SAINT OF THE WEEK
St. Thomas More
Born in London, and after a rigorous education in religion and the classics, Thomas More studied law at Oxford. After leaving the university he began his legal career which led him to the Parliament. After writing his famous book, Utopia, he gained the attention of Henry VIII who appointed him to a succession of high posts, finally making him Lord Chancellor. However, Thomas More resigned after only 3 years, when Henry persisted in holding his own negative opinions on marriage and papal supremacy. The rest of his life was spent writing, mostly in defense of the Church. With his close friend, St. John Fisher, he denounced allegiance to the King as the Head of the Church of England. Fifteen months later, he was tried and convicted of treason, leading to his beheading on July 6, 1535.
Birth: 1478
Death: 1535
Feast day: June 22
Patron: of adopted children lawyers, civil servants, politicians, and difficult marriages