Martyr · Remembered on June 22
St. Thomas More
St. Thomas More is remembered on June 22 in Bless’s calendar of saints. Traditionally invoked as patron of lawyers, politicians, and difficult marriages. Below: a short life and 4 sourced quotations in their own words.
| Remembered on | June 22 |
|---|---|
| Title | Martyr |
| Died | 1535 |
| Patron of | lawyers, politicians, difficult marriages |
| In their own words | 4 sourced quotations |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
Lawyer, scholar, and the wittiest man in England; Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII and author of Utopia. When the king broke with Rome over his marriage, More resigned, kept silence, and was condemned on perjured testimony.
On the scaffold he declared himself ‘the king’s good servant, but God’s first,’ and moved his beard from the block — it, at least, had committed no treason.
Patron of
Tradition invokes St. Thomas More as patron of lawyers, politicians, and difficult marriages.
Patronages are traditional, not an official list. All patron saints in Bless, A to Z.
In their own words
Each quotation names the work it comes from. Bless quotes these in the comments beside the verses listed under In Scripture.
I trust I shall not fear, since the Lord will not let my fear overcome me.
I die the King's good servant, but God's first.
Give me, good Lord, a longing to be with Thee, not for the avoiding of the calamities of this wretched world, nor so much for the attaining of the joys of heaven, as even for a very love of Thee.
Tribulation is a gracious gift of God, which He sends to those He loves.
In Scripture
In Bless, St. Thomas More’s words appear in the comments beside these verses. This page’s labels say how each is linked: “on this verse” means the saint wrote about that very verse; “on this theme” means the quotation shares its theme. Scripture is quoted from the Catholic Public Domain Version.
On this theme
My enemies have trampled over me all day long. For those who make war against me are many.
Psalm 55:3 · CPDV Beside their words: “I trust I shall not fear, since the Lord will not let my fear overcome me.”
On this theme
For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you?
Psalm 72:25 · CPDV Beside their words: “Give me, good Lord, a longing to be with Thee, not for the avoiding of the calamities of…”
On this theme
Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not turn away, for I am your God. I have strengthened you, and I have assisted you, and the right hand of my just one has upheld you.
Isaiah 41:10 · CPDV Beside their words: “I trust I shall not fear, since the Lord will not let my fear overcome me.”
On this theme
They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Then render to Caesar what is of Caesar; and to God what is of God.”
Matthew 22:21 · CPDV Beside their words: “I die the King's good servant, but God's first.”
On this theme
But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: “It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.
Acts 5:29 · CPDV Beside their words: “I die the King's good servant, but God's first.”
On this theme
And not only that, but we also find glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation exercises patience,
Romans 5:3 · CPDV Beside their words: “Tribulation is a gracious gift of God, which He sends to those He loves.”
On this theme
For I am constrained between the two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is the far better thing,
Philippians 1:23 · CPDV Beside their words: “Give me, good Lord, a longing to be with Thee, not for the avoiding of the calamities of…”
On this theme
For whomever the Lord loves, he chastises. And every son whom he accepts, he scourges.
Hebrews 12:6 · CPDV Beside their words: “Tribulation is a gracious gift of God, which He sends to those He loves.”
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Thomas More. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Thomas More keeps June 22 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of June.
All the saints of June Born on June 22? A saint for every day
Spotted a mistake in a date, a patronage or a quotation? Report an error and we’ll fix it in the app and here.