Death is an inevitable suffering which every human must
endure. Once death is upon us, how does one find solace when facing such
uneasiness? St. Thomas More endured great suffering and tribulation while preparing
for his death as a martyr. St. More was put to death, by decapitation, for his immutable
belief that no lay ruler will ever triumph the divine ruler, God. More refused
to declare that King Henry VIII held authority over the Church in England.
Leading unto his inevitable death, More wrote a fictional dialogue titled, Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation. This
story follows the heartfelt thoughts of a saddened nephew who remains in the presence
of his dying uncle. His uncle, Anthony, speaks on finding comfort in the Lord
when facing death.
The main theme which follows through the entirety of
the book is that comfort alone comes from God. St. Thomas More even suggests
that before we can be comforted by him, we must have faith in him. Anthony, the
dying uncle, says
“For God
is, and must be, your comfort, and not I. And he is a sure comforter, who (as
he said unto his disciples) never leaveth his servants comfortless orphans, not
even when he departed from his disciples by death. But he both sent them a comforter,
as he had promised, the Holy Spirit of his Father and himself, and he also made
them sure that to the world's end he would ever dwell with them himself.”[1]
This piece of writing is distinct from other fictional
pieces, for these thoughts and values which are portrayed through the characters,
are thoughts More’s own thoughts during his own time of tribulation. Thomas
More had full understanding of his inevitable death, and in order to detail his
thoughts on suffering, he wrote them down as a story. He understood that Christ
is the sole source of comfort during out earthly sufferings. Thomas More wrote,
“methinketh the greatest comfort a man can have is when he can see that he
shall soon be gone”[2] As
a person in the modern world, a world which seems so concerned with living in
the moment, this thought appears rather shocking. If we all seek comfort during
suffering and death, then how could one find the greatest amount of comfort
when facing death? More explains that this is because we know that soon we will
be with our God. Vincent cries to his dying uncle, on his heartache and fear
that he will not find comfort in this world. He cries out to his uncle, seeking
solace, because he knows he still has a long life to live, one that will place
more time between him and the coming of the Lord. He seeks comfort and counsel
in his dying uncle, for he weeps that he has little time left with him.
Vincent then questions his uncle as to who will teach him
the virtues and the way of Christ when his dear uncle has passed. Vincent would
often visit his uncle for his wise words. Anthony said to Vincent, that just as
God will comfort you and never leave you alone, he will never leave you without
teachers. He continues, God will bring teachers into your life, or he will
teach you inwardly.
There also seems to be a theme of suffering which brings
about our redemption and salvation in heaven with our Lord. Anthony tells his
worried nephew, “And that point is to refer the final end of their comfort unto
God, and to repute and take for the special cause of comfort that by the
patient sufferance of their tribulation they shall attain his favour and for
their pain receive reward at his hand in heaven.”[3]
Our suffering is only temporary, for once we die and reach eternal salvation, and
suffering will have been defeated. Suffering and death are only things which we
endure during out temporary life on earth. If during these times we seek the
comfort in our God, we will be comforted until our death. Which then, by his
great mercy, we will live forever with him.
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| St. Thomas More |
This piece is rather beautiful and inspiring in its message
on suffering, death and finding comfort during times where we feel as if hope
is all lost. It states that while we are in good spirits and health we should
seek to know, understand and love God. For the foundation of comfort in the
Lord is to first have faith in the Lord. As Christ spoke to his disciples, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”[4] Christ will not leave us as orphans, especially in moments
where we need his embracing arms the greatest. If we believe in Christ and keep
his commandments, he will never abandon us. Because we are from him, and we
will return to him, true comfort during times of grief can only come from him.
St. Thomas More centers the entire book on this belief.
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