June 22, 2017 - Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More - "The highest expression of faith"

Saint Paul wrote to Timothy: “For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.”
Many such times arose throughout Church history; many, not long after Paul penned those words from prison, himself arrested for preaching the Gospel.

St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More lived in such a time. Catholicism had flourished in England for nearly over thousand years, when the king sought to make himself head of the Church. You’d think that this claim would be met with clear denunciation on the part of the country’s bishops; but no. And even though our Blessed Lord made St. Peter and his successors the head of the Church while he still walked the earth, all save one of the Bishops folded to political pressure, and spoke the words the king wished to hear.

One lone bishop witnessed to the true faith with his life, that bishop was St. John Fisher.

St. Thomas More had been chancellor of the kingdom, the highest office in the land, next to the throne. He too was being pressured to acknowledge the king’s authority to redefine marriage. He resigned his office, and stood up to the king, who was his friend. For this he was imprisoned, and eventually beheaded.

Listen again to the collect prayer for today’s feast: “O God, who in martyrdom have brought true faith to its highest expression.” Faith is brought to highest expression when we stand up for the faith amidst worldly pressures. When we teach true doctrine, even when the world longs to hear with itching ears, teachings which will suit their own desires.

Each of us is called witness to the truth of the true faith in our own lives: it is a matter both of professing that faith with our lips—with our words—and with our actions.  We each face difficult moral choices, and the faith must be our guiding light, even when we know that the difficult decision will involve hardship or suffering.

The eve of John Fisher and Thomas More each year begins a fortnight of prayer for religious freedom in our country. During this fortnight of prayer for freedom, we do well to invoke the intercession of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More for freedom from government interference in the practice of the faith, and for our ability to stand courageously for the truth of the faith, even to suffer for it if necessary, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our bishops and clergy may be zealous in preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel, and that our future bishop of the diocese of Cleveland may be a man of true faith and the Holy Spirit.

That through the intercession of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, this fortnight of prayer for religious freedom may help people of faith may remain vigilant in defending their religious liberty and united in making their voice heard on behalf of the rights of the Church.

That our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors of our culture, and that their families may be places where the faith is practiced and cherished.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, especially Fr. John Jenkins, who died this week, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.