The Last Letters of Thomas More

Rating:
Summary: A Magnificent Portrait of heroism & reluctant sainthood
Review: THE LAST LETTERS of THOMAS MORE comprise what Soren Kierkegaard termed "Edifying" discourse. It is summons to spiritual confrontation with oneself in, and over-against radical circumstances--life perspectives or even World Order--that threaten ontological integrity and salvic destiny of THE PERSON. Our Post-Modernist (Deconstructionist) milieu epitomizes/poses this threat. This is manifest to anyone who subscribes to an essential anthropological-spiritual claim of humanity upon unique PERSONhood and Salvation.The irony is PM-moderns deny ontological integrity. [Humans create HUMAN-ity by "choices" of sexual-political orientation. These subtend COMMUNITIES whose nature superficially is materialistic,liberating and aggrandizing but whose driving force(entelechy)is SELF-APOTHEOSIS.]

To Thomas More, self-apotheosis of King Henry VIII(1509-1547)... English King declaring himself Head of the Church founded by Christ 1500 years earlier and superintended by Bishops(Popes) beginning with St. Peter...constituted radical threat to Christian Man's salvic destiny as well as rupture in World Order(Christendom). Personal-spiritual dangers of Henry's REVOLUTION (its intention profoundly altered Luther's project and hope for REFORMATION) were neither obvious nor vital to common men, power-bedazzled bureaucrats, or a craven aristocracy eager to conform to, or abet what would metastasize into New Order of the Ages. More's perspicacious understanding of Medieval God-Centered (Christ as LOGOS) society in fundamental conflict with emerging, man-as-God Centered (specifically: Henry V III)society led to his oppositon. This opposition--reluctant at first--steels adamant; and is officially adjudged treasonous defiance.For treason: Thomas More,renowned scholar,lawyer,knight; former Chancellor and personal friend and counselor to the King was beheaded on July 6,1535.

THE LAST LETTERS of THOMAS MORE consists of three parts. The first is excellent introduction by Fr. Alvaro De Silva which discusses well-known historical-religious context which led to imprisonment of Sir Thomas More in the Tower of London in April of 1534. The focus of this preface(ironically titled, GOOD COMPANY)is brief but incisive commentary on More's notion of CONSCIENCE(pp. 8-11).The latter should be studied as crucial to fair reading of the Letters and grasp of the character of the "Man for All Seasons" in the complexity and dire danger which his singular allegiance to Conscience placed him. Part two consists of 24 Letters comprising correspondance of More from the Tower of London; or concerning his imprisonment for refusal to sign the OATH abiding in the ACT of SUPREMACY. The crucial letter is number 12( August 1534; pp.72-89). Although "written" by More's daughter Margaret to her sister Alice, the missive is elaborate explication...as far as More ever stated...of Sir Thomas' understanding of CONSCIENCE (the word is cited more than 40 times). This notion is not Post-Modernist misunderstanding of Shakespeare's "To Thine Own Self Be True". To More, Conscience is a faculty of Judgement. An OBLIGATION to know and conform to the LAW(ultimately of God). [Peter Ackroyd discusses the notion of Law...as More lived and died it...in chapter 6: "Duty is the Love of the Law" in his extraordinary biography THE LIFE OF THOMAS MORE.] More's concept of concscience has nothing in common with "emotion"; belief or relativistic SELF-determination. It is in fact humble yielding to TRUTH and acting on it rightly; (or admitting one's sin in deliberate failing in Right Conduct). De Silva presents The Letters with minimal commentary reserved to technical/semantic clarification of "olde" English phraseology.

Part Three (pp.131-194) is a fascinating COMMENTARY on each Letter. Although this section is relatively short, the expertise of the author illumines and challenges readers to marvel at and respect the courage of Thomas More. Kierkegarrdian terms FEAR & TREMBLING; and PURITY of HEART is to WILL ONE THING; urge themselves upon one's realization of the terror confronting More re-echoed...centuries later...by Alexander Solzhenitsyn: "How can you stand your ground when you are weak, and sensitive to pain, when the people you love are still alive when you are unprepared? What do you need to make you stronger than the interrogator and the whole trap?"

THE LAST LETTERS of THOMAS MORE may provide answers to an Age that cossets deceit and applauds/glorifies liars. This book is magnificent portrait of reluctant heroism and even more reluctant sainthood. More was an extraordinary man; yet the final Letter (written the day before his execution with a piece of charcoal)to his daughter Margaret expresses simplicity and guileless love in blessing to family and friends of high and common estate. It is touching fair well; devoid of defiance, resentment or fear. Is this not a Book for All Seasons? For students of history, philosophy; or wandering minds seeking moral anchor, it is. Why did Fr. De Silva write about Sir Thomas...canonized St. Thomas More? The answer may be in the way More lived and was able to die: AMGD-- ad maiorum Glorium Dei...for the Greater Glory Of God. (10 stars)