-
Saint Thomas More, son of Agnes Graunger and John More was born on the 7th of February 1478, in Milk Street London.
-
During his youth, he began his education at Saint Anthony’s school in London, located in threadneedle street.
-
Thomas Moore who was a pupil of Thomas Linacre and William Grocyn, studied Greek and Latin literature upon his temporary stay at Oxford University.
-
He later returned back to London in 1494 due to his father's persistency, to pursue the course of law.
-
It was of More's greatest interest to abandonhis studies and assume life as a monk. Upon this initial interest he decided to live near the Carthusian monastery and par take in the Monks spiritual exercises.
-
He ultimately decided that a life in parliment was the right choice.
-
Thomas was married to a woman named Jane Colt who conceived four children, although she died during childbirth at a very young age(6 years later) he once again married, a woman named Dame Alice.
-
Saint Thomas More wrote and published a world famous book known as “Utopia” by 1516, whilst remaining imprisoned in the Kings tower. This book caught King Henry’s eye and instantaneously he decided that it was of the best interest to appoint Thomas More as member of the Kings Privy Council.
-
Thomas was elected as speaker of parliament as well as House of Commons
-
Progressively increasing in ranks, More was assigned to a succession of high posts and missions, and in 1529, was finally crowned as Lord Chancellor.
-
After being regarded of such high status, Thomas abandoned all of his work achievements throughout the course of his life, renounced his current position and instead wrote in defence of the church.
-
entitled to do anything according to his favour. His first act was to divorce his current wife Catherine of Aragorn and marry Anne Boleyn as she did not bare him a son. Thomas, who was a devout Catholic and follower of Christ, solidly believed in marriage and its promises and the spiritual binding power it has on two human beings. He testified against his authority and opposed him, refusing once again to sign the “Act of succession” which would have made Anne the Queen of England, consequently
-
denying papal authority.
-
therefore required the signatures and approval of the Bishop, Pope and More in order to officialise it. Saint Thomas More was reluctant to sign, indicating indirectly to the King that he disliked what he was doing. After coming to a realisation that not one supported him, King Henry branched off from the Church and created the “Protestant Reformation in England” in which Thomas More tried extremely hard to protect the church against. He declared himself the head of the Church of England and was
-
Saint Thomas was involved in a significant controversy, specifically relating to King Henry. King Henry did not have any male heirs to inherit the throne and to him this was a predicament. In many constant attempts, he remarried numerous women to increase the chances of receiving a son although this proved to be unsuccessful. Divorcing and remarrying was against God’s and the church’s teachings, thus angering Thomas greatly. An annulment was filed each time he was to repeat the process, which
-
Moore was beheaded on July 6th, 1535 due to treason as he refused to acknowledge King Henry as supreme head of the Church of England.
-
He was beatified in 1886
-
He was canonized as a Saint in 1935 by Pope Pius XI 400 years after his death.
-
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=324
http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/morebio.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_More Books:
A Little Book Of Saints,Printed in Hong Kong, by Titian, Bartelomeo, Montagna, and Petrus Christus
ARIEL BOOKS, ANDREWS AND MCMEELS
