Thomas More lived in England during the late 1400s and early 1500s, a time of kings, castles, and growing interest in learning and scholarship. Born in London in 1478, he became a lawyer, writer, government official, husband, and father.
He was known for his sense of humor and often made jokes, even at his own expense.
Despite holding one of the highest offices in England, Thomas sometimes climbed onto the roof of his house to look at the stars. He enjoyed conversation and took a keen interest in the education of his children. What set him apart from many of his contemporaries was the way he educated his daughters. In the early 1500s, many people saw little reason to educate girls beyond the basics. Thomas disagreed. He wanted his daughters to learn languages, literature, and other subjects normally reserved for boys.
One story involves his daughter Margaret, who was especially close to him. When Thomas became Lord Chancellor, one of the highest positions in England, someone asked whether she was proud of her father. Her response suggested that little had changed at home. He might have been Lord Chancellor at work, but he was still the same father when he came home.
Many of Thomas’s letters contain jokes and playful remarks. Even during his imprisonment in the Tower of London, flashes of wit still appeared in his writing.
His Catholic faith shaped every part of his life, including the decisions that eventually brought him into conflict with King Henry VIII.
During the reign of King Henry VIII, Thomas refused to support the king’s break with the Catholic Church and would not accept the king’s claim to religious authority. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London and in 1535 was executed on the king’s orders.
With the final cadence, his daughter Margaret lost a father. England lost a statesman. The world lost a writer. God welcomed a saint.
Let’s keep learning the saints’ way—day by day.
⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ
