<p>St. Thomas More is a saint that is widely recognized in the church today, especially here in the United States.&nbsp; St. Thomas More was born in London in 1478.&nbsp; He had a thorough education in both religion and the classics, and then entered Oxford to study law. &nbsp;</p> <p>After leaving Oxford University he began a legal career, which took him to Parliament.&nbsp; In 1505 he married and had four children with his wife, but she passed away at a young age.&nbsp; He then married a widow, who became a good mother for his young children. &nbsp;</p> <p>This well educated man also known as a reformer, had a circle of Bishops and Scholars as his friends.&nbsp; In 1516, he wrote his world famous book &ldquo;Utopia&rdquo;.&nbsp; This attracted the attention of Henry VIII who appointed him to a succession of high posts and missions, and finally made him Lord Chacellor in 1529.&nbsp; However, when Henry VIII persisted in holding his own opinions regarding marriage and the supremacy of the Pope, Thomas resigned. &nbsp;</p> <p>St. Thomas More spent the rest of his life writing, mostly in defense of the Church.&nbsp; In 1534 with his close friend St. John Fisher, he refused to render allegiance to the King as the Head of the Church of England and was confined to the Tower.&nbsp; Fifteen months later, and just nine days after St. John Fisher&rsquo;s execution, he was tried and convicted of treason.&nbsp; He told the court that he could not go against his conscience and wished his judges that &ldquo;we may yet hereafter in heaven merrily all meet together to everlasting salvation&rdquo;.&nbsp; On the scaffold he told the crowd of spectators that he was dying as &ldquo;the King&rsquo;s good servant, but God first&rdquo;.&nbsp; He was beheaded on July 6, 1535. &nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Practical Take Away</span></strong></p> <p>St. Thomas More spent his life studying, learning, and writing about the faith so that his life and work may be an example to all those after him.&nbsp; He shows us that we can be in the world, and in our governments, but that we must always keep our eyes fixed on God first.&nbsp; His resilient desire to serve God &ldquo;first&rdquo;, and the King &ldquo;second&rdquo;, cost him his life.&nbsp; But even at death&rsquo;s door, he wished his judges that they would all be united in Heaven, in &ldquo;Everlasting Salvation&rdquo;.&nbsp; What a heroic virtue of forgiveness of his acusers &ndash; and something that we can draw strength from.&nbsp; When we are faced with making a decision to follow the world or God &ndash; let us draw from St. Thomas More, and always choose God first.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>