St. Thomas More Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Thomas More is one of the Church’s married lay saints. Despite living in the world and working as a lawyer, he lived a holy life that helped him prepare for his eventual martyrdom. We can look to his example of virtue and courage for inspiration in our day to day lives, and when we’re faced with opposition to our faith.
Let’s use this novena to ask for his intercession as we strive for holiness in our lives.
About St. Thomas More
St. Thomas More was one of six children, born in 1478 to prominent parents in England. He began training to be a lawyer early in life. Though he considered leaving the world behind to enter a monastery, he continued in his lay path. He became both a lawyer and a member of Parliament.
Thomas married a woman named Jane Colt and had a brief but happy marriage to her until she died six years later. The two of them had four children together.
After her death, Thomas remarried a widow who had a daughter of her own. Thomas was an affectionate father to both his biological children and his step-daughter.
Thomas gained a reputation for honesty as he rose in power and prominence in his career. King Henry VIII appointed him Lord Chancellor in 1529. Shortly after this, King Henry began a conflict with the Church over his desire to break his marriage to his first wife Catherine.
Thomas knew that King Henry only wanted to break this marriage to obtain a male heir to the throne from another woman. It was clear to Thomas that the king’s marriage to Catherine was valid and that King Henry was in the wrong by trying to break it. So Thomas refused to sign a letter to the Pope on the king’s behalf over the matter.
When the king wasn’t granted permission to break his first marriage, he brought England into schism by declaring himself head of the Church of England. Unlike most of the other prominent people in the king’s court, Thomas refused to sign an oath of allegiance to the king as the Church’s supreme head.
It soon became clear to Thomas that he was in an impossible position, so he resigned as Chancellor. When Thomas refused to attend the coronation of the king’s new wife, King Henry plotted to get rid of him.
First, King Henry attempted to charge Thomas with corruption. When Thomas’s strong reputation of honesty made it clear that the charges were false, the king charged him with treason. Initially, this attempt failed as well. But then the king tried to force Thomas to sign a document that said King Henry’s authority was above the Pope’s. When Thomas refused to sign it, the king successfully charged him with treason and had him executed. Thomas was beheaded on July 6, 1535.
St. Thomas More’s Feast Day: June 22
Why Pray the St. Thomas More Novena?
St. Thomas More is the patron saint of adopted children, difficult marriages, and lawyers.
Many people pray to him for help in resolving problems in their marriage or for help with other family problems. He is also a good saint to pray to for assistance in the process of adopting a child. You can ask for his intercession if you’re journeying toward a career as a lawyer, or if you’re trying to find a skilled and honest lawyer.
He’s also a great saint for comedians to pray to, as he was rumored to have made jokes even as he was about to be executed.
You can pray the Saint Thomas More Novena for any intention!
St. Thomas More Novena Prayers
St. Thomas More Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for giving us St. Thomas More as an example of holiness in everyday lay life. Help us to follow his holy example. May we model his virtue and piety as we live out our own vocations.
St. Thomas, your love of God was so strong that you desired to live a life devoted to Him. You found a way devote your life to Him even while you lived in the world as a lawyer. Even though you lived among worldly people, you did not become worldly. You remained holy in your everyday life and prepared yourself for your ultimate test of faith.
Pray for me, that I may practice virtue in my daily life as you did, so that I may be ready when my faith is tested.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thomas More Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for giving us St. Thomas More as an example of submission to Your will. Help us to follow his holy example. May we model his submission to Your will as we live our daily lives.
St. Thomas, you longed for the peace of a monastic life devoted to prayer, but you discerned that God willed for you to remain serving Him in the world on a much different path. As a layman and a lawyer, a husband and a father, you carried out your duties faithfully and served God through them.
Pray for me, that I may be open to the path of holiness that God wills for me, even if it is different from my expectations. And pray that I may carry out God’s will as faithfully as you did.
Please also pray for (mention your intention here).
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thomas More Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for giving us St. Thomas More as an example of virtue and holiness in professional life. Help us to follow his holy example. May we model his diligence and integrity in our work throughout our daily lives.
St. Thomas, you worked diligently in your professional life as a lawyer and member of Parliament, recognizing the importance of holy work. You rose to great prominence in the government because of your diligence and your hard work. But even though others bestowed honorable positions upon you, you did not let that prominence lead you to vanity or to corruption.
Pray for me, that I may remain on the path to holiness as you did, despite any gifts of influential position that God may see fit to grant me in my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intention here).
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thomas More Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for giving us St. Thomas More as an example of holiness in family life. Help us to follow his holy example. May we model his love and his devotion to his family, as we live out our own vocations.
St. Thomas, you were a loving and holy husband and father in your personal life. You carried out the duties of your vocation faithfully, even while you pursued a worldly profession. You did not let the demands or stresses of your professional life as the king’s high chancellor keep you from being all that a holy spouse and parent should be.
Pray for me, that I may faithfully carry out the duties of my primary vocation every day, no matter what other worldly professions I may work toward in my daily life.
Please also pray for (mention your intention here).
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thomas More Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for giving us St. Thomas More as an example of integrity and honesty amidst corruption. Help us to follow his holy example. May we model his honesty and his devotion to You, as we live our daily lives.
St. Thomas, you gained such a reputation for honesty that the king was unable to convince anyone that you had been dishonest or corrupt when he wished to get rid of you. Your integrity and virtuousness were so apparent to others that they did not believe the falsehoods that the king was speaking against you.
Pray for me, that I may be honest and upright in every aspect of my life, even if others around me are straying from the truth. Pray that I may be above reproach as you were.
Please also pray for (mention your intention here).
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thomas More Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for giving us St. Thomas More as an example of devotion to the sanctity of marriage. Help us to follow his holy example. May we model his commitment to the sanctity of marriage when it is being attacked, as we live out our own vocations.
St. Thomas, you refused to support the king’s immoral actions. You knew that marriage is holy and indissoluble, and you refused to pretend that it was acceptable for the king to abandon his lawful wife. Even though nearly everyone else around you supported the king’s actions, you refused to compromise on the truth.
Pray for me, that I may be as fearless as you were in refusing to support the immoral actions of others. Pray that, like you, I may stand up for the sanctity of marriage at all times.
Please also pray for (mention your intention here).
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thomas More Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for giving us St. Thomas More as an example of fortitude. Help us to follow his holy example. May we model his commitment to doing what is right even when we must suffer because of it.
St. Thomas, you refused to support the king’s decisions to marry another woman unlawfully and to start his own church. You knew that you would lose your prominent position of high chancellor by this refusal. But you did not waver from doing what was right, even when your adherence to the truth made you lose the king’s favor, your high office and ultimately your life.
Pray for me, that I may resist the temptation to conform to evil or to support evil, when it seems easier and more attractive than doing what is right.
Please also pray for (mention your intention here).
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thomas More Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for giving us St. Thomas More as an example of courage and strength. Help us to follow his holy example. May we model his commitment to Your Church and her teachings, no matter what opposition we might face, as we live out our day to day lives.
St. Thomas, you refused to support the king as he took the Church in England into schism. You knew that the Pope was the Church’s supreme head, and you refused to pretend otherwise despite enormous pressure. You refused to compromise on the teachings of the Church, even though you knew that refusal would mean your death.
Pray for me, that I may hold fast to what is right and true, even to the point of death if necessary.
Please also pray for (mention your intention here).
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thomas More Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for giving us St. Thomas More as an example of joy in the face of suffering and persecution. Help us to follow his holy example. May we model his joyful acceptance of sufferings and his submission to Your will, as we encounter trials in our daily lives.
St. Thomas, you remained in good spirits despite your imprisonment and impending death. You did not let your unjust sufferings bring you to complaints or self-pity. You did not give in to feelings of anger or resentment. Intead, you kept a joyful attitude to the very end. It is said that you even made a joke about to you executioner before he beheaded you.
Pray for me, that I may resist the temptation to gloom or self-pity when I face suffering and misfortune. Pray that I may remain joyful no matter how I may suffer.
Please also pray for (mention your intention here).
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.