March 20, 2013

Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury

Merciful God, who through the work of Thomas Cranmer didst renew the worship of thy Church by restoring the language of the people, and through whose death didst reveal thy power in human weakness: Grant that by thy grace we may always worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Like Peter, Cranmer was a waverer, a saint for the fearful and the troubled, who in the last moment summoned courage that was beyond him to testify to the truth that was in him. There is a terrible poignancy about this flawed saint, an example for us all if not an ideal. No plaster saint he, but a man of fallible flesh and blood.

Thomas, if above you be, put in a good word for a church that sometimes does no better than you did, but which also hopes to find, as did you, conscience and courage in the end.

Tobias Stanislas Haller BSG
icon the latest in a series of Holy Women, Holy Men

1 comment:

  1. June ButlerMarch 20, 2013

    Tobias, your icon is very fine. I'm reading Diarmaid MacCulloch's biography of Cranmer now. I join you in the prayer to Cranmer.

    ReplyDelete

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