St. Thomas More (1478-1535)

The St. Thomas More Society of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston is named for…

the 16th century lawyer, judge, and diplomat who became the first layman to serve as Lord Chancellor of England, the crown’s chief minister and its highest judicial officer.

St. Thomas More is the exemplar of a Catholic lawyer. He was a man of scholarship and action; contemplative prayer and public life; dedication to family and service to his country. But foremost, and most important of all, he was a witness to God and the Catholic faith. After a celebrated career, the most distinguished lawyer in England was martyred under Henry VIII for following his conscience by refusing to accede to Henry's claim to be the head of the church in England. In 1935 he was canonized on the 400th anniversary of his martyrdom and declared the patron saint of lawyers.

"The King’s good servant and God’s first." These last words of St. Thomas More have inspired Catholic lawyers for generations to persistently affirm this high calling through faithful instruction and example.

PRAYER TO ST. THOMAS MORE

Thomas More, counselor of law and statesman of integrity, merry martyr and most human of saints:

Pray that, for the glory of God and in the pursuit of His justice, I may be trustworthy with confidences, keen in study, accurate in analysis, correct in conclusion, able in argument, loyal to clients, honest with all, courteous to adversaries, ever attentive to conscience. Sit with me at my desk and listen with me to my clients' tales. Read with me in my library and stand always beside me so that today I shall not, to win a point, lose my soul.

Pray that my family may find in me what yours found in you: friendship and courage, cheerfulness and charity, diligence in duties, counsel in adversity, patience in pain -- their good servant, and God's first. Amen.