Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
In 1966, as an impressional 12 year old boy, I went with my grandmother, aunt (Sister Mary Edward, SIW), and cousins to see the newly released film, “A Man For All Seasons.” My aunt, a Sister of the Incarnate Word, was serving, at the time, as principal of St. Thomas More School in Parma, Ohio.
The play and film concerned the struggle of Thomas More, chancellor of England and revered throughout Europe as a man of much wit and conscience, over the 1534 Act of Succession recognizing Henry VIII as head of the Church of England. Henry had sought an annulment from Pope Clement VII to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Ann Boleyn. When the pope wouldn’t grant it, Henry made himself “pope.”
It won best picture of the year and introduced millions to Sir Thomas More who became St. Thomas More. Today is his feast day, along with Bishop Fisher who was likewise martyred by sociopathic Henry VIII.
What enraged Henry concerning his chancellor and Bishop Fisher, was that Henry respected (and even revered) them. Like tyrants throughout history, Henry was a megalomaniac and a malignant narcissist. Henry’s admiration turned into narcissistic rage. In response Clement VII made Fisher a cardinal, to which Henry quipped, “I will send the head to Rome for the (cardinal’s) cap.” It is not an overstatement to say that all of Christendom was shocked that the king of England would behead such men as these.
We will always have tyrants and evil persons rise to power. Malignant narcissists know how to get to the top and have throughout time. Their leadership never ends well as ultimately their masks fall and people see them for who they are. We encountered such a man today in our first reading. Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, committed atrocities on a massive scale. Because of him, and for other reasons, 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel seemingly disappeared from history. Only Judah and Benjamin (as well as Levi in the priests) are left.
It seems that such leaders throughout the world elicit the worst from their people and seek to divide rather than unite. But we must take heart. As Mahatma Gandhi commented concerning dark times, “When I despair I am reminded that there will always be tyrants but ultimately the way of truth and justice always wins out. Always.”
Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher pray for us.
—Timothy J. Cronin