Martyrs for the Faith: Saints John Fisher and Thomas More

The introduction to St. Thomas More’s book called “A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation” with the sentence: All suffering is profitable! This from the saint as he was in prison and would be awaiting his martyrdom.

This Third Order Franciscan was well aware of his possible fate as he continued to defend the primacy of the Pope and the dignity and indissolubility of marriage in spite of the threats and persecution of King Henry VIII who, in desiring to divorce his wife, had started his own church and made it the religion of the land. To not comply meant severe punishment and perhaps even death for ‘treason’.

Here are just a few of his thoughts explored in this book. “St. Paul is recorded as saying, ‘By many tribulations must we go into the kingdom of God.’ And no marvel, for our Savior Christ said of himself to his two disciples that were going into the village of Emmaus, 'Know you not that Christ must suffer and so go into his kingdom?'

And would we who are servants look for more privilege in our master's house than our master himself? Would we get into his kingdom with ease, when he himself got not into his own but by pain? His kingdom has he ordained for his disciples, and he said to us all, 'If any man will be my disciple, let him learn of me to do as I have done, take his cross of tribulation upon his back and follow me.'

 The fault of faintheartedness, or a timid spirit, often prevents people from doing many good things. The devil not only puts them in a state of cowardice but also makes them think of it as humility or prudence and therefore he leaves undone the good thing of which God offers him occasion and to which he had made him fit. But such folk have need to lift up their hearts and call upon God”.

Should one resolve ahead of time whether or not one will die rather than forsake the faith? The saint thought long and hard on this question. And he determined that the prospect of bodily pain, no matter how horrifying, should not deter us.

St. Thomas had it in mind to remain faithful and this strength came from a life of faithful obedience to the Holy Catholic Faith. He went to daily Mass and led an intense sacramental and prayer life. He practiced such mortifications as the wearing of a hair shirt and made other sacrifices. He looked to God and His grace all of his life.

And so the grace and strength to accept martyrdom was given to that faithful heart that not even the pleadings of his dearest loved ones could deter. St. Thomas More was beheaded on July 6, 1535. His story is documented in the award winning film “A Man for All Seasons”.  One of his famous sayings is "I am the king's good servant but God's first".

St. John Fisher was the Archbishop of Rochester. He had known King Henry VIII all of the Kings’s life. When in 1527 he was asked to study the problem of Henry's marriage, he became the target of Henry's wrath by defending the validity of the marriage and rejecting Henry's claim to be head of the Church in England.

Imprisoned in 1534 for his opposition, he spent 14 months in prison without trial. While in prison he was created cardinal in 1535 by Pope Paul III. He alone of the bishops of the realm refused to go along with the king and so he was martyred on June 22, 1535.