Friends, Christ is risen! Such a greeting is proper during Lent, for today is the anniversary of Thomas Cranmer's death. March 21 is the day set aside for remembering this great man, the Father of the reformed Catholic Faith as we know it. The Easter Greeting fits today! I consider Cranmer a martyr for the faith - and a great example of a humble man who died confessing his faith before the Just God, in front of those who would distort it. Glory be to God for the gift of Archbishop Thomas! 1545: 1550: 1556:
I got to know Cranmer recently through a friend and this forum and I really loved his life! May he rest in peace in the hope of the resurrection!
I wonder how many would be willing to follow him to the Pyre when the Roman beast (or any other monster) arises again? Perhaps this is too polemical a subject, but Cranmer was a walking controversy. He displayed an immense courage as well as generosity. When a certain friar accused Cranmer of breaking Church laws in 1534 during the Archbishop's hated visitations of the dioceses of Canterbury, Cranmer had the opportunity to sit in the ecclesiastical Court trying his own case - but he refused, and stepped down so that an impartial judge could adjudicate. Cranmer constantly interceded for people being persecuted by Henry VIII's infantile changes of whim and emotion. He could not stand injustice, cruelty, or falsehood coming from anyone. He was truly just - because he knew Christ's justice had come to rest upon him. This is the glory of God in Cranmer. A collect created for the 1959 Canadian Book of Common Prayer: ALMIGHTY GOD, by whose grace and power thy Martyr Thomas was enabled to witness to the truth and be faithful unto death: Grant that we, who now remember him before thee, may likewise so bear witness unto thee in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of glory that fadeth not away; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
By the way, the epistle given for a Martyr in the Canadian BCP is chillingly fitting for today: 1 Peter 4:12 & following: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of the sufferings of Christ; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
Cranmer's final speech... might as well have it commemorated and kept safe on A.F. "Every man desireth, good people, at the time of their deaths, to give some good exhortation that others may remember after their deaths, and be the better thereby. So I beseech God grant me grace, that I may speak something at this my departing, whereby God may be glorified and you edified. First, it is an heavy case to see that many folks be so much doted upon the love of this false world, and so careful for it, that for the love of God, or the love of the world to come, they seem to care very little or nothing therefore. This shall be my first exhortation: That you set not overmuch by this false glosing world, but upon God and the world to come. And learn to know what this lesson meaneth, which St John teacheth, that the love of this world is hatred against God. The second exhortation is, that next unto God, you obey your king and queen, willingly and gladly, without murmur and grudging. And not for fear of them only, but much more for the fear of God: Knowing, that they be God's ministers, appointed by God to rule and govern you. And therefore whoso resisteth them, resisteth God's ordinance. The third exhortation is, that you love all together like brethren and sisters. For alas, pity it is to see, what contention and hatred one Christian man hath to another; not taking each other, as sisters and brothers; but rather as strangers and mortal enemies. But I pray you learn and bear well away this one lesson, To do good to all men as much as in you lieth, and to hurt no man, no more than you would hurt your own natural and loving brother or sister. For this you may be sure of, that whosoever hateth any person, and goeth about maliciously to hinder or hurt him, surely, and without all doubt, God is not with that man, although he think himself never so much in God's favour. The fourth exhortation shall be to them that have great substance and riches of this world, that they will well consider and weigh those sayings of the Scripture. One is of our Saviour Christ himself, who saith, It is hard for a rich man to enter into heaven; a sore saying, and yet spoke by him, that knew the truth. The second is of St John, whose saying is this, He that hath the substance of this world, and seeth his brother in necessity, and shutteth up his mercy from him, how can he say, he loveth God? Much more might I speak of every part; but time sufficeth not. I do but put you in remembrance of things. Let all them that be rich, ponder well those sentences; for if ever they had any occasion to shew their charity, they have now at this present, the poor people being so many, and victuals so dear. For though I have been long in prison, yet I have heard of the great penury of the poor. Consider, that that which is given to the poor is given to God; whom we have not otherwise present corporally with us, but in the poor. And now forsomuch as I am come to the last end of my life, whereupon hangeth all my life passed, and my life to come, either to live with my Saviour Christ in heaven, in joy, or else to be in pain ever with wicked devils in hell; and I see before mine eyes presently either heaven ready to receive me, or hell ready to swallow me up; I shall therefore declare unto you my very faith, how I believe, without colour or dissimulation. For now is no time to dissemble, whatsoever I have written in times past. First, I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, &c. and every article of the Catholic faith, every word and sentence taught by our Saviour Christ, his Apostles and Prophets, in the Old and New Testament. And now I come to the great thing that troubleth my conscience more than any other thing that ever I said or did in my life: and that is, the setting abroad of writings contrary to the truth. Which here now I renounce and refuse, as things written with my hand contrary to the truth which I thought in my heart, and writ for fear of death, and to save my life, if it might be: and that is, all such bills, which I have written or signed with mine own hand, since my degradation; wherein I have written many things untrue. And forasmuch as my hand offended in writing contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall first be punished. For if I may come to the fire, it shall be first burned. And as for the Pope, I refuse him, as Christ's enemy and antichrist, with all his false doctrine." What a great & exemplary saint.
Interesting timing brother! I actually have a meeting today with our clergy to discuss an educational offering for our parish/diocese entitled "Anglican 101". One of the suggested folks to study was our dear Bishop! Jeff