Why do many saints spend most of their time reflecting on their death?

Didn’t that make them maudlin and self-pitying? Mathew Kelly, the Australian spiritual writer, defends this practice. He writes holy people realize that Jesus’ mission to save them was through his suffering and death on the cross.

When they honor him for his death and dying, this is really their expression of gratitude for Jesus’ willingness to sacrifice himself so that they may live forever with him and his family in heaven.

Since our life on earth is wonderful but short, Kelly remarks we do not gather enough time to show sufficient gratitude for Jesus’ generous loving and kind act.

Kelly suggests since our lives slip through our hands like water unless we live each moment, each day and each sunset with conscious awareness and daily prayer we may forget it completely.

Saint Thomas More crossed my path in a junior University literature class while reading A Man for All Seasons. His bravery and courage immediately captivated me.

King Henry VIII made himself the head of the Church of England because he wanted out of His marriage to Catherine of Aragon. King Henry VIII required every one of the realms to take an oath recognizing Anne Boleyn and her children as legitimate heirs to the English throne and not Catherine’s. Now Thomas More never spoke out against the king, but instead remained silent.

But still now more than ever, King Henry wanted Thomas More gone. He was too popular and influential even in his silence. The king accused him of treason and sentenced him to death immediately.

Thomas More teaches us even today that if we ignore our conscience, we betray ourselves, others, and God.