great in the mystical body of Christ, he should

detract the Sacrament from the body which He

Rome, but also all Italy, Germany, Spain, France,
Britain, and all other nations, which obey the See
Henry VII’s Defense
took of the Blessed Virgin. Who has ever seen of Rome; or have Orders for a Sacrament. Which of the Sacraments
any man swell with greater pride for so frivolous people, being by him taken from the Church of Christ;
a gloss? For if the Apostle had been of his opinion, it consequently follows, that he must either confess Part Two
(Continued from part one, pamphlet 152
and willing his words should be so interpreted as Christ’s Church to be in no place at all, or else, like
to show this Sacrament to be great only in Christ the Donatists, he must reduce the Catholic Church
and His Church, without any reference at all to to two or three heretics whispering in a corner” (00 In 1521, just four years after supposedly posting
the marriage of man and wife; it would lessen the 398, 400). his famous “Ninety-five theses” on a church
force of the weight of all those things, whereby, door in Wittenberg, and the same month he was
in that comparison of all those things, whereby, in “All men do unanimously confess (Luther only
excommunicated, Martin Luther published a
that comparison of the two conjunctions, he had accepted) that the Apostles were by our Savior
controversial work called The Babylonian Captivity
before commended marriage” (pp. 372, 374). ordained Priests at His Last Supper; where it plainly
of the Church. This book denounced the seven
appears, that power was giver to them to consecrate
sacraments as corruptions and papist inventions.
“But his (Luther’s) denying Orders to be a the Body of Christ, which power the Priest alone hath.
When Luther’s book reached England, Thomas
Sacrament, is as it were the fountain of all the rest; ‘But says Luther, it is not a Sacrament, because there is
More, in refutation of Luther’s work, composed
which, being once stopped up, the other small no grace promised therein.’ But pray, how, or whence
a high quality theological treatise called Assertio
springs must of necessity come dry of themselves. he has this knowledge? ‘Because (says he) it is not
Septem Sacramentorum contra Martinum Lutherum
‘This Sacrament (says he) is not known to the read in the Scripture!’ This is his usual consequence:
(“In Defense of the Seven Sacraments Against
Church of Christ, but has been invented by ‘It is not written in the Gospels, therefore has it not
Martin Luther”). King Henry claimed authorship of
the Church of the Pope.’ In these few words are been done by Christ.’ Which form of reasoning the
the book and was given the title Defender of the
contained a great heap of absurdities and lies: for Evangelist overthrows, when he says, ‘Many things
Faith by the Pope. In gratitude, King Henry raised
he makes distinction between Christ’s Church, and were done, which are not written in this book’” (pp.
More to a Peer of the Realm and he became Sir
the Pope’s; whereas the Pope is Christ’s Vicar, in 404, 406).
Thomas More.
that, over which Christ is the head. He says the
Church invented; when it has received it as already The treatise challenged the Martin Luther’s heretical
instituted, and therefore has not invented it. ‘This opinions on the seven sacraments and was presented
Sacrament (he says) is unknown to the Church of Continued in part three, pamphlet 154.
to Pope Clement VII in October 1521. Henry was
Christ;’ whereas it is most certain, that all parts of subsequently named Defensor fidei (“Defender of
the world, which have the true faith of Christ, have the Faith”) by the Roman pontiff–a title still claimed
orders for a Sacrament” (p. 398). by English monarchs to this day.
“Otherwise, if Luther persists in his distinction of Luther responded with the German Response to the
the Pope’s Church, from Christ’s; and in saying Book of King Henry, which was filled with vulgar,
that the one has Orders for a Sacrament, the other personal attacks on the king. The King didn’t want
not; let him shew us the Church of Christ, which, to dignify the German Response with a direct reply.
contrary to the faith of the Papal Church, (as he Therefore, Sir Thomas More, who was then Henry’s
calls it) knows not the Sacrament of Order. In the Pope John Paul II Society of Evangelists
P.O. Box 1177 Lord Chancellor and one of the leaders of the
meanwhile it appears evidently, that, by asserting Guasti, CA 91743-1177 USA Catholic humanist party in England, was chosen
this Sacrament to be unknown to the Church of (909) 466-6916 to refute Luther’s arguments and defend the King’s
Christ, and that they are not of Christ’s Church E-mail: info@pjpiisoe.org
www.pjpiisoe.org honor. In 1523, More produced his first major work
who are governed by the Pope; he separates, by of apologetics, Response to Luther, under the pen
both these reasons, from Christ’s Church, not only Pamphlet 153 name “William Ross.”
Henry called Luther a prevaricator, a corrupter of more applicable to them, than to what we hear state: inhabits not, but where faith is pure, nor remains
the Testament, a labyrinth of stupidity, a destroyer for Luther says, that the words of Christ concerning but in that Church which has true faith for her guide.
of both soul and body, a little know-it-all, and a pest the Keys are spoken to the laity; St. Augustine denies If is this place, you ask why he that is baptized in
to be avoided. it: which of them is rather to be believed? Luther the Church, receives not the Holy Ghost but by the
affirms, Bede denies; which of them will you believe? hands of the bishop? Learn, that this observation is
In the “Defense…”, Henry (More) defended with Luther affirms, St. Ambrose denies; which of them descended from this authority; because, after our
heart and soul the independence of the Holy See has the greater credit? Finally, Luther affirms it, and Lord’s ascension, the Holy Ghost descended on
until the Pope forbid him to divorce his lawful the whole Church denies it; which do you think to the Apostles, and we find the same to have been
wife. Queen Catherine, in order to marry Anne be believed? But if anybody be so mad, as to believe done in many places.’ Hitherto St Hierom. Which
Boleyn. Goaded on by his unbridled sensuality with Luther, that he ought to confess himself to a sentence is also confirmed by divers passages in
and encouraged by his many servile, self-seeking woman; perhaps it may not be amiss for him also the Scripture, and particularly, by that in the Acts,
flatterers Henry tore away from the Church and to follow the other opinion of Luther; in which he which shews that the people baptized before in
became its bloodthirsty persecutor. persuades us, not to be too careful in calling to mind Samaria, received the Holy Ghost, when Peter and
our sins” (p. 336, 338). John came among them, and laid their hands upon
In spite of his later crimes, he did not alter his them. I, therefore, admire how it should come into
Defense of the Seven Sacraments. We still possess “(Luther says), ‘That God does nothing regard out Luther’s mind to dispute, that Confirmation is only
it at it was sent to the Holy Father. Since it was works, nor has any need of them: but he has need to be accounted a rite and a ceremony, and deny
written in Luther’s time it undoubtedly furnishes that we should esteem him true in his promise.’ it to be a Sacrament; when it is demonstrated,
some valuable and interesting information. For this What Luther meant by these words, he knows best not only be the testimony of holy Fathers, and by
reason a few extracts are given here from Assertio himself. For my part, I believe that God cares for our the faith of the whole Church, but also by clear
SeptemSacramentorum; or Defense of the Seven faith and our works, and the He stands in need of passages of Scripture; that not only grace, but
Sacraments, by Henry VIII, King of England, Edited neither our faith, nor our works. For though God has also the very Spirit of Grace, is conferred by the
by Louis O’Donovan, Benziger Brothers, Inc. New no want of our goods, yet has He so much care of visible sign of the bishop’s imposition of hands.
York, 1908. what we do, that He commands some things to be Let Luther therefore forbear to condemn any more
done, and forbids other things: without whose care, the Sacrament of Confirmation, which the dignity
not so much as one sparrow falls to the earth, five of of the minister, the authority of the Church, and
Continued from part one
which are sold for two farthings” (p. 348). the profit of the Sacrament itself, commend” (pp.
“Now let anyone judge of the truth of Luther’s
opinion, who, contrary to the sentiments of all 360, 362).
“That Luther may understand that this Sacrament is
the holy Fathers, draws the Keys of the Church no new thing, or vain fiction; but that it is so far “This Sacrament, saith the Apostle, is great in
to the laity, and to women; and says, that these from being void of grace, that it confers the Spirit of Christ and the Church. How could he have more
words of Christ, ‘Whatsoever you shall bind, etc.’ grace and truth: we will here relate what St. Hierom evidently refuted Luther, than by these words,
are spoken not only to Priests, but also to all the has written of this Sacrament of Confirmation. ‘If the which he so impertinently scoffs at, in contending
faithful. Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, a man most bishop impose his hands, it is on them who have that the Apostle had taken away the Sacrament
excellent, and known for honesty, being accused at been baptized in the true faith, who have believed in from the marriage of man and wife, by saying,
Rome to the people by Varius Sucronesis a man of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three persons and
little sincerity; his accuser having made a long and one substance. But the Arian, who believes in no ‘This Sacrament is great in Christ and His Church?’
tedious discourse; Scaurus confidently relying on other (stop your ears, that you may not be polluted As if he should, by saying, the Sacrament of
the judgment of the people, not thinking his worthy with the words of such monstrous impiety), but in baptism is great in the washing of the soul, deny
of an answer, said, Roman, Varius Sucronesis says the Father alone, in Jesus Christ as a creature, in the the baptism of the body to be a Sacrament; or,
it, Aemilius Scaurus denies it; which of them do you Holy Ghost as servant to both; how shall he receive as if he should, by saying, the Sacrament of the
believe? By which words the people, applauding the Holy Ghost from the Church, who has not as yet Eucharist is great in the body of Christ, deny the
this honorable man, scorned the idle accusations of obtained remission of his sins? For the Holy Ghost species of bread and wine to be a Sacrament is
the babbling adversary. Which discourse seems not