in good faith I long not to live.”
As such, on false testimony, Thomas More was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death – for he refused to submit to the King – His last words? – “I die the King’s good servant – but God’s first.”
Saint Sir Thomas More did not seek martyrdom; he loved his life, his king, and nation – but in proper order – for his absolute love was for Christ and his Church – and was willing to pay anything for Christ. – Whether it was easy or hard – to cite the title of a famous play – he was “A Man for all Seasons” – a play by Robert Bolt about Thomas More – worth seeing if you never have – the 1966 Movie version is also quite good.
“Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Thomas More took up his cross in love of Christ and received the Martyrs crown – He is also an example for us – He did not seek martyrdom, nor do we – he cared for his country, and so can we – he practiced politics and law – and there no reason why we cannot - however, it only absolute was Christ and his Church – he would not bend from that – and neither should we.
There is no need to seek persecution or Martyrdom – Part of the reason I like Thomas More is he clearly did not seek martyrdom, he would not have chosen it if there was a choice – but denying Christ and his Church was not an option - when there was no way without denying Christ, he was willing to pick up his cross and follow – no matter the price – and with that, he lives now in heaven – receiving the martyr’s reward – Heaven with Christ - what price are we willing to pay to follow Christ? Thomas More was willing to pay everything – are we?