Novena to St. Thomas More

Day 5

10 min

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena to St. Thomas More

Opening prayer:

O steadfast St. Thomas More, who held fast to God's law amid the favor and threats of kings, look upon me as I begin this novena. Win for me a clear conscience and the courage to keep it, whatever the cost. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 5: The voice of conscience

When the king's men demanded he swear the Oath of Supremacy against the truth, More chose first silence and then, when pressed, clear refusal, unwilling to damn his soul to please an earthly king. He would not bend his conscience even to save his life. He teaches us that a conscience formed by God's truth must never be sold, however great the threat or the cost.

O St. Thomas More, who would not betray your conscience even to save your life, give me the courage to hold fast to God's truth under every pressure, and to obey Him rather than men whenever the two demand opposite things. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the courage to follow my conscience faithfully.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

O St. Thomas More, good servant of your king but first of God, present my petitions to the Lord for whom you laid down your life. Teach me to serve faithfully in the world without surrendering my soul, until I share your joy in heaven. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.