21/06/2026
22 June | Saint Thomas More
Thomas More is known for his 1516 book ‘Utopia’. He also died in 1535 after he was executed by King Henry VIII who was the head of the Church of England. It was his stark religious beliefs and leaning towards the Catholic church that led to the fallout with King Henry VIII. He often found himself clashing with the Protestants. More was against Reformist theology preached by William Tyndale and Martin Luther.
There is so much more about Thomas More, here are some of interesting facts about him:
1. Thomas More wanted to be a monk but ended up as a statesman
This was between 1503 and 1504 when More lived near the Carthusian monastery outside the walls of London.
He occasionally joined in the monks’ spiritual exercises and greatly admired their piety. Despite this, More resorted to remaining a layman and sought an elective seat.
2. Sir Thomas More coined the word Utopia
His most famous book is Utopia. More coined the word to mean an ideal place that does not exist.
3. He opposed King Henry VIII’s separation from the Catholic Church
Thomas More worked for King Henry VIII. More was highly regarded by other staff. He was also a staunch believer in the doctrines of the Catholic Church and the Papal office.
When King Henry VIII wanted to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Thomas strongly opposed it. According to More, it was against the Church.
King Henry VIII had wanted to leave the Catholic Church and consequently, Thomas refused to take the Oath of Supremacy. This Oath meant he acknowledged the King’s supremacy as head of the Church of England. Thomas was executed in 1535. His last words were “I die the King’s good servant, and God’s first”.
4. He was considered one of the Revolutionary Thinkers
This was because of the Communist attitude to property in his Utopia. Under Soviet Communism, the name of Thomas More was 9th from the top of Moscow’s Stele of Freedom (also known as the Obelisk of Revolutionary Thinkers).
He was credited as one of the most influential thinkers “who promoted the liberation of humankind from oppression, arbitrariness, and exploitation.”
5. More did not let go of his religious convictions even after he was arrested
One thing about More courageous and very steadfast when it came to his religious beliefs.
This was even more evident during his imprisonment, trial, and ex*****on. He gained more respect among Roman Catholics even after his death.
6. He defended the Catholic Church and its traditions
When Martin Luther attacked Henry VIII in print calling him a “pig, dolt, and liar”. More, at the king’s request, composed a rebuttal: the Responsio ad Lutherum was published at the end of 1523.
In the rebuttal, he defended papal supremacy, the sacraments, and other Church traditions. His confrontation with Luther established More’s theological conservatism.
7. Only his daughter witnessed his ex*****on
On the day of his ex*****on, More recited the Miserere (Psalm 51, the penitential psalms) while kneeling. His ex*****oner allegedly begged his pardon, at which More rose merrily, kissed him and gave him forgiveness.
More’s last wish was that his adopted daughter Margaret Clement (née Giggs) be given his headless co**se to bury.
She was the only member of his family to witness his ex*****on. He was buried at the Tower of London, in the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula in an unmarked grave.
He is the patron saint of adopted children lawyers, civil servants, politicians, and difficult marriages.
St. Thomas More, pray for us!
Source:
Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Sir Thomas More — Discover Walks Blog [by Lilian on March 28, 2022}
