Thomas More

[ZiSunka]

Who was Thomas More and why is he important?

 

[pax]

This comes from http://saints.catholic.org

St. Thomas More, Martyr (Patron of Lawyers) St. Thomas More was born at London in 1478. After a thorough grounding in religion and the classics, he entered Oxford to study law. Upon leaving the university he embarked on a legal career which took him to Parliament. In 1505, he married his beloved Jane Colt who bore him four children, andwhen she died at a young age, he married a widow, Alice Middleton, to be a mother for his young children. A wit and a reformer, this learned man numbered Bishops and scholars among his friends, and by 1516 wrote his world-famous book "Utopia". He attracted the attention of Henry VIII who appointed him to a succession of high posts and missions, and finally made him Lord Chancellor in 1529. However, he resigned in 1532, at the height of his career and reputation, when Henry persisted in holding his own opinions regarding marriage and the supremacy of the Pope. The rest of his life was spent in writing mostly in defense of the Church. In 1534, with his close friend, St. John Fisher, he refused to render allegiance to the King as the Head of the Church of England and was confined to the Tower. Fifteen months later, and nine days after St. John Fisher's execution, he was tried and convicted of treason. He told the court that he could not go against his conscience and wished his judges that "we may yet hereafter in heaven merrily all meet together to everlasting salvation." And on the scaffold, he told the crowd of spectators that he was dying as "the King's good servant-but God's first." He was beheaded on July 6, 1535. His feast day is June 22nd.

 

[ZiSunka]

What is Utopia about? How did his writings affect Christianity?

 

[Avila]

Ack!!! I know this!! Let me delve into my Ren/Ref history books and refresh myself (unless Wols beats me to it). He was one man who really impressed me when I was going through RCIA and taking the Ren/Ref class at the same time. Although DH firmly insists that Tommy's patron is St. Thomas Aquinas, I also suggested the name Thomas because of Thomas More too.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

What is Utopia about?

On the back cover of my old Penguin Classics copy it says: "Utopia, an island supporting a perfectly oraganised and happy society . . . This work . . . has later been seen as the source of Anabaptism, Mormonism, and even Communism."

Utopia: A perfect society. I urge people to read this short book, as it is still a really good read.

DW