St. Thomas More and the Law

Introduction:

Here lies a Moorish saint,

in life and death

fortified wall of the Church

martyr to honor both

was Thomas and safer

Bautista was Thomas

it was no turning back

martyr, dead, and Moorish wall.

Lope de Vega. Rhymes

The last great tip for Moro was not the executioner, but for humanity. When camp is mentioned in the questions themselves or others come as inevitable hoses Did this man a substantial contribution to the legal world? A cataract of ink has fallen by more than a thesis, essay or book. Is it one of the pioneers of criminology and says Rodriguez Manzarena? A contributor to the bucolic image of the colonized as Zaffaroni says? He has been questioned, suspected and applauded him and his most famous work, Utopia Is this a literary digression irrelevant? A masterpiece? What time lived this good Christian? When he wrote his account of the world perhaps ever and why?

Being patron of lawyers can be a hard job and how the Church could not canonize Alberdi (although some keep trying) someone had to fill the position. These and many questions led me to conclude that while there were certain topics which, for large and deep could not cover, there would be others who are. Others, I would find the lessons that a Moor alive today could donate to the "paupers peccatoribus shysters?. This is intended as a point to try a couple of response as a humble about filial homage. This is why:

We do not intend:

1 .- delving into biographical details in others, with historical craft have already been dwelt better than we could.

2 .- To explore the full richness of this holy but rather contributions to the field of law arising from his life and work. Otherwise exceed the limits of prudence and sound work.

Yes we intend to:

1 .- Moro was not simply a reflection of the conflict of his time. Moro was a man of a single kingdom and its consistency led him to martyrdom.

2 - That Henry VIII who was once a good man, suffered from the existence of Moro as the survival of consciousness

3 - That Utopia is not a minor work and a previous pre-revolutionary

4 - What More was a precursor, which in legal matters forward bases than just 200 years later the Accademia dei enlightened and caffeinated Pugni (Biffi, Franci, Verri and Beccaria Marques whole) could be synthesized.

For a long time the figure of the Lord Chancellor was not fully understood and still doubts remain. Why? Because I still see as a man who must choose to face a conflict. That should solve a complex dilemma. Must find a solution. That ultimately is faced with a challenge that still must think, still doubt. And in fact, Moro has chosen some time, the situation is for him an accident, a sad case that will bear up to its title, like a gentleman.

Portrait of an ordinary man

"... Language and practical man in the Common Law,

of keen intelligence and full of imagination, but

jokes that were fond of their seriousness dishonor?

Hall, at the time of the appointment of Chancellor

Prayer of humor:

Grant, Lord, good digestion, and also something to digest.

Give me health of body, with good humor necessary to maintain it.

Give me, Lord, a holy soul who can take advantage of what is good and pure, so do not be afraid to sin, but find a way to put things back in order.

Give me a soul that knows no boredom, gossip, sighs and moans and do not let too suffer from this become so dominant that is called ME.

Give me, Lord, sense of humor.

Grant me the grace to understand the jokes, to know in life a little joy and you can communicate it to others.

So be it.

Beatified by Pope Leo XIII on December 29, 1886 and elevated to sainthood by Pope Pius XII on February 10, 1935 must be said that Sir Thomas was not a perfect lawyer. Ever ill advised Erasmus exchange on an issue that cost him his good weights. It was a perfect politician, once during a speech harshly criticized Wolsey, the outgoing chancellor, Sir Thomas was a man, a man who was right was wrong, suffered and loved. A man of flesh and blood whose merit was to live in, by and for Christ, was the saint of that much-neglected issue of "duty status?, Was a distinguished Roman pater but elevated to the supernatural plane by the Grace of God. The man whose vocation was conducted between divine charity and human solidarity.

Second of four children was born on February 7, 1478, in London, within a family that today we would call middle class, or as he described it "honest without being famous? and not far from the birthplace of Thomas Becket. His father was John More, knight and judge and her mother Anna Granger. He began his studies at San Antonio de Threadneadle Street which finalized the trivium of medieval studies (Latin / rhetoric / logic).

Following a custom of the time, about twelve, he entered as a boarder at the home of Archbishop John Morton, Chancellor of Henry VII. Your stay at Lambeth Palace in Utopia remember that "their conversation? (Morton) "was neat and precise, deep knowledge, his ability was not compared and admirably retentive memory: his natural abilities were enhanced by his studies and practice?. After his father, the Archbishop became his great teacher and friend. This time it is presumed his love of theater.

At fourteen (1492) continued his studies at Oxford for a couple of years. It was there that he met William Grocyn, who was his spiritual director who probably began in the Greek. For those lares befriended Colet, Tunstall, Colt, Lily and other thinkers who form a real humanist movement, though varied in nuances. In 1494 and at the insistence of his father returns to London to study law at the New Inn, law school less dependent on the Lincoln's Inn, before moving on to this.

Four years in the monastery was taken to test his vocation. Meditation and then practiced mortification for him would be priceless items that would accompany it forever. Deepening the Common Law found in the work of Bracton De legibus et consuetudinibus Angliae Fortescue and the base of its legal and political. In 1499 Erasmus met with a friend who will keep enriching. Around 1501 decided to initiate the Utter-Barrister (kind of practice to practice law at all levels). In 1504 he was elected a deputy, had then twenty-seven.

In 1505 he married Jane Colt who instructed her in music and literature. This couple had four children: Margaret, Elizabeth, Cecilia, and John. His wife died in childbirth probably the last child, in his epitaph written in a sweet Moro unusual for that time: "Here lies Jane, the beloved little wife of Thomas More? . While remarries with Alice Middleton, a widow, seven years his senior and a daughter: Alicia

Sons living in his house, wards, a buffoon, a number of servants and guests, exercising the profession in London, Moro specializes in commercial and maritime law: the Livery Companies and The Merchant Adventurers become their main customers.

In 1510 he was appointed Under-Sheriff of London, an official with administrative and judicial powers. Erasmus will tell us that "nobody has decided more cases than he, or shown no greater honor. Generally condone the coast that is taxed to the parties ... With this form has been well liked in the city?. Then complete his classical studies under the tutelage of John Colet. A couple of years later to be named ambassador ad hoc to solve business problems or political Flanders Calais. In 1517, May 1 is a great uproar against foreign merchants (The Evil May-day) Moro sweltering with unparalleled diplomatic skills. The young King Henry was already an invaluable appreciation for Thomas and he claims to practically ordered him to be at your service. The cursus honorum be as fast as dramatic: First Minister, Vice-treasurer of the Exchequer, High Steward of Oxford, Cambridge, Speaker to the Commons, Chancellor of Lancaster.

Appointed chancellor in 1529 and could defend (with Thomas Abell) Catalina's position (for whom he felt respect and veneration). But the fire has begun. In 1531 it broke with the Church of Rome by the "Act of Supremacy?, Subtle rule, under the formula of:" as far as the law of Christ allows? (Within the limits of the law of Christ) and in 1533 will run out of euphemisms to designate the king "Head of the Church of England?. Did not wait then the "Act of Succession? declaring illegitimate children Catherine (Mary Tudor), and only legitimate to Anne Boleyn. Already in 1531 Sir Thomas was to insist that the King accepted the resignation.

Receive as the summons to appear at Lambeth, before the royal commissioners to be sworn in to join the "Act of Succession?. After two inquisitive questioning entrenched in his reasons of conscience ("no layman could be head of the spiritual?) Will be taken to the Tower of London where it will go to the gallows ...

In this last period of his life are the Dialogue of comfort in the Tribulation, and the Treaty on the Passion of Christ, when he ran out of ink written with coal ...

He had time to write a farewell to his family and a final prayer: "Almighty God, have pity on me and all who hate me and want to cause evil, their faults, along with mine, by the easy means, full of tenderness and your infinite wisdom, mercy find suitable, attempts to correct and straighten, and make our souls happy in heaven together, where we live and love, together with you and your blessed saints. Oh glorious Trinity!, By the sorrowful Passion of Christ our Saviour sweet! Amen?

Facing the gallows, his mood was that of a whole man to his escort asked her to "help him up, because to lose not need help?. He rose serene reciting the penitential psalm and gave up after that of "in the Faith and for the Faith of the Catholic Church, the King's good servant But God's first? (The Faith and the Catholic Faith, King's good servant but God's first) tipped his executioner charging him not harm his beard because she was "not guilty of anything? and himself, rested his head on the block ... ran out of coal and continued to write with blood ...

Carlos V Sir Thomas Elyot tell, ambassador of England: "We understand that the King, your master has ordered the death of his faithful servant the Chancellor, powerful and wise, Sir Thomas More ... If we had been masters of such a server, whose actions have had for many years rich experience, before we would have lost the best city of our dominions that a Chancellor so valuable?.

Changing Times

Christian humanists could have on their side right, authority and tradition,

but they were too civilized to deal with the titanic forces

released by Luther Martíin

The Movement of World Revolution,

Christopher Dawson,

Notes of his work:

Poetry

For the Lac Puerorum (Latin epigrams)

Progymnastica (Greek epigrams with William Lily)

A rueful lamentation for the death of Queen Elizabeth

Theater

Own works are unknown, the more your inluencia is verified:

Henry and Lucrece Fulgens Medwall

Callisto and John Rastell Melebea

The four elements of John Heywood

Biography

Life of Johan Picus, Earle of Mirandula, a great Lorde of Italy.

History of Richard III (which influenced the composition Shakespearean)

Controversial Writings

Letter to Martin Drop in 1515

Letters to the University of Oxford

Letters to Germain de Brie

Letters to Edward Lee 1519

Letter "a monk? 1520

the substantial contribution to Septem Sacramentorum Assertio 1521

Vindicatio Henrici VIII, in 1523 Lutherum

Letter to Bugenhagen Iohannis (Pomeranus 1525) defending the papal supremacy.

Concerning Dyalogueb Herecies Matters of Religion and ... touchynge the Sect of Luther and Pestilent 1529 Tyndale

The Supplycacyon of Souls 1529 against the confiscation of church property.

A 1532 Confutacyon of Tyndale's Answer

The Apology of Syr Thomas More, Knight 1533

Debellacyon of Salem and Bizance 1533

Answer to the ... Poysoned Booke ... named the Souper of the Lord 1533

Treaties

The Four Last Things 1522

The Domini 1534 Passionis Expositio

Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulacyon 1534

Speeches, conferences, commentaries and letters.

Common sense suggests and good historians confirm that the transition from one epoch to another is given by the sharp milestones that we paint our fine shot (by volume and content) textbooks. But for complex processes, sometimes, difficult dimension. The transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance has attracted streams of ink in this regard. So much so that some authors have chosen to call a "protorenacimiento?. The P. A. Berdyaev citing Saenz explained that "in those early days there were still too many Christian elements, too early medieval cosmology stated that the purpose of returning to classical antiquity and pagan, could erase the baptismal character. The Renaissance could not be fully pagan?, Or would my friend Jorge Richieri on the platform of a "strange time?. Arbitrary transition time in the century could mark that goes from 1450 to 1550. Return and subject to the classics but also forecast the future not only in artistic expression but also in political theory and other areas of thought. The printing press multiplied their turns immortal. Savonarola stuns with his "Sermons?. Boticelli shifts the delicacy of his brush in the "Birth of Venus?.

Widmar invents the + and - and the compass meant to tell us where to go when it's breakfast Machiavelli The Prince who has to decide that issue. Time arts and discoveries genius and misery. These are the days when Francois Villon go from inn to inn to escape the cold and the wolves composing those verses among sensitive and rude. Manutius printed to Aristotle, the Tudors come and go and the Mona Lisa smile nobody knows why. Front: the prize of the Reconquista, a new world is discovered: America and the hope of a better man. Behind an old world that breaks: Luther and the bitter wound of a large separation.

Said contradiction and paradox. In this context, the role of England is no small thing, almost as part of its essence. We land and static, and dynamic urbecentrismo; to live in and for eternity, a world of monkeys watchmakers; of quality over quantity; of proportion to the view hierarchy, of the work to the artist; a world where bulls or ducats listed in the tables of the powerful and renewed claims where the Greco-Latin would live in the shadow infinite Gothic dome. In this landscape the humanist movement weaves invisible networks thanks to the triumph of the epistolary genre.

More: Man of a kingdom.

"... It does not bother me much of what is said of me,

so that God approves my actions.?

Letter to Erasmus

More was a man of his time. Time as we admit of crisis and transition. But it shows a linear growth, undoubtedly a product capable of retaining magnanimity Grace. Sanctifying grace which makes ordering a Christian who uses the paradox, in a paradoxical world often make use of the Christian. But unlike Check, Elyot, Lily or other contemporaries, because he is a Christian humanist, put another way is a Christian who wanted to be and was fully human. We respectfully disagree then Vázquez de Prada or Massini. It is not that he wanted to unite two cultures, that have wanted to retain the traditional heritage of the Middle Ages and also accept the new scientific currents in terms of contradiction. There are no data to discern here a competition between two disparate ideologies vying for a conscience. In fact it is fair to remember that the dismissal of the Middle Ages was not entirely happy, Chambers admits (speaking of manners and education Moro) that even the stories of chivalry did not cause the slightest impression on him. However, there are other, a faith that think and live as naturally as described evangelical practiced: "Ye are the salt of the earth (...) You are the light of the world? (Mt 5, 13-14) and Moro is light: The great counselor, skilled mediator, intellectual scholar.

Moro is salt: The loving husband, the controversial lawyer, politician rectum. This is a man who reads his time from an alpha and omega, from Christ. And it is capable of bringing this consistency to Heaven.

Rather than comparing ourselves personally, the Moro problem in this regard is not unlike that of any of us as to the intention of maintaining a Christian worldview in the world in the era of computer Coke and a condom. Oversocialized say a psycho exegete, is as capable of serving a table, arguing with a King, resolving international trade conflict or family enjoy a chat with the same sense of humr on her lips. There is no time questioning the contrary, few men are so representative of the sixteenth century. But do not be fooled, the option has been taken long ago, probably at twenty-three when the cycle of lectures on "The City of God: It's above all a soldier of Christ.

Utopia: Sense and style

"Utopia is not a goal but an example of a way?

Javier, 3 am in a bar in Corrientes

When young Ousset told us that Utopia was a work more of the catalog of pre-revolutionary thought curiously coinciding with the opinion of not a few revolutionaries. Opinion has been lighter than others (insurance guided by the best intentions) to minimize the genius of the work as "one of those beautiful dreams that made and some spirits to escape the evils and the tedium of the realities?. Moro himself (in excess of modesty) has contributed to this idea in his letter to Gillis wrote his Utopia explaining that stealing time to sleep and only when he saved them from their occupations and home care.

More grown and in college or beyond, we read with fear and trembling that Utopia could be considered both as a piece of estimable value for the communist Karl Marx-Engels Institute in the then Soviet Union, as an apology Anabaptist, as a contribution to pastoral imagery of the colonized or the inexplicable sense of a contradictory Inquisitor At this point we have not been (communion of saints by) choice but to drop a laugh surely shared by the great Chancellor.

The other question is banal response to what we were talking at first Moro spiritual progress is linear (in the broadest sense, as we all know about progress and setbacks in this field). 1515 and 1516 are the years that sees the 2nd. and 1st. parts of this work "festive? was then 35 and 36 years. It was then a grown man, in the fullness of his thought, a man who was far from naive when ever even come closer to innocence. I knew long hours of prayer, fasting and mortification knew the business but also worldly miseries chicanezcos policies and legal tangle, and perhaps pray that very much. Moro was too serious to write for fun and fun to write too seriously. Utopia ("nowhere?) Is really the desire for a eutopia (" the best place?). The sharp arrows of his intelligence indicate it hurts the country as a pale reflection of the heavenly homeland and this is true not of an ideal state and a Christian but a rational state that follows the natural law, a State seasoned by travel Vespusio (contempt of gold, community property, so in vogue then.)

A State which seeks to show "not that paganism is better than Christianity? but "that some Christians are worse than the heathen?.

Hence, without understanding this, one might think that one who gave his life among other things not to validate an illegitimate divorce, endorse divorce. Let him who kept a large family in a certain standard of living, believing in communism of property. Let him who loved his father until the final blessing, sponsored eugenics. Let him who devoted his political task to limit the incubation of Machiavellianism was coming, conducive to totalitarianism. We regret that, as stated by E. L. Revol hearers of the likes of Vazquez de Quiroga, make a literal reading having wanted to run entirely on Mexican soil, the "social plan Moro? (For hospitals peoples' organization), that itself should be a "dystopia?. By the way, just misguided (if there was a possible Utopia in America carried the Jesuits in the south and the Franciscans in the north; pity that after someone is charged with implementing them). This is just the style of the work and how to penetrate without being draft. Utopia is not paradise unattainable, it is a rational state and may yet Revelation can achieve the status quo of the Republic of Plato and enjoy Laws.

In fact, this Utopia is so anchored in the reality that's why we discuss it further. Mesnard said: "An important part is devoted to criticism of contemporary institutions and their most glaring injustices?

"The very nature reveals island of Utopia, and its proximity to a continent (Europe), divided by war, the complaint and confirmed. In the second part of the work, the first time, the criticism is indirect, oblique, as stated, but the first, in the palace of John Morton, is direct and immediate.? .

When a Christian man has a great learning and profound intellectual charity can not help but cry out for justice is not among his own. St. John the Baptist to this part has been typical of saints to be heard even unto martyrdom. Each in its time limitations and knows there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. He knew this better than anyone, but his days were not ours. The written is written and what today might be a success tomorrow could be grounds for treason.

How can then express the claim by the state of hunger and servitude of the peasants who saw their land invaded by sheep? Against the cruelty of the punishment for the crime of theft? Against the barren wars motivated by the ambition of princes? Against the lazy arrogance of abusing his servants? Against a supposedly Christian society that barely met the natural law knowable? Note that it took several years before Utopia was translated from Latin (professional and artistic language to sign up one time and humanists also vied for the use of national languages) Moro was not Bacon, his writings do not flatter the powerful, not intended confuse an ideal state with the myth of indefinite progress, rather the opposite.

Now, the humanist movement had its style: a fine irony that speed reading could be labeled "post-modern? (Or perhaps, as noted Prévost, the irony should be understood as that which is to express things comically serious background and mood as the ability to drop more serious nonsense fearless). But do not abuse this exercise to detract all but intellectual pirouette behind every school should have a moral, it is not widespread and barren mockery of Lucian, Plato is laughter. A sly mockery to the exaggerated pomp of those parody Tilinga the seriousness with rosettes baroque. One time the Chancellor Wolsey was presented to parliament with his court (archers, axemen, secretaries, etc.). With the clear intention of influencing the decision of this body, in their refusal to pay a sum to maintain exageradísima troops from a useless war. Did the Chancellor challenged the deputies but no one answered, exasperated against the sudden silencing of the representatives faced his loose body president explained that "the Communists are confused by the presence of such noble character?.

This was Moro and so wrote his work. Only he could give such an answer. The paradox is a Christian resource, the Great King is just a simple carpenter and without death there is life, this weapon that years later his compatriot, the fat Chesterton, skillfully wield, was drawn by his brother in England that time.

Utopia is thus a critical review 120 pages of hopeful but formulated as a paradox, in dialogue form the classical style tinged with irony, who maintains the coherence is not taken too seriously himself, who claims to a homeland denies better and tyranny. Two centuries later explicitly formulate these ideas would cause more of a headache to the Earl of Beccaria. Utopia is a genius in his continent recreational and content legal and political prophecy.

Kill awareness

"In recent times I am sure that among Christians,

charity was never diminished, nor the holy and virtuous life

was never less used, nor God himself never

was less revered, honored and served?

Henry VIII before Parliament

a year before his death

Anyone who has ever traveled life immersed in an institution, secular or religious, occupational or recreational purposes, public or private, knows that it can be very unpleasant at the time of retirement. It is not the same to be President to be ex-president (ask Alfonsin) is not the same to be Colonel who retired Colonel. It is not the same to be ex-Chancellor Chancellor, is slowly losing perks and ancestors, real or implied, which are no longer the same, the wage decreases, friends no longer call as often, and so on. This was the case of Moro and worse, because he quit.

Every Sunday Mass at the end of a servant approached Moro's wife to give the same notice, this time it was he who gave it: "Madam, my Lord is gone?. The excuse was an increasing chest pain, real and spiritual disease caused by the "grave matter for the king?.

That king around his shoulder to talk on the Thames, the one against heresy helped win the title of "Defender of the Faith? (By writing against Luther, Septem Sacramentorum Assertio, advocacy of papal supremacy one who captured ¡¿?!), to debate eternal desktop and enjoy their banter. Educated man (he spoke several languages) who knew how to compose hymns and play them on the body of the Church. I never cease to be pampered and indulged child, who could not tolerate it contradicted. This king, a former friend, Sir Thomas knew in what was portrayed masterfully Holbein and Erasmus recalled in a letter to Ulrich von Hutten "his blue-gray eyes, with patches of different colors, which reportedly shows a quite happy , and is much admired in England, but like most of our fellow black. They are the eyes, it is said, never Jane. His condition is read in the face always kind, friendly and alert, ready to smile, really leans more to rejoice than to a severe dignity ...? And the saying goes the eyes are the mirror of the soul.

In private he told the King that his divorce from Catherine and her pretensions of becoming the supreme head of the Church of England over Rome were not valid. In public, gadgets and avoided leading questions but his eyes confirmed the firmness with which Christ looked at Peter before the cock crowed the third time. The kind of look that sticks which spur the soul of that which is broken by the whim of sin. Maybe it was what Sargent has a King hit blood and spirit, carried away by the charm and tempting to cheat a female "will dominate? (My grandmother, who is Calabrian, has a saying for quite boorish whims plot these manly)

Politically and historically this process was a blunder, the artificial breakdown of Christian unity to favor the interests of a few is a fact that only illogical feathers Belloc historians have come to realize more or less satisfactory.

The modern sociological approach explains these arbitrary prosecutions require an authorization process to put aside the usual moral considerations, which is necessary to dehumanize the victims deprived of their identity and community, ie to be independent individuals, differentiated, capable to choose and belonging to a network of individuals who respect the rights of others. The elevation of the monarch over the papacy fulfilled first: be "papist? carry a stigma meant leper, equivalent to being a traitor unreasonable seizures, arrests and prosecutions reinforced the latter.

As it was, his Carthusian silence (Moro charisma with which he identified) weighed on the kingdom as the living testimony of the worst screams.

























































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