Saints John Fisher and Thomas More
- International
- June 22, 2012
Today’s saints are among the first martyrs of the English Reformation in the 16th century. They were different in background and temperament, but united in choosing God’s values over worldly temptations.
John Fisher came from humble circumstances, but was naturally gifted. He rose steadily to become chancellor of the University of Cambridge, a post he held until his death. He was also named Bishop of Rochester by King Henry VIII, a post he accepted with reluctance as he was ill suited to the manipulations of power.
When the new theories of Luther swept Europe and England, Fisher preached vigorously against them in the churches and the university. He wrote four volumes of refutations against the German monk, and even influenced the king, who wrote a small treatise in ‘defence of the faith’. However Fisher’s friendship with King Henry foundered on the issue of the king’s marriage. The king wanted it dissolved. Bishop John upheld the sanctity of marriage and the supremacy of the Pope, and contested the king’s views in Parliament and in the university. The king had him imprisoned, and later put to death.
Thomas More was a lawyer by training and a scholar by temperament. His rise to public life was rapid – first as under-sheriff of London, then as a member of the king’s privy council, and finally at the age of 50, he was appointed Lord Chancellor of England.
Thomas was an accomplished writer. His book Utopia, on an imaginary country where everything works well, made him the friend of many learned people, among whom was the scholar Erasmus who called him “a man for all seasons”. The king, Henry VIII, was a personal friend.
Nevertheless this personal friendship dissolved into hostility when the king could not get what he wished: an annulment from the Pope from his marriage, in order to marry the younger woman his heart desired. Henry declared himself ‘head of the Church’ in England, and demanded that all loyal subjects take an oath of allegiance to him. Thomas refused, was imprisoned, and later executed.
Both John Fisher and Thomas More were among the highest placed in the land. Yet on a matter of principle, they chose their conscience over the demands of their sovereign. Their example encourages us to choose God’s ways, even at the cost of life itself.
John Fisher came from humble circumstances, but was naturally gifted. He rose steadily to become chancellor of the University of Cambridge, a post he held until his death. He was also named Bishop of Rochester by King Henry VIII, a post he accepted with reluctance as he was ill suited to the manipulations of power.
When the new theories of Luther swept Europe and England, Fisher preached vigorously against them in the churches and the university. He wrote four volumes of refutations against the German monk, and even influenced the king, who wrote a small treatise in ‘defence of the faith’. However Fisher’s friendship with King Henry foundered on the issue of the king’s marriage. The king wanted it dissolved. Bishop John upheld the sanctity of marriage and the supremacy of the Pope, and contested the king’s views in Parliament and in the university. The king had him imprisoned, and later put to death.
Thomas More was a lawyer by training and a scholar by temperament. His rise to public life was rapid – first as under-sheriff of London, then as a member of the king’s privy council, and finally at the age of 50, he was appointed Lord Chancellor of England.
Thomas was an accomplished writer. His book Utopia, on an imaginary country where everything works well, made him the friend of many learned people, among whom was the scholar Erasmus who called him “a man for all seasons”. The king, Henry VIII, was a personal friend.
Nevertheless this personal friendship dissolved into hostility when the king could not get what he wished: an annulment from the Pope from his marriage, in order to marry the younger woman his heart desired. Henry declared himself ‘head of the Church’ in England, and demanded that all loyal subjects take an oath of allegiance to him. Thomas refused, was imprisoned, and later executed.
Both John Fisher and Thomas More were among the highest placed in the land. Yet on a matter of principle, they chose their conscience over the demands of their sovereign. Their example encourages us to choose God’s ways, even at the cost of life itself.
