St. Thomas More was the leading intellectual of his day. He was the adviser to Henry VIII and held many eminent positions in the government and academia of England. However, he opposed Henry's illicit divorce and remarriage and he refused to take a oath to Henry, recognizing him as the supreme head of the Church of England. For this, he was incarcerated in the Tower of London [I went to see his cell & where he scratched his name on the wall!] and beheaded. Here's an inspiring quote from this brave man to aid your meditation on his feast day:
"What does it avail to know that there is a God, which you not only believe by Faith, but also know by reason: what does it avail that you know Him if you think little of Him?" St. Thomas More
Also, below is The Prayer of St. Thomas More. At my school, we begin each day with this prayer to our patron. It is an efficacious prayer as I seek to focus my efforts towards living for Christ each day.
O Lord,
give us a mind
that is humble, quiet, peaceable,
patient and charitable,
and a taste of your Holy Spirit
in all our thoughts, words, and deeds.
O Lord,
give us a lively faith, a firm hope,
a fervant charity, a love of you.
Take from us all lukewarmness in meditation
and all dullness in prayer.
Give us fervor and delight in thinking of you,
your grace, and your tender compassion toward us.
Give us,
good Lord,
the grace to work for
the things we pray for.
give us a mind
that is humble, quiet, peaceable,
patient and charitable,
and a taste of your Holy Spirit
in all our thoughts, words, and deeds.
O Lord,
give us a lively faith, a firm hope,
a fervant charity, a love of you.
Take from us all lukewarmness in meditation
and all dullness in prayer.
Give us fervor and delight in thinking of you,
your grace, and your tender compassion toward us.
Give us,
good Lord,
the grace to work for
the things we pray for.
--St Thomas More, 1478-1535
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