benefits that flow from it to the people; denying it

to be a good work, or to bring to them any kind of

also satisfaction, and all these human inventions,
will forsake you, and leave you the more unhappy,
Henry VII’s Defense
profit. In which thing I know not whether more to if you busy yourself with them forgetting this divine of the Sacraments
admire his wickedness, or his foolish hope; or rather truth.’ What truth pray? ‘This that no sins can damn
his mad pride; who, seeing so many obstructions thee, but infidelity only.’ What Christian ears can with Part One
before him, as he himself mentions, brings nothing patience here the pestilentious hissing of this serpent,
with him, whereby to remove the least; but seems by which he extols baptism, for no other end but to In 1521, just four years after supposedly posting
as if he would go about to pierce a rock with a depress penance, and establish the grace of baptism his famous “Ninety-five theses” on a church
reed. For he sees, and confesses himself, that the for the free liberty of sinning? Contrary to what is that door in Wittenberg, and the same month he was
opinions of the Holy Fathers are against him, as sentence of St. Hierom, which says that” Penance excommunicated, Martin Luther published a
also the Canon of the Mass, with the custom of is the table after ship-wreck.’ But agrees not with controversial work called The Babylonian Captivity
the universal Church, confirmed by the usage of Luther; for he denys sin to be a ship-wreck of faith, of the Church. This book denounced the seven
so many ages, and the consent of so many people” and disputes it, as if that only word should totally sacraments as corruptions and papist inventions.
(p. 254). destroy all the strength of faith. But besides Luther, When Luther’s book reached England, Thomas
who is ignorant that the sinner not only is not saved More, in refutation of Luther’s work, composed
“Luther so much commends faith to us, as not by the only faith of baptism, but also that the baptism a high quality theological treatise called Assertio
only to permit us to abstain from good works; but will add to his damnation? And indeed deservedly; Septem Sacramentorum contra Martinum Lutherum
also encourages us to commit any kind of action, because he has offended God, from whom he had (“In Defense of the Seven Sacraments Against
ho bad soever: ‘For (says he) you see how rich the the whole grace of baptism, and God exacts the more Martin Luther”). King Henry claimed authorship of
baptized man is, who cannot lose his salvation, from him to whom he has given the more: therefore the book and was given the title Defender of the
though willing to do it, by any sin whatsoever, since faith becomes dead by wicked works, why can Faith by the Pope. In gratitude, King Henry raised
except infidelity; for no sins can damn him, but only it not be said, that he suffers ship-wreck who falls More to a Peer of the Realm and he became Sir
incredulity.’ O most impious doctrine, and mistress from the grace of God, into the hands of the devil? Thomas More.
of all impiety! So hateful in itself to pious ears, that From which without penance he cannot escape, or
there is no need to confute it: adultery will not be renewed to such a condition that baptism may be The treatise challenged the Martin Luther’s heretical
damn them! Murder will not damn! Perjury will not profitable to him: (Pp. 300, 302). opinions on the seven sacraments and was presented
damn! Is not parricide damnable either, if everyone to Pope Clement VII in October 1521. Henry was
believe that he shall be saved, through the virtue “It troubles me exceedingly to hear how absurd, how subsequently named Defensor fidei (“Defender of
of the promise alone in baptism? For this he openly impious, and how contradictory to themselves the the Faith”) by the Roman pontiff–a title still claimed
asserts; nor do the words, which he presently triffles and babbles are, wherewith Luther bespatters by English monarchs to this day.
adds, correct his sentence in ay wise; but rather the Sacrament of Penance” (p. 318).
add to the force of it. For he saith, ‘That all things, Luther responded with the German Response to the
if faith return, or stand in the divine promise made Book of King Henry, which was filled with vulgar,
by the baptized, are swallowed up in a moment in personal attacks on the king. The King didn’t want
the same faith; rather by the faith of God, for he Continued in part two, pamphlet 153. to dignify the German Response with a direct reply.
cannot deny himself, if you confess him, and stick Therefore, Sir Thomas More, who was then Henry’s
faithfully to his promise.’ By these words, what Lord Chancellor and one of the leaders of the
else does he say, but what has been said before, Catholic humanist party in England, was chosen
that, ‘Infidelity excepted, all other crimes are in a Pope John Paul II Society of Evangelists to refute Luther’s arguments and defend the King’s
moment swallowed up be faith alone; if you confess
P.O. Box 1177 honor. In 1523, More produced his first major work
Guasti, CA 91743-1177 USA of apologetics, Response to Luther, under the pen
Christ, and stick faithfully to his promise;’ that is, (909) 466-6916
if you faithfully believe that you are to be saved E-mail: info@pjpiisoe.org name “William Ross.”
by faith, whatsoever you do notwithstanding. www.pjpiisoe.org
Henry called Luther a prevaricator, a corrupter of
And that you may less doubt what he aims at, Pamphlet 152 the Testament, a labyrinth of stupidity, a destroyer
‘Contrition (says he) and confession of sins, as
of both soul and body, a little know-it-all, and a pest and the substance of the Blood along with the wine’; bestowed heaven upon these men, who did this
to be avoided. but seeing St. Ambrose says, ‘That there is nothing thing themselves, and writ that it ought to be done;
else but the Flesh and Blood,’ it appears that he is but likewise would have then honored on earth,
In the “Defense…”, Henry (More) defended with manifestly against Luther, who affirms, that the bread by those by whom He is adored Himself. Amongst
heart and soul the independence of the Holy See is with the Flesh, and the wine with the Blood. whom (to omit others) was that most learned
until the Pope forbid him to divorce his lawful and holy man Thomas Aquinas, whom I do more
wife. Queen Catherine, in order to marry Anne And though this which Luther says, were as true as willingly name here; because the wickedness of
Boleyn. Goaded on by his unbridled sensuality it is false, viz. that the bread should remain mingled Luther cannot endure the sanctity of this man, but
and encouraged by his many servile, self-seeking with the Body of Christ; yet was it not necessary for reviles with his foul lips him whom all Christians
flatterers Henry tore away from the Church and him to blot the name of the Body of Christ out of the honor. There are very many, though not canonized,
became its bloodthirsty persecutor. Sacrament, in, which he confesses that the true Body who are contrary to Luther’s opinion in this; and
of Christ is” (Defense of the Seven Sacraments, pp. to whom, in piety and learning, Luther is no wise
In spite of his later crimes, he did not alter his 212, 214. comparable: among whom was the Master of the
Defense of the Seven Sacraments. We still possess Sentences, Nicholas de Lyra and many others; to
it at it was sent to the Holy Father. Since it was ‘In the meanwhile, let us truly examine how subtlety, each of whom it behooves all Christians to give
written in Luther’s time it undoubtedly furnishes under pretense of favoring the laity, he endeavors to more credit that to Luther.
some valuable and interesting information. For this stir them up to a hatred against the clergy; for when
reason a few extracts are given here from Assertio he resolved to render the Church’s Faith suspicious, But pray how Luther staggers, and contradicts
SeptemSacramentorum; or Defense of the Seven that its authority should be of no consequence himself: in one place he says, that Christ in his
Sacraments, by Henry VIII, King of England, Edited against him; (and so by opening the gap, he might Last Supper not only said to all the faithful as
by Louis O’Donovan, Benziger Brothers, Inc. New destroy the chiefest mysteries of Christianity), he permitting, but as commanding, ‘Drink ye all of
York, 1908. began with that thing, which he foresaw would be this: ‘yet afterwards, (fearing to offend the laity,
praised and applauded by the people. For he touched whom he flatters, with a view to stir up hatred
“Let us therefore begin where he began himself, the old sore, by which Bohemia had been formally against the priests,) he adds these words; not
with the adorable Sacrament of Christ’s Body. blistered, viz., that the laity ought to receive the that they, who use but one kind do sin against
The changing of the name thereof, calling it, ‘The Eucharist under both kinds. When first he began to Christ, seeing Christ did not command to use any
Sacrament of Bread,’ shows that this man cannot handle this point, he only said, that the Pope would kind, but left it to every man’s discretion, saying,
well endure, that we should be put in mind of do well, to have it ordained by a general council, that ‘As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of
Christ’s Body, by the name of the Blessed Sacrament; the laity should receive the Sacrament under both me’: but, says he, they sin who forbid to give both
and that, if under any fair pretext, it were possible kinds; but that being by some disputed with him, kinds to such as are willing to receive them: the
for him, he would give it a worse name. How much and denied, he was not contented to stop there, but blame, says he, lies upon the clergy and not on
differs the judgment of St. Ambrose from this man’s grew to such a perverse height, that he condemned the laity. You see how clearly he first holds it for a
when he says, ‘Though the form of bread and wine the whole clergy of wickedness, for not doing it command, and then says, it is no commandment,
is seen upon the altar, yet we must believe, that without staying for and council. For my part, I do but a thing left to every man’s discretion. What
there is nothing else but the Body and Blood of not dispute the first; and though to me, no reasons need we contradict him, who so often contradicts
Christ’; by which words it clearly appears, that St. appear why the Church should not ordain, that the himself?” (pp. 214, 216, 218).
Ambrose confesses no other substance to remain Sacrament should be administered to the laity, under
with the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament, both kinds; yet doubt I not, but what was done in “This worse than sacrilegious caitiff [being base,
when he says, ‘That which is seen under the form times past, in omitting it, and also in hindering it cowardly, despicable] endeavors to scatter abroad
of bread and wine, is nothing else but the Body to be so administered now, is very convenient. the Church’s most splendid congregation; to
and Blood of Christ.’ If St. Ambrose had only said Nor can I believe that the whole clergy, (during so extinguish its pillar of fire; to violate the ark of the
Flesh and Blood, without adding anything more, many ages), have been so void of sense, as to incur covenant; and to destroy the chief and only good
perhaps Luther would have said, that the bread eternal punishment for a thing but which they could sacrifice which reconciles us to God, and which
and wine were there also; as Luther himself says, reach no temporal good. It further appears not to is always offered for the sins of the people: for, as
‘That the substance of the Flesh is with the bread, be a thing of such danger; because God, not only much as in him lies, he robs the Mass of all the