St Thomas More (1478-1535) martyr, patron of statesmen and politicians
Pope John Paul II proclaimed St Thomas More as patron of statesmen and politicians. Along with St John Fisher, the only English bishop not to capitulate to King Henry VIII's demands, we celebrate his feast on 23rd June. Bishop Martin Drennan explains why St Thomas More is put forward as a model.Thomas More (1478-1535) was an English lawyer, writer and politician. Born in London, he studied law at Oxford and entered the English Parliament in 1504. He married Jane Holt and they had four children. Like his friend Erasmus of Rotterdam, he was renowned as a humanist scholar. He coined the word 'utopia', the name - it can mean either "good place" or "noplace"! - given to an ideal imaginary island whose political system he described in a book of that title in 1516. When Henry VIII became king, he sought Thomas as his advisor and he became Chancellor of England in 1529. In 1530 he refused to sign a letter asking the Pope to annul Henry's marriage to Catherine of Arragon and resigned in 1532. He now had neither job nor income, but both he and Bishop John Fisher of Rochester refused to acknowledge Henry as Supreme Head of the Church of England. This eventually led to their execution in 1535. Both were canonised in 1935. During the Jubilee Year 2000 Pope John Paul II declared St Thomas More patron of lawyers, statesmen and politicians .
A few events that took place towards the end of the Jubilee Year (2000) make it clearer what the Pope really wants us to pray for in this month of August (2001). On November 5th, 2000, in a packed St Peter's Square, John Paul II proclaimed Saint Thomas More as the patron saint of statesmen and politicians.
Support
In the course of his address he said: 'At the beginning of the new century and new millennium, those responsible for public life are being faced with demanding responsibilities.
It is
precisely with this in mind that I have wished to offer you the support
of a special patron, the martyr Saint Thomas More.
'Thomas More's life is truly an example for you who are called to
serve humanity and society in the civic and political sphere. The
eloquent testimony which he bore is as timely as ever at a historical
moment which presents crucial challenges to everyone involved in
governing.
'As a statesman he always placed himself at the service of the
person, especially the weak and the poor. Honour and wealth had no sway
over him, guided as he was by an outstanding sense of fairness. Above
all, he never compromised his conscience, even to the point of making
the supreme sacrifice so as not to disregard its voice. Invoke him,
follow him, imitate him! His intercession will not fail - even in the
most difficult situations - to bring you strength, goodnaturedness,
patience and perseverance.'
Noble calling
Pope John Paul II strongly affirms the noble calling of Christians to serve in the sphere of politics and lawmaking and goes on to say that for a faithful living out of their calling as public servants Christians need to be clear about their convictions if they are to have the courage to live by them.
Thomas More is a model of someone who based his choices on Christian
principles. One of his best known statements is: 'When a statesman
forsakes his own private conscience for the sake of his public duty he
leads his country by a short road to chaos.' This is the wisdom of a man
who knew how to put loyalty to God in first place. This is the
conviction of a man who was a servant of his people but God's servant
first. For Thomas had the wisdom to understand that if our relationship
with God is distorted then our relationship with people can't be right.
He knew that if a nation is to have good laws those laws begin from
respect for the law of God.
Respect for life
On this point Pope John Paul II says, 'A law that does not respect the right to life from conception to the natural death of every human being, whatever his or her condition - healthy or ill, still in the embryonic stage, elderly or close to death - is not a law in harmony with the divine plan. Christian legislators may neither contribute to the formulation of such a law nor may they approve it in parliamentary assembly.'
This offers a clear guideline for lawgivers as they respond to new scientific discoveries in the areas of biology and genetics.
Consequently, legislators have to remember that human life is a gift
of God to be respected, never an object to be exploited for the sake of
short-term needs.
Jubilee Day
A second event from the Jubilee Year is significant for helping us to understand what the Pope invites us to do in our prayers of intercession.
On November 4th, 2000, a Jubilee Day
for Members of Parliament and Government Leaders, the Holy Father
recalled a statement of Pope Paul VI in which he stressed that 'politics
is a demanding way of living the Christian commitment to serve others'.
He went on to call on Christians who are engaged in politics to act
selflessly, to work for the good of one and all, especially for the less
fortunate members of society.
Justice
As part of that appeal he invited leaders to make some gesture of clemency to prisoners during the Jubilee Year, one that would encourage them on the path of conversion and give them an incentive to sincerely accept the values of justice.
He went on to say that justice must be the fundamental concern of
political leaders and legislators, a justice which aims at creating
conditions of equal opportunity among people.
True justice builds solidarity; it fosters good relationships and it is inclusive. 'Peace is the fruit of justice,' he says.
The justice which brings peace serves to oppose all violence against human life at every stage of its development. In working for justice the tasks of politics and lawmaking are to formulate and approve laws that promote the real good of every person.
To fulfil their responsibilities to God, the sole master of human life, legislators need wisdom.
Prudence
In a pluralistic society Christian lawmakers are sometimes faced with requests for legislation that run contrary to the dictates of their own conscience.
New scientific discoveries in the fields of genetics and biology are
posing complex problems for them.
Lawmakers need Christian prudence to
enable them to be faithful to the demands of their correctly formed
conscience and at the same time to carry out their duties as
legislators.
They are called on to witness to their own faith and to be
faithful to their own principles in the ever new situations which they
face.
Prayer
If our legislators are to make the Gospel
of Christ their guide and be effective as a leaven in society they need
our support and our prayer.
The Holy Father is asking us to intercede for them so that, guided by
the wisdom that God is master of all of life, their work may be
fruitful as they seek to build a just future, a future where the world
will continue to be civilized more and more by love.