2008 Woodie Awards
The Ultimate Politician
St. Thomas More was an ordinary man with extraordinary grace
Katherine Leger
Issue date: 11/1/06 Section: Faith
I stepped into the refreshing air-conditioned vestibule of a brick church a few blocks from the Supreme Court and Capitol buildings in Washington, D.C., and paused as I walked by a statue of a stiff, English-looking man holding an ax. Upon closer inspection I found a plaque that read "St. Thomas More." This did not immediately dispel my curiosity, as I still wondered why he was remembered in a church close to one of the most powerful governments in the world.
Who was St. Thomas More?
Born in London in 1478, Thomas More was a father, author, knight, Lord Chancellor of England and martyr. He studied at Oxford and then proceeded to study and practice law. He was a student of the liberal arts and wrote many treatises and essays, the most notable of which is Utopia. Known for his intellect, education and good humor, he quickly ascended the professional ladder and became a member of the House of Commons and eventually the Lord Chancellor of England.
He established himself in politics, and in 1505 married Jane Colt, a charming young English woman with whom he had four children. After Jane's death six years later, he remarried a widow named Alice Middleton. More enjoyed his family life and considered his children's religious, moral and intellectual development of utmost importance. He included daily prayer in the household, as well as recreation and time spent with family and friends.
This picture seems incredibly normal. Every college student has experienced family life and the search for a career. And for the majority of college students looking at the blank pages of their lives after graduation, More's successful career and caring family may be exactly what they hope to achieve in their own lives.
Thomas More, however, was more than an ordinary man who was simply dedicated to his God, his family, his work and his country. In 1532 when King Henry VIII declared himself the head of the Church in England, More strongly disagreed and resigned after only three years as Chancellor. He never publicly criticized his king, but instead privately explained his position to the king multiple times. Nevertheless, the movements of politics became more polarized. In 1534, the Act of Succession instituted a mandatory oath acknowledging Henry VIII as the new head of the Church of England. More, a man of great integrity and principle, refused to sign the oath and was imprisoned for treason.
Who was St. Thomas More?
Born in London in 1478, Thomas More was a father, author, knight, Lord Chancellor of England and martyr. He studied at Oxford and then proceeded to study and practice law. He was a student of the liberal arts and wrote many treatises and essays, the most notable of which is Utopia. Known for his intellect, education and good humor, he quickly ascended the professional ladder and became a member of the House of Commons and eventually the Lord Chancellor of England.
He established himself in politics, and in 1505 married Jane Colt, a charming young English woman with whom he had four children. After Jane's death six years later, he remarried a widow named Alice Middleton. More enjoyed his family life and considered his children's religious, moral and intellectual development of utmost importance. He included daily prayer in the household, as well as recreation and time spent with family and friends.
This picture seems incredibly normal. Every college student has experienced family life and the search for a career. And for the majority of college students looking at the blank pages of their lives after graduation, More's successful career and caring family may be exactly what they hope to achieve in their own lives.
Thomas More, however, was more than an ordinary man who was simply dedicated to his God, his family, his work and his country. In 1532 when King Henry VIII declared himself the head of the Church in England, More strongly disagreed and resigned after only three years as Chancellor. He never publicly criticized his king, but instead privately explained his position to the king multiple times. Nevertheless, the movements of politics became more polarized. In 1534, the Act of Succession instituted a mandatory oath acknowledging Henry VIII as the new head of the Church of England. More, a man of great integrity and principle, refused to sign the oath and was imprisoned for treason.
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