Saturday, June 21, 2025

Saint of the Day for Sunday

 

St. Thomas More


Feast day: June 22
Patron: of adopted children, lawyers, civil servants, politicians, and difficult marriages
Birth: 1478
Death: 1535
Beatified: December 29th, 1886, by Pope Leo XIII
Canonized: May 19th, 1935, by Pope Pius XI




Thomas More was born in London on February 7, 1478. His father, Sir John More, was a lawyer and judge who rose to prominence during the reign of Edward IV. His connections and wealth would help his son, Thomas, rise in station as a young man. Thomas' mother was Agnes Graunger, the first wife of John More. John would have four wives during his life, but they each died, leaving John as a widower. Thomas had two brothers and three sisters, but three of his siblings died within a year of their birth. Such tragedies were common in England during this time.

It is likely that Thomas was positively influenced from a young age by his mother and siblings. He also attended St. Anthony's School, which was said to be one of the best schools in London at that time. In 1490, he became a household page to John Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England. Archbishop Morton was a Renaissance man and inspired Thomas to pursue his own education.

Thomas More entered Oxford in 1492, where he would learn Latin, Greek and prepare for his future studies. In 1494, he left Oxford to become a lawyer and he trained in London until 1502 when he was finally approved to begin practice.

Almost as soon as More became a lawyer, he found himself contemplating another path in life. For two years, between 1503 and 1504, More lived next to a Carthusian monastery and he found himself called to follow their lifestyle of simple piety. He often joined their spiritual exercises.

By 1504, More had decided to remain in the secular world, and stood for election to Parliament. But he did not forget the pious monks who inspired his practice of the faith.

Thomas More married his first wife, Jane Colt in 1505. They would have four children together before her death in 1511. Their marriage was reportedly happy and Thomas often tutored her in music and literature.

After Jane's death in 1511, Thomas quickly remarried to Alice Harpur Middleton, who was a wealthy widow. Alice was not particularly attractive, and her temperament was less docile than Jane's. The wedding took place less than a month after Jane's passing and was poorly received by his friends.

It was rumored that Thomas married her because he wanted a stepmother for his four children, and she was a woman of wealth and means. It is believed the pair knew each other for some time prior to their marriage. They would have no children together. Thomas accepted Alice's daughter from her previous marriage as his own.

Thomas was considered a doting father, and he often wrote letters to his children when he was away on work. He also insisted that his daughters receive the same education as his son. His daughters were well known for their academic accomplishments.

In 1504, More was elected to Parliament to represent the region of Great Yarmouth, and in 1510 rose to represent London. During his service to the people of London, he earned a reputation as being honest and effective. He became a Privy Counselor in 1514.

More also honed his skills as a theologian and a writer. Among his most famous works is "Utopia," about a fictional, idealistic island society. The work is widely regarded as part satire, part social commentary, part suggestion. Utopia is considered one of the greatest works of the late Renaissance and was widely read during the Enlightenment period. It remains well by scholars read today.

From 1517 on, Henry VIII took a liking to Thomas More, and gave him posts of ever increasing responsibility. In 1521, he was knighted and made Under-Treasurer of the Exchequer.

The King's trust in More grew with time and More was soon made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which gave him authority over the northern portion of England on behalf of Henry.

More became Lord Chancellor in 1529.

More was immediately effective, working with speed and precision that is admired today. He was likely one of Henry VIII's most effective servants, and was fiercely loyal to the king.

During his tenure as Lord Chancellor, More prosecuted those accused of heresy and worked tirelessly to defend the Catholic faith in England. This was an arduous, but achievable task as long as he enjoyed Henry's favor. However, in 1530, as Henry worked to obtain an annulment from his wife, Catherine, More refused to sign a letter to the Pope, requesting an annulment. This was More's first time crossing Henry.

The relationship between More and Henry became strained again when seeking to isolate More, Henry purged many of the clergy who supported the Pope. It became clear to all that Henry was prepared to break away from the Church in Rome, something More knew he could not condone.

In 1532, More found himself unable to work for Henry VIII, whom he felt had lost his way as a Catholic. Faced with the prospect of being compelled to actively support Henry's schism with the Church, More offered his resignation, citing failing health. Henry accepted it, although he was unhappy with what he viewed as flagging loyalty.

In 1533, More refused to attend the coronation of Anne Boylen, who was now the Queen of England. More instead wrote a letter of congratulations. The letter, as opposed to his direct presence offended Henry greatly. The king viewed More's absence as an insult to his new queen and an undermining of his authority as head of the church and state.

Henry then had charges trumped up against More, but More's own integrity protected him. In the first instance, he was accused of accepting bribes, but there was simply no evidence that could be obtained or manufactured. He was then accused of conspiracy against the king, because he allegedly consulted with a nun who prophesied against Henry and his wife, Anne. However, More was able to produce a letter in which he specifically instructed the nun, Elizabeth Barton, not to interfere with politics.

On April 13, 1534, More was ordered to take an oath, acknowledging the legitimicies of Anne's position as queen, of Henry's self-granted annulment from Catherine, and the superior position of the King as head of the church. More accepted Henry's marriage to Anne, but refused to acknowledge Henry as head of the church, or his annulment from Catherine. This led to his arrest and imprisonment. He was locked away in the Tower of London.

He faced trial on July 1 and was convicted by a court that included Anne Boylen's own father, brother and uncle, hardly an impartial jury. Still, More had one thing going for him. He could not break the law of which he was accused if he remained silent. However, he had no defense against treachery, and several dubious witnesses were able to contrive a story that he had spoken words that had the same effect as treason.

Despite a brilliant defense of himself and persuasive testimony, grounded in truth and fact, More was convicted in fifteen minutes. The court sentenced him to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, which was the traditional punishment for treason.

Henry was pleased with the outcome, although likely upset that one of his favorite advisers refused, even upon pain of death, to sanction his annulment and break from Rome. Henry was a Machiavellian king and while he may have regretted the loss of More, he was more intent upon retaining his authority.

As a final act of mercy, Henry commuted More's punishment to mere decapitation.

More ascended the scaffold on July 6, 1535, joking to his executioners to help him up the scaffold, but that he would see himself down. He then made a final statement, proclaiming that he was "the king's good servant, but God's first."

Following his death, it was revealed that More wore a hair shirt, a garment destined to be itchy, and worn to as a sign of atonement and repentance. It became obvious to all that he was a man of deep piety, asceticism, voluntary self discipline, and penitence.

More's decapitated body was buried in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula at the Tower of London, in an unmarked grave. His head was put on display, but his daughter Margaret possibly bribed someone to take it down. The skull may be in the vault of a church in Canterbury.

Thomas More has been widely remembered as a man of tremendous integrity, and he has since been described as a martyr and canonized a saint.

Pope Leo XIII beatified More in 1886, and he was canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 19, 1935.

His feast day is June 22.

He is the patron saint of adopted children lawyers, civil servants, politicians, and difficult marriages.

What's going on to see such a surge in Catholicism these days?

 

Catholicism sees major resurgence among Gen Z, with young men leading the revival


Catholic identification among 13–28-year-olds jumped from 15% to 21% in just one year as schools focus on faith-based meaning

Young men are driving a growing surge in Catholicism among Gen Z, as they turn to faith as an answer to loneliness, cultural drift and a search for purpose.

A Harvard University study shows that Gen Zer's who identified as Catholic rose by 6% between 2022 and 2023, a shift that Father Michael Tidd — headmaster of Delbarton School, a Benedictine Catholic school for young men in grades 7-12 in Morristown, New Jersey — says he has witnessed himself.

"We present our students with an experience of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We propose, we don't impose, and they come to us, and that seems to be really resonant with them," he shared with "Fox & Friends" on Thursday. 

"For the last several years, we have also had students be received into the church, either be baptized as Catholics for the first time or to receive all of their sacraments, because the experience that they have had here… of what it means particularly to be a man in our society, what it needs to be a believing man, a Catholic Christian man, really resonates with our students. And the larger things that you read about in our society about how… what it means to be man, is really a difficult question for a lot of young men to answer. I think our school and the Catholic Church more broadly and the Catholic faith more broadly provide a compelling answer to that."

Father Tidd said he sees students responding to that question in a faith-based way "every day."

Students at Delbarton come from a variety of backgrounds – some from practicing Catholic families, others from non-Catholic families – but all are presented with what it means to be a Catholic Christian both in the theology classroom and while doing service out in the world.


Father Tidd described the school's retreat experiences as a "real game-changer" for students as well as the "common worship" at mass and morning prayer that brings together all students.

The sense of community is an answer to disturbing findings like a recent Gallup Poll, which found that younger men in the U.S. were "among the loneliest in the West."

More specifically, one in four men under the age of 35 reported feeling lonely the prior day, the data revealed.

In a video address last week to the faithful in his hometown of Chicago, Pope Leo XIV sent a message of encouragement to young Americans. 

"So many people who suffer from different experiences of depression or sadness — they can discover that the love of God is truly healing, that it brings hope," the newly elected pontiff said.

Father Tidd suggested that young men affected by loneliness take initiative and find others who share common experiences, dreams, ambitions and, together, work to find answers to questions about meaning and purpose.

"That's one of the benefits of coming to a Catholic school, is that we have that structure that if a student wishes to take advantage of – particularly not just in class, but on athletic teams or extracurriculars – when you form those tight bonds, then you can begin to ask those deep questions," he added.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane (REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane)

Pope calls for zero tolerance concerning clergy sex abuse and freedom of the press

 

"Proyecto Ugaz" photo credits Francisco Rodriguez Torres"Proyecto Ugaz" photo credits Francisco Rodriguez Torres 

Pope calls for a culture of zero tolerance for abuse in the Church

Pope Leo XIV sends a message on the occasion of a Peruvian theatre performance honoring investigative journalist Paola Ugaz and calls for a culture of zero tolerance toward abuse in the Church and the defense of press freedom. He praises journalists who expose abuse, stating that silencing them threatens democracy and undermines the Gospel's call for justice and truth.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

In a message against all forms of abuse, Pope Leo XIV has called for a cultural transformation within the Catholic Church.

“[It is necessary to] radiate throughout the Church a culture of prevention that does not tolerate any form of abuse: abuse of power or authority, of conscience or spirituality, of sexual abuse”, he writes.

His words were read at the performance of the theatrical production Proyecto Ugaz, currently running in Lima, Peru. The play honors investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, known for her reporting on the now-suppressed Sodalitium, and who has faced sustained harassment for her work.

Drawing on Ugaz's example, the Pope issued a firm defense of press freedom: “Wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a nation is weakened.”

The Pope’s message centers on two key themes that underlie the theatrical production: the fight against abuse and the essential role of truthful, independent journalism. Proyecto Ugaz highlights Ugaz’s years-long investigation into the Sodalitium Cristianae Vitae, a powerful lay movement in Latin America that Pope Francis formally suppressed on April 14 due to multiple allegations of abuse and corruption, including against its founder, Luis Figari. A Vatican investigation concluded the group lacked any foundational charism.

Paola Ugaz, together with journalist Pedro Salinas, co-authored a 2015 book exposing testimony from victims of the Sodalitium. Their work spurred investigations by Peruvian authorities and eventually led to Vatican intervention. However, Ugaz has since faced legal harassment and online attacks. In November 2022, she sought protection for herself and three other journalists from Pope Francis, who received them personally in December of that year and expressed his support.

Now, under Pope Leo XIV, that support continues and deepens. The Pope, well-informed about the Sodalitium case and Ugaz’s role, publicly embraced her during a May meeting with journalists who covered the conclave. A photo of Ugaz presenting the Pope with a traditional Andean scarf ("chalina") captured the moment. It is to this occasion—held four days after his election—that Pope Leo referred in his message, which was read aloud at the theatre by Msgr. Jordi Bertomeu of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and apostolic commissioner for the Sodalitium case.

The Pope begins his message with three expressions of gratitude:

To the creators of Proyecto Ugaz, calling the production “not just theatre, but memory, protest, and above all, an act of justice,” giving voice to “a long-silenced pain.”

“The victims of the former spiritual family of the Sodalitium, along with the journalists who supported them with courage, patience, and commitment to the truth, reflect the wounded yet hopeful face of the Church. Your fight for justice is also the Church’s fight. A faith that does not touch the wounds of the human body and soul has not yet understood the Gospel,” he writes.

To those who have persevered, even when ignored, discredited, or subjected to legal attacks. The Pope recalls the 2018 Letter to the People of God by Pope Francis, written after his difficult visit to Chile and meetings with abuse victims: “The pain of the victims and their families is our pain too, and it is urgent that we renew our commitment to protect minors and vulnerable adults.”

Pope Leo emphasizes that true ecclesial reform is not rhetoric but a concrete path of humility, truth, and reparation: “Prevention and care are not just pastoral strategies—they are the heart of the Gospel.”

To Paola Ugaz herself, for her bravery in approaching Pope Francis on November 10, 2022, and speaking up for herself and fellow journalists Pedro Salinas, Daniel Yovera, and Patricia Lachira, who exposed abuses by a religious group operating in multiple countries but originating in Peru.

The Pope also acknowledges the broader harm caused by the Sodalitium, including financial abuses affecting entire communities such as those in Catacaos and Castilla.

Referring again to his remarks to media professionals on May 12, Pope Leo underlines that this was not just a formal greeting, but a reaffirmation of the sacred role of journalism:
“The truth does not belong to anyone—it is the responsibility of everyone to seek it, preserve it, and serve it,” he says.

Through his written message, read in a public theater, the Pope shares both his concern and hope for the people of Peru, “In this time of deep institutional and social tensions, defending free and ethical journalism is not only an act of justice, but a duty for all who aspire to a strong and participatory democracy.”

He appeals to Peruvian authorities, civil society, and every citizen to protect those who report the truth with integrity, from community radio stations to mainstream media, from rural areas to the capital. “Wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a country is weakened,” he writes.

The Pope concludes with a heartfelt message to all Peruvian communicators, “Do not be afraid. Through your work, you can be builders of peace, unity, and social dialogue. Be sowers of light in the shadows, "and he expresses his hope for a Church where no one must suffer in silence and where truth is not feared but embraced as a path to liberation

Pope Leo XIV addresses the Jubilee of Governments offering St. Thomas More as an example

 

Pope Leo XIV meets with political leaders during the Jubilee of Governments on June 21, 2025Pope Leo XIV meets with political leaders during the Jubilee of Governments on June 21, 2025  (@Vatican Media)

Pope: ‘St. Thomas More offers politicians example of martyr for primacy of conscience’

During the Jubilee of Governments, Pope Leo XIV meets with legislators from various nations and recalls the importance of natural law, entrusting them to St. Thomas More, whose "readiness to sacrifice his life rather than betray the truth makes him a martyr for freedom and for the primacy of conscience."

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"The courage St. Thomas More showed by his readiness to sacrifice his life rather than betray the truth makes him, also for us today, a martyr for freedom and for the primacy of conscience."

Pope Leo XIV made this observation about the 16th-century English saint and former Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain when addressing members of the International Inter-Parliamentary Union in the context of the Jubilee for Governments taking place this weekend in the Vatican.

Greeting the members of the delegations coming from 68 different countries, Pope Leo said politics has rightly been defined as “the highest form of charity.”

"If we consider the service that political life renders to society and to the common good," he said, "it can truly be seen as an act of Christian love, which is never simply a theory, but always a concrete sign and witness of God’s constant concern for the good of our human family."

In this regard, Pope Leo XIV delineated three considerations that he said he deems important in the current cultural context.



Promoting and protecting the good of the community

"The first," he noted, "concerns your responsibility to promote and protect, independent of any special interest, the good of the community, particularly by defending the vulnerable and the marginalized." He added that this would include, for example, "working to overcome the unacceptable disproportion between the immense wealth concentrated in the hands of a few and the world’s poor."

"Those who live in extreme conditions cry out to make their voices heard and often find no ears willing to hear their plea," he decried, observing, "This imbalance generates situations of persistent injustice, which readily lead to violence and, sooner or later, to the tragedy of war." 

"Sound politics, on the other hand, by promoting the equitable distribution of resources," the Pope explained, "can offer an effective service to harmony and peace both domestically and internationally."

Religious freedom and interreligious dialogue

Pope Leo XIV's second reflection concerned religious freedom and interreligious dialogue, an area which he said has taken on greater significance in the present time.

Political life, the Pope insisted, "can achieve much by encouraging the conditions for there to be authentic religious freedom and that a respectful and constructive encounter between different religious communities may develop."

"Belief in God, with the positive values that derive from it," he added, "is an immense source of goodness and truth for the lives of individuals and communities."

Pope Leo XIV addresses participants in the Jubilee of Governments (@Vatican Media)


Natural law as essential reference point

"In order to have a shared point of reference in political activity and not exclude a priori any consideration of the transcendent in decision-making processes," Pope Leo said, "it would be helpful to seek an element that unites everyone. To this end, an essential reference point is the natural law, written not by human hands, but acknowledged as valid in all times and places, and finding its most plausible and convincing argument in nature itself."

"Natural law, which is universally valid apart from and above other more debatable beliefs," the Pope continued, "constitutes the compass by which to take our bearings in legislating and acting, particularly on the delicate and pressing ethical issues that, today more than in the past, regard personal life and privacy."

The Holy Father also pointed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, approved and proclaimed by the United Nations on 10 December 1948, as part of humanity’s cultural heritage.

"That text, which is always relevant," he underscored, "can contribute greatly to placing the human person, in his or her inviolable integrity, at the foundation of the quest for truth, thus restoring dignity to those who do not feel respected in their inmost being and in the dictates of their conscience."

The challenge of artificial intelligence

The Pope turned to what he called the "major challenge" of artificial intelligence.

"This is a development that will certainly be of great help to society, provided that its employment does not undermine the identity and dignity of the human person and his or her fundamental freedoms," he said.

Despite its benefits, the Pope noted, "Our personal life has greater value than any algorithm, and social relationships require spaces for development that far transcend the limited patterns that any soulless machine can pre-package. Let us not forget that, while able to store millions of data points and answer many questions in a matter of seconds, artificial intelligence remains equipped with a 'static memory' that is in no way comparable to that of human beings."

“Let us not forget that, while able to store millions of data points and answer many questions in a matter of seconds, artificial intelligence remains equipped with a “static memory” that is in no way comparable to that of human beings.”

For these reasons, Pope Leo said, "Politics cannot ignore a challenge of this magnitude. On the contrary," he said, "it is called to respond to many citizens who rightly look with both confidence and concern at the issues raised by the new digital culture."

The witness and example of St. Thomas More

Finally, the Pope advised legislators around the world to turn to St. Thomas More. He recalled that during the Jubilee of the Year 2000, Saint John Paul II indicated the English saint as a witness for political leaders to revere and an intercessor under whose protection to place their work.

"Sir Thomas More," Pope Leo XIV said, "was a man faithful to his civic responsibilities, a perfect servant of the state precisely because of his faith, which led him to view politics not as a profession but as a mission for the spread of truth and goodness, who, the Pope remembered, 'placed his public activity at the service of the person, especially the weak and poor; he handled social disputes with an exquisite sense of justice; he protected the family and defended it with strenuous commitment; and he promoted the integral education of youth.'”

"The courage he showed by his readiness to sacrifice his life rather than betray the truth makes him, also for us today," Pope Leo underscored, "a martyr for freedom and for the primacy of conscience." 

“The courage he showed by his readiness to sacrifice his life rather than betray the truth makes him, also for us today a martyr for freedom and for the primacy of conscience.”

With this in mind, before imparting his Apostolic Blessing, the Holy Father concluded, praying, "May his example be a source of inspiration and guidance for each of you!"



Pope Leo XIV addresses participants in the Jubilee of Governments  (@Vatican Media)