What things led to the canonization of Thomas More?
Upvote:8
Besides his martyrdom? What were some specific things that led to his canonization?
The Homily at the Canonization of St. Thomas More in 1935 by His Holiness Pope Pius XI1 provides some of the reasons:
- St. Thomas More, together with St. John Fisher were bright champions and the glory of their nation ... “as a fortified city, and a pillar of iron, and a wall of brass.” Therefore they could not be shaken by the fallacies of heretics, nor frightened by the threats of the powerful. They were, so to speak, the leaders and chieftains of that illustrious band of men who, from all classes of the people and from every part of Great Britain, resisted the new errors with unflinching spirit, and in shedding their blood, testified their loyal devotedness to the Holy See.
- St. Thomas More was endowed with the keenest of minds and supreme versatility in every kind of knowledge, he enjoyed such esteem and favour among his fellow-citizens that he was soon able to reach the highest grades of public office. But he was no less distinguished for his desire of Christian perfection and his zeal for the salvation of souls.
- The testimony in the ardour of his prayer, in the fervour with which he recited, whenever he could, even the Canonical Hours, in the practice of those penances by which he kept his body in subjection, and finally in the numerous and renowned accomplishments of both the spoken and the written word which he achieved for the defence of the Catholic faith and for the safeguarding of Christian morality.
- St. Thomas More [was a man of] a strong and courageous spirit, [and] like [Saint] John Fisher, when he saw that the doctrines of the Church were gravely endangered, he knew how to despise resolutely the flattery of human respect, how to resist, in accordance with his duty, the supreme head of the State when there was question of things commanded by God and the Church, and how to renounce with dignity the high office with which he was invested. It was for these motives that he too was imprisoned, nor could the tears of his wife and children make him swerve from the path of truth and virtue.
- In [his] terrible hour of trial he raised his eyes to heaven, and proved himself a bright example of Christian fortitude. Thus it was that he who not many years before had written a work emphasizing the duty of Catholics to defend their faith even at the cost of their lives, was seen to walk cheerful and confident from his prison to death, and thence to take his flight to the joys of eternal beatitude.
1. cf. Pius XI | Vatican.
Endnote:
St. Thomas More was a remarkable man, loving husband and good father and father-in-law.
Several Heads of State and of Government, numerous political figures, and some Episcopal Conferences and individual Bishops asked Pope St. John Paul II [the Great] to proclaim Saint Thomas More the Patron of Statesmen and Politicians. Those supporting the petition included people from different political, cultural and religious allegiances, and the Pope took this as a sign of the deep and widespread interest in the thought and activity of this outstanding Statesman. - Source: Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: Pope John Paul II and St. Thomas More, Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
Further reading:
- St. Thomas More | New Advent.
- Motu Proprio Proclaiming Saint Thomas More Patron of Statesmen and Politicians, 31 October 2000 | Pope St. John Paul II [the Great].
More post
- 📝 How do Reformed Calvinists interpret 1 Corinthians 10:13?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, if one, faced with the threat of being burned alive, denied Christ, would his sin be mortal?
- 📝 Do you have any knowledge on a Catholic Internal Forum on Marriage?
- 📝 What is the role of faith presuppositions related to whether the Gospel of Mark was embellished after the close of the apostolic era?
- 📝 How does one discern a calling to the vocation of priesthood?
- 📝 Sola Scriptura and the Biblical Canon
- 📝 Does the bible give guidance on how one can achieve happiness?
- 📝 If Catholics believe new revelation from God has ceased, how do they defend the Marian dogmas?
- 📝 Where did the idea that Cherubs were baby Angels originate?
- 📝 Why did God use humans to write the Bible?
- 📝 Why did Jesus keep himself and the disciples hungry and thirsty on some occasions?
- 📝 Why is the date of the 2016 Passover a month late when compared to Easter?
- 📝 What are some sources of March, 25th being the date of the creation of the world, or of the creation of Adam and Eve, or of their disobedience?
- 📝 Better safe than sorry? Should you confess if you're not sure if you've committed a sin?
- 📝 Why is this music chosen for a Catholic Mass?
- 📝 Can the Bible become an idol?
- 📝 Does God hate Sinners like he hates Sin?
- 📝 According to Catholicism must we all suffer in life?
- 📝 Was the weeping of Jesus in Jn 11:35 an integral part of the divine scheme of things?
- 📝 What must a Catholic believe to be a Catholic?
- 📝 Pharisees and Sadducees - A "brood of vipers"
- 📝 Why did the Apostles say to obey God rather than men?
- 📝 What was before the king james bible and what sections might have been lost in translation?
- 📝 Searching for Extended English Language Bibles
- 📝 What 'cubit' did the Lord refer to in Genesis 6:15?
- 📝 What are the main differences between the Baptist and Pentecostal traditions?
- 📝 Do Jehovah's Witnesses have a systematized way of finding specific types of persons?
- 📝 Why did St. John Paul II add the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers?
- 📝 What is the status of Catholics who reject Vatican II? Are they considered heretics?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What things led to the canonization of Thomas More?
- 📝 What evil things did Alexander the copper-smith do to Paul in 2 Tim. 4:14 that led to Paul saying God will recompense him?
- 📝 What is the Lutheran doctrine of consubstantiation and how does it differ from transubstantiation and a more general protestant sacramental view?
- 📝 What is the theory that there is more than one "Satan" called, and what is its basis?
- 📝 What is the basis for saying that the Gospel of Thomas was accepted as scripture by early Christians?
- 📝 On what basis does Thomas Aquinas say that the Church existed since the time of Abel?
- 📝 Does God want things? What are some of the things He wants, and how did we find out?
- 📝 According to Protestants, what "new" things has the Eastern Orthodox Church acquired over time?
- 📝 According to Roman Catholic Doctrine, what things have the power to decrease a person's time in purgatory?
- 📝 What was St. Thomas Aquinas's view on the difference between punishment accorded to original sin and punishment accorded to individual sin?
- 📝 What is the evidence that Thomas Aquinas was assassinated?
- 📝 How do Christians who adhere to the maxim “in essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; and in all things charity” determine what is essential?
- 📝 What is Thomas Aquinas' perspective on salvation for baptized heretics who believe in the Trinity?
- 📝 What was Saint Thomas Aquinas's girding by the two angels?
- 📝 What is the origin for the tradition that Judas Iscariot is the twin brother of St. Thomas the Apostle?
- 📝 What lost bible commentary did St. Thomas Aquinas want more than an entire kingdom?
- 📝 What things did John the Baptist say that the elders and priests did not believe?
- 📝 What is an overview of what the kinds of things the beast in Revelation represents?
- 📝 What are the steps and permissions required to add more "patronages" to saints?
- 📝 What common apologetic arguments support the view that it is more likely that Jesus was resurrected than his body was stolen?
- 📝 What were the specific changes to the canonization process introduced in 1983?
- 📝 What does Lewis mean by the things that stifle bitter resentment in elders in A Grief Observed
- 📝 According to Pope Francis and/or Catholicism, what sins are more serious than sins of the flesh?
- 📝 What were the nice things Jesus Christ did in his life that he is loved by so many people around the world?
- 📝 On what day of the week did Thomas first meet the resurrected Christ?
- 📝 What level of submission do Catholics give to random things the Pope says?
- 📝 What is the difference between the "burning in the bosom" of Mormonism and the more general "inner witness of the Holy Spirit" of Christianity?
- 📝 What are some of the reasons why Catholics would feel more drawn to focus on pius devotions than the Psalms?
- 📝 What are all the things that can contain the Holy Spirit?
- 📝 What miracles were performed during the beatification and canonization processes of Mother Teresa?