Mark Bauerlein on the Novel Wolf Hall

First Things:

But here is what my Catholic tutor, an expert on St. Thomas More, says of Mantel: “She's dangerous! She just makes things up!” He can't believe that this fabricator of anti-More calumnies should enjoy so much success. Or rather, he believes it and understands it. As he confessed to me, Mantel is a brilliant re-creator of time and place and personages, and that counts for more than historical accuracy. After all, it's only a novel.
...
And then read commentaries in our own First Things pages: Patricia Snow's “The Devil and Hilary Mantel,” George Weigel's “‘Wolf Hall' and Up-Market anti-Catholicism,” and Mark Movsesian's “Thomas More, Villain.”

There is also the BBC adaptation from a few years ago.

Holy Thomas More, Pray for Us

Beware the Allure of the Inner Ring by Anthony Esolen

No Stops in Northern California

NCReg: Saints Who Defend Freedom: Relics of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher on Tour for Fortnight by Joseph Pronechen, Staff Writer

'The 1535 Society' at the Tower of London

Archbishop of Westminster and Bishop of London launch 'The 1535 Society' at the Tower of London

I'm amazed the Catholics have the better-looking vestments...

Post by The Papal Visit.

Post by The Papal Visit.

More
flickr

A night in the shadow of Sir Thomas More
Zenit: Archbishop Nichols Launches "The 1535 Society" at Tower of London

Susan Abernethy on Margaret Roper

Early Modern England: Margaret Roper, Daughter of Sir Thomas More

Related:
TRIAL OF SIR THOMAS MORE: Letter to Margaret Roper (July 5, 1535)

Archbishop Chaput on St. Thomas More

A Man for This Season, and All Seasons

Of course, he is appropriating the example of St. Thomas More in relation to the HHS mandate.

Two from Ethika Politika

The Catholic Worker Movement and Catholic Anarchism by Brian Douglass
Thomas More: The Man for Our Season

Items, 13 March 2012

Daniel Larison, Thomas More and Utopia

A review of one of Forrest McDonald's books, The American Presidency: The Living Embodiment of the Nation by Phillip G. Henderson

A Burke for Our Times by Mark A. Signorelli

Prince Charles: Philosopher Prince by Rod Dreher

Patrick Deneen's lecture in the National Cathedral.

"The Black Swan" author Nassim Taleb Cheers Ron Paul's Economic Platform on CNBC


Rob Hopkins, Here are three ingredients. Now form an initiative

Barefoot Running:
Principles of Natural Running with Dr. Mark Cucuzzella


Byzantine Studies at Notre Dame Expands Research Resources

TV:
ROBERT SEAN LEONARD: FIRST ‘HOUSE’ THE BEST

Will William Wallace scream for freedom from televisions worldwide?

Shawn Ryan and Gregg Hurwitz Bring U.S. Marshal Drama To TNT

Hollywood, where are all the Asian Guys?
Daniel Dae Kim is doing all right. If sufficient numbers of white female viewers found Asian men attractive, wouldn't we see more of them on TV and in movies?

Music:
Carolina Chocolate Drops: Hooked On Old-Time Sounds

Items of Interest, 8 April 2011

Christendom: Author Dr. Wegemer Explains Thomas More's Notion of Liberty

Sandro Magister, High Up, Let Down by Pope Benedict

Once I Was a Clever Boy: Women in early sixteenth century households (via Tea at Trianon)

Dr. Samuel Gregg on St. Thomas More

From EWTN:

EWTN  With the Pope’s visit to the U.K. looming, EWTN has England in the spotlight! The country’s most famous martyr is arguably St. Thomas More. Learn more about this saint, scholar, and statesman – and his heroic death – as Dr. Samuel Gregg, the Acton Institute’s Director of Research, guests with Fr. Mitch Pacwa at 8 p.m. ET, Wed., Sept. 8 – http://www.ewtn.com/tv/live/ewtnlive.asp

The video for this week's episode is available for a week.

Audio File

Samuel Gregg

Samuel Gregg: Spiritual Trumps Secular in Encyclical

St. Thomas More on choosing a wife

“And so, my friend, if you desire to marry, first observe what kind of parents the lady has. See to it that her mother is revered for the excellence of her character which is sucked in and expressed by her tender and impressionable little girl. Next, see to this: what sort of personality she has: how agreeable she is. Let her maidenly countenance be calm and without severity. But let her modesty bring blushes to her cheeks… Let her glances be restrained; let her have no roving eye… Let her be either just finishing her education or ready to begin it immediately… Armed with this learning, she would not yield to pride in prosperity, nor to grief in distress – even though misfortune strike her down.” (Monti, p48, To Candidus: how to choose a wife, poem number 143. Complete works of St Thomas More, 3/2:185-7)

(via Stephen Hand; see also this blog)

Feast of Ss. Thomas More and John Fisher, June 22

last year's post

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Thomas More
Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) [Tudor writer, statesman, philosopher ...
Utopia by Thomas More
Utopia by Saint Sir Thomas More - Project Gutenberg
Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation by Saint Sir Thomas More ...

iEMLS: Sir Thomas More and the Art of Dialogue

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts--Classical Education in the ...
The College of Saint Thomas More
Thomas More College
St. Thomas More College

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher Web Page

A Prayer by St. Thomas More

Give me the grace, Good Lord

To set the world at naught. To set the mind firmly on You and not to hang upon the words of men's mouths.

To be content to be solitary. Not to long for worldly pleasures. Little by little utterly to cast off the world and rid my mind of all its business.

Not to long to hear of earthly things, but that the hearing of worldly fancies may be displeasing to me.

Gladly to be thinking of God, piteously to call for His help. To lean into the comfort of God. Busily to labor to love Him.

To know my own vileness and wretchedness. To humble myself under the mighty hand of God. To bewail my sins and, for the purging of them, patiently to suffer adversity.

Gladly to bear my purgatory here. To be joyful in tribulations. To walk the narrow way that leads to life.

To have the last thing in remembrance. To have ever before my eyes my death that is ever at hand. To make death no stranger to me. To foresee and consider the everlasting fire of Hell. To pray for pardon before the judge comes.

To have continually in mind the passion that Christ suffered for me. For His benefits unceasingly to give Him thanks.

To buy the time again that I have lost. To abstain from vain conversations. To shun foolish mirth and gladness. To cut off unnecessary recreations.

Of worldly substance, friends, liberty, life and all, to set the loss at naught, for the winning of Christ.

To think my worst enemies my best friends, for the brethren of Joseph could never have done him so much good with their love and favor as they did him with their malice and hatred.

These minds are more to be desired of every man than all the treasures of all the princes and kings, Christian and heathen, were it gathered and laid together all in one heap.

Amen

source

The St. Thomas More website
Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Issued Motu Proprior Proclaiming Saint Thomas More Patron of Statesmen and Politicians (Latin)
Thomas More Studies
Center for Thomas More Studies

College of St. Thomas More (Texas)
Thomas More College (Kentucky)
Thomas More College (New Hampshire)
Thomas More Law Center

artwork by H.R. Armstrong (recent works, statue of St. Thomas More)

Some reactions to The Tudors

Ok, I watched the first two episodes. Not being an expert in history, I can't speak to the accuracy of the series. (Whether it is accurate or not would affect my judgment of the value of the series.)

St. Thomas More is shown as being "devout," which includes wearing a hairshirt?, having marks of self-flagellation on his back, and praying the confiteor every night. Is the series trying to depict him as a fanatic? Or does it respect his sanctity? I do not know yet, the later episodes will make the point of view of the series' creators more clear I would think, especially if there is a show-down between Henry VIII and St. Thomas.

The nudity is gratuitous (and when is it not?) and so are the sex scenes, which can certainly be hinted at without destroying the one's ability to depict a story. But Showtime and the producers have a stake in exciting the imagination and desires of the audience to get them hooked. Is that enough to warn people not to watch the TV series? I am not sure. Certainly, one can learn more about the period and its saints through good solid books. As for my main reason for watching, the costumes--the amateur experts at the Renaissance Festival forum have had mixed reactions to the quality and accuracy; however I note that many of the ladies at court wore their hair long and free. Was this proper to the time?

Thomas Tallis appears to be a minor character in the series...

Variety article on the show

Feast of Ss. Thomas More and John Fisher, June 22

Two heroic martyrs who stood up to King Henry VIII and said 'no' for Christ.

Saint John Fisher:



Thomas More Studies

motu proprio of John Paul II declaring St. Thomas patron of politicians and statesman

St. Thomas is one of my favorite saints, and the ideal Renaissance man, learned, cultivated, and a statesman. He also spent time in a Carthusian monastery when he was growing up.

While I enjoy the movie and play A Man for All Seasons, one wonders if it does justice to the faith and wit of the man. I used to think that the play did show what quiet sanctity is like, but still, perhaps showing more devotion would be good.

The Life of St. Thomas More by William Roper (St. Thomas's son-in-law, married to his daughter Margaret)
Thomas More: A Portrait of Courage by Gerard Wegemer

His The Sadness of Christ, Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation, and The Four Last Things are available through Scepter.

From Thomas More Studies:

The Family of Sir Thomas More, c. 1530, 1593,
painting by Hans Holbein the Younger, Rowland Lockey.
Hangs at Nostell Priory, The National Trust Photographic Library.


Florence
This stipple engraving by Florentine Francesco Bartolozzi (c. 1792) was used in Singer's 1822 edition of William Roper's Life of Thomas More. Photograph by Bea Chityl.

(Seems rather good-looking)

Online editions of Utopia -- at apostles.com, oregonstate.edu.