St. Thomas More - 5

St. Thomas More - 5
The website – cinops be gone – Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008

More’s Early Years – 4 - 38-40

Following the text of the biography, More gives us a greater insight into what interests him about Pico by providing a selection of the Italian humanist’s letters, all of which consists of instructions the Christian spirituality. In these, major themes of More’s own spiritual life readily emerges, as in Pico’s comments on the value of the Scriptures in nourishing the needs of the soul:

“Thou mayest do nothing more pleasant to God, nothing more profitable to thyself, than if thine hand cease not day and night to turn and read the volumes of Holy Scripture. There lieth, privily in them a certain heavenly strength, quick and effectual, which with a marvelous power transformeth and changeth the reader’s mind into the love of God….”

Describing prayer and almsgiving as the two wings with which we are to rise from earth to heaven, Pico advises that we cannot expect God to hear our prayers if we turn a deaf ear to the cries of the poor. If we desire health and protection from the devil, our enemies, and the vicissitudes of this life, and if we wish to make ourselves pleasing to God, let no day pass, Pico recommends, without at least some prayer to the Almighty.

More also translated Pico’s commentary on Psalm 16. The opening words of the psalm, “Preserve me, O God” (v.1), are for Pico an expression of humility, an acknowledgment that the just man is dependent upon God for his virtues, as Saint Paul indicates in asking, “What have you that you did not receive?” Cor.4:7

The last third of More’s edition of the Life of John Picus is taken up with poems that are in large part the translator’s own composition inspired by the ideas of Pico. The first set of verses, “Twelve Rules” of “Spiritual Battle”, treats the soul’s ongoing war with its enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil. Thus “Seventh Rule” addresses the temptation of taking pride in one’s actions, proposing humility as the antidote”

“Sometime he {the devil} secretly casteth in thy mind,
Some laudable deed to stir thee to pride,
As vainglory maketh many a man blind,
But let humility be thy sure guide,
Thy good work to God let it be applied
Think it not thine, but a gift of his,
Of whose grace undoubtedly all goodness is.”

The Passion of Christ permeates the stanzas of the “Fourth Rule”, which stresses that in resisting each particular temptation, we conform ourselves to a corresponding attribute of Christ in His sufferings:
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In closing, it would be a good idea to look through the eyes of a Thomas More Study Group on American politics and religion. Mark your calendar for Thursday, Jan. 22nd, 2009 from 7 – 9 P.M. @ Haskett Library – 2650 W. Broadway, Anaheim, Ca. Hope to see you there in the New Year. Happy New Year!

George H. Kubeck, P.O. Box 865, Stanton, Ca. 90680-9998