Today, July 6, is the anniversary of the martyrdom of St Thomas More in 1535. Then why isn't his feast day on this date? Instead it is on July 9. The great feast of Sts. Peter and Paul had a Common Octave and July 6 is the Octave Day of Sts Peter and Paul. Hence the day was already "taken". Furthermore, St Thomas More knew that he was dying on the Octave day of these two great saints. This Octave had been around since the 7th century. St Thomas More who was defending the primacy of the Pope died on the Octave day of the 1st pope! Wow!! July 7 and 8 were already occupied with Sts Cyril and Methodias and St Elizabeth of Portugal. The first free day on the Liturgical Calendar was July 9.
While St Thomas More is a local feast in England, he does not appear on the Universal Calendar. However since he is the patron saint of the Diocese of Arlington, we celebrate his traditional feast on July 9. Because he is the patron of our diocese, our entire diocese would have a Common Octave for his feast. He would be commemorated every day of the Octave when there is another feast. What a beautiful way to get to know and celebrate our beloved special patron!! As an aside, the Octave day is July 16 which is also the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. A lovely end to the Octave.
St John Fisher is also honored on July 9. He was martyred on June 22, 1535. Instead of having his feast on June 22, he was joined to St Thomas More because the end of June is full of Octaves!! Depending on how late Easter is, Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart can come in the latter half of June and there is also the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24-July 1. These now-abolished Octaves helped to define the traditional Liturgical Calendar. What a tragedy that almost all were removed!
Until Octaves are officially restored to us, celebrate St Thomas More's feast for an entire week at home! If you have never watched A Man for All Seasons (1966), it is a classic and one of the best saint movies ever made.
Here are the propers for his feast day:
https://societyofstbede.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ssjohnfisherthomasmore97.pdf
O God, You raised up Your blessed martyrs, John and Thomas, from among the English to be the defenders of the true faith and of the primacy of the holy Roman Church, grant that through their merits and prayers, we may all become and remain one by the profession of the same Faith. Through Christ our Lord. (Collect from their feast on July 9).
O God, who didst empower blessed Thomas Thy Martyr,
amidst the allurements of the world and the pains of prison and death, to
embrace Thy cross with a merry and courageous spirit: grant, we beseech, that
by his intercession and example we may be quick to fight for faith and justice,
and so, filled with cheer, deserve to attain eternal joys. (Collect from
the Votive Mass of St. Thomas More)
Who is the Patron Saint of your diocese? Find his or her feast day and mark it on your calendar! You can celebrate for a whole week!!
St Thomas More, pray for us!
