Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas More, a sixteenth-century English statesman who was martyred for defending the pope’s supreme authority. Although More lived in a vastly different culture—both in the world and in the Church—two distinct teachings from his life continue to be relevant today.
First: submission to the Roman pontiff must be something we cling to—whatever the cost. Despite Henry VIII’s attempts to usurp the pope’s authority by declaring himself the supreme head of the church of England, More refused to bend the knee to this abuse of power. Instead, he clung to the ancient belief of Christendom that “no temporal prince [may] presume by any law to take upon him” the supreme government of the church, since it was “rightfully belonging to the See of Rome” by commission of Christ himself (Sir Thomas More’s Speech at His Trial).
Since More’s martyrdom, we’ve witnessed the downfall of those who’ve rejected the papacy’s authority: from the rapid multiplication of Protestant denominations, to the constant geopolitical conflicts (and occasional schisms) in the Eastern Orthodox Church, to the dissolution of ancient Christian morality among both Protestants and Orthodox, and the so-called Catholics who believe the seat of Peter is empty. Among these new religions founded upon dissent from the Holy See, the fruits have revealed themselves as constant confusion, rapid division, and eventual extinction. As St. Jerome foretold in the fourth century:
For [the chair of Peter], I know, is the rock on which the church is built…This is the Ark of Noah, and he who is not found in it shall perish when the flood prevails (Letter 15, emphasis mine).
Second: the sanctity of marriage must be protected in society, and especially among the faithful. Henry VIII’s animosity towards More first sprang from when More refused to acknowledge Henry’s adulterous “marriage” to Anne Boleyn. More, being the faithfully convicted man he was, would not recognize Anne as the queen of England, and did not attend their “marriage” celebrations.
This infuriated Henry, as More was one of the most well-respected, influential men in England; if More refused to acknowledge the marriage, then others would too. Well acquainted with Henry’s temperament, More knew his silent disapproval of the king’s marriage could result in his persecution and death. Yet, he did not succumb to Henry’s continual pressures or threats.
Many Christians today, however, acquiesce to the threats of secular culture for disapproving of the greatest affronts to the dignity of matrimony. Not only have divorce and remarriage become normalized among many Christians, but same-sex “marriage” has also become increasingly tolerated (and even accepted) for fear of being labelled a hateful bigot.
Contrast this with Thomas More, who was willing to die rather than risk being seen approving of a sinful union. We, who have much less to lose, must be willing to sacrifice for the truth as well. Perhaps we must sacrifice our image, which can easily be disparaged and crucified by cancel-culturalists. Or perhaps we may risk damaging relationships with family members or friends for refusing to endorse their adulterous or disordered relationships. Often, we only have a tense conversation or awkward confrontation to endure; More had harsh imprisonment and death awaiting.
In St. Thomas More’s witness, we find a reminder that life is not worth living if we must live it in denial of Christ and his teachings, and in disobedience to our well-formed conscience; instead, a life lived with integrity—even if it costs us our life—is a much more worthwhile endeavor. May we find the courage to follow in his footsteps while we endure a culture constantly tempting us to reject Christ’s vicar and pervert the holy sacrament of matrimony.