HOMILY FOR THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS PRECEDING THE

ILLINOIS CATHOLIC PRAYER BREAKFAST

Hyatt Regency Hotel – West Tower

151 East Wacker Drive

April 30, 2010

Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki

Bishop-designate of Springfield in Illinois

As you may know, Pope Benedict XVI has appointed me to

serve as the ninth Bishop of Springfield in Illinois. As the date of

my Installation Mass, I have chosen June 22nd, the Feast of the

English martyrs, Saints Thomas More and John Fisher. This day is

appropriate because St. John Fisher was a Bishop, while St.

Thomas More is a special patron saint for me not only because I

am named Thomas and I served as Chancellor, as Thomas More

did, but also because Thomas More is the patron saint of lawyers

and politicians. I think his intercession will be vitally needed in my

pastoral ministry as shepherd of our state capital.

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My favorite movie of all time is “A Man For All Seasons,”

about the life of St. Thomas More. In the screenplay written by

Robert Bolt, there is a very poignant scene towards the end of the

story of the trial of Thomas More, who was charged for High

Treason for his refusal to sign the Act of Supremacy, making King

Henry VIII the head of the Church of England. Sir Richard Rich has

just perjured himself on the witness stand by giving false

testimony by which More would surely be convicted. Before Sir

Richard leaves the witness stand, More says, “I have one question

to ask the witness. That’s a chain of office you are wearing. May I

see it?” Rich allows More to examine the medallion, whereupon

More says, “The red dragon.” More then asks Cromwell, who is

conducting the interrogation, “What’s this?”

Cromwell answers, “Sir Richard is appointed Attorney-

General of Wales.”

More we are told, looks into Rich’s face with pain and

amusement and asks, “For Wales? Why Richard, it profits a man

nothing to give his soul for the whole world . . . But, for Wales!”
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Unfortunately we live in a time when many other politicians

are quite willing to give their souls for even less than Wales! As

we gather for this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass preceding the Illinois

Catholic Prayer Breakfast, we pray for the intercession of Saints

Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher, that politicians and all

government officials may follow their courageous example of

faithful adherence to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Today’s Mass is celebrated as a Memorial of Pope St. Pius V,

who lived during the time of Saints Thomas More and Bishop John

Fisher. The pontificate of Pope Pius V was one of the most glorious

of the 16th century. He enforced the decrees of the Council of

Trent, published the Roman Catechism and revised the Missal and

Breviary. We pray for his intercession as well.

Our liturgy today also continues the celebration of the Easter

season. Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us of

the life of the early Christian community. Then, as now, courtroom

trials depended on the testimony of courtroom witnesses.

Conviction or acquittal can depend on what a person has

experienced and how credibly the person expresses that

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experience to a judge or jury. If we expect people to believe in the

resurrection of Jesus, there have to be credible witnesses. St. Paul

cites the companions of Jesus as witnesses to the resurrection. He

passes on their testimony as well as their own.

We are called to bear witness to Jesus as the way, the truth

and the life. Jesus shows us how to live by His example of selfless

sacrifice. He teaches us the truth about God, about ourselves, and

about the world. He gives us eternal life through faith and the

living of our sacramental life. Everything we say and do should

convince people of the Gospel message. The Eucharist we are

about to receive fills us with the presence of Christ so that we

may be credible witnesses to the good news of eternal life with

our Risen Lord.

May God give us this grace.