Welcome to the opening matchup of Lent Madness 2020! If you’re a veteran of the Saintly Smackdown, we’re delighted you’re back for another
year of saintly thrills and spills. If you’re joining us for the first time, we’re especially glad you’re along for this wild penitential ride. If you’re curious about what this all entails, check out the About Lent Madness tab on the website.
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But mostly, we encourage you to read about the 32 saints participating in this year’s edition of Lent Madness, faithfully cast your (single!) vote on the weekdays of Lent, and add your comments to the great cloud of participating witnesses that gathers as the online Lent Madness community each year. If you’re wondering when your favorite saint will be competing – in order to rally your friends and neighbors (creative campaigning is encouraged, voter fraud is not) – you can check out the 2020 Matchup Calendar.
Things kick off with an early 16th century Anglican facing off against a Biblical character as Thomas More clashes with James the Less. We hope you enjoy reading about these two saintly souls, more or less, before casting your very first vote of Lent Madness 2020! We’re glad you’re all here. Now get to it!
Thomas More
Of all the characters of the English Reformation, few are as remarkable as Sir Thomas More. He was considered a scold yet also a man of quick wit, at once both politically astute and obstinate, and a man who was behind his time even as he lived ahead of it.
Born in 1478, Thomas became a barrister in 1502 and was elected to Parliament in 1504. For a time, Thomas debated becoming a Franciscan or a priest — and ultimately chose neither, pursuing marriage and a legal career instead. While known for his strict piety, including the wearing of a hair shirt, and the daily recitation of the Offices, Thomas delighted in life in London and was eager to engage in argument and debate.
Thomas’s intellect, honesty, and loyalty to his family and king brought him into the service of Henry VIII. During this time, Thomas wrote Utopia, a political essay envisioning an ideal community in which there is no private property, universal religious toleration, and free education for men and women alike.
Thomas was a devoted husband and father, committed to the education of his wife and four daughters to a level far exceeding the standard education of women during that time; his dedication to this task was often noted by his contemporaries.
In 1529, Thomas became Lord Chancellor of England. Thomas was strident in his opposition to the Protestant Reformation, and his support in joining Henry VIII’s attack on Martin Luther earned him the title “defender of the faith” by the Pope. As Henry moved to assert his power as king over the Church in England, Thomas, dedicated to the Roman Church, found himself in opposition to the king he loved. He resigned as chancellor in 1532. When Thomas later refused to take an oath swearing that Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn was true and valid (after the divorce from Catharine of Aragon), he was thrown into the Tower of London. At trial, Thomas defended himself as being true to the church over any king. He was condemned to die and executed in 1535. His final words were that he died for the faith of the Church and was “the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”
Collect for Thomas More
Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Thomas More triumphed over suffering and was faithful even to death: Grant us, who now remember him in thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
James the Less
Who was James the Less? Well, it depends on whom you ask. This is because the gospels are replete with Jameses. There’s James the son of Zebedee, James the son of Alpheus, as well as James the brother of Jesus. The confusion is further compounded because the gospel writers don’t always distinguish which James they’re referring to in a passage and the Gospel of Mark only refers to “James the Less” in one passage (Mark 15:40).
Some Roman Catholics believe James the Less refers to James the brother of Jesus, while Anglicans consider James the Less as James the son of Alpheus. Even if we blithely assume the Anglicans are right in saying that James the Less is, indeed, James the son of Alpheus, this biography almost comes to a full stop. The truth is, we know very little about this apostle. Yet perhaps what we know is important enough. James the son of Alpheus was most certainly an apostle as three of the gospels include him in their lists (Mark 3:18; Matthew 10:3; Luke 6:12-16) — and he is also present in a room that is full of apostles in Acts 1:13. Beyond this, however, there’s not much more to go on.
Of course, this has never stopped the wider church from filling in the gaps — as you’ll see, neither will it stop me. Some legends hold that James the son of Alpheaus lived to ninety-six years old and died by crucifixion at the hands of the Jewish authorities in Ostrakine in lower Egypt. His body was then sawed in half. This is dubious for many reasons, including the fact that crucifixion was a favorite execution method of Roman, rather than Jewish, authorities.
But since I’m already giving space to dubious claims, I want to offer a new one, entirely of my own creation, and equally bereft of any evidence. In Mexican Spanish, we add a diminutive to people we feel an incredible amount of affection for, to those we love and adore. Mexican Spanish contrasts with America’s obsession with “bigger is better” by linguistically shrinking everyone we love to make them cuter and sweeter and more adorable still. I’d love to believe that “the less” is, in fact, a diminutive rooted in affection. If so, then Mark 15:40 is talking about James the little guy, James the adorable apostle, James the cherished one. Which James, exactly, this passage refers to remains a mystery, but to my mind that’s still a James worth voting for.
Collect for James the Less
Almighty God, who gave to your apostle James grace and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being mindful of his victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thomas More vs. James the Less
- Thomas More (68%, 6,814 Votes)
- James the Less (32%, 3,231 Votes)
Total Voters: 10,045
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Bible scholars have noted before
James’ record is kind of a bore.
Though More’s record is marred
By those Bibles he charred,
My conclusion is: Less is not More.
Too clever!
I second your conclusion John!
Love it.
Nice!!
So clever! Well done!
We’re off to a great start!
While I greatly admire Sir Thomas for his standing up to ol’ Henry and his belief in the education of women, I found the support for James the Less to be quite endearing. I have always been fond of the Biblical Jameses so cast my vote for James, less not more.
I am with you Patsy.
I am with Patsy and Diane. So many books, movies and TV shows have been made about Sir Thomas More – we know his name! He was an incredibly honorable man. Now, think about James the Less… Yes, less is known… He was an apostle. A humble, dedicated apostle. Did he get to wear fine robes and feast at banquets? Not likely. For these reasons I voted for James the Less.
My reasons as well!
Can we vote for John Cabot? 🙂
Amen!
Where is the “Like” Button, SEC? We need it!
If “the less” is diminutive affection that lends more credence to RC notion of James as brother of Jesus. Calling yiur sibling the little one? Speaking as an elder sibling, yes we’d totally do that.
Nice one, John Cabot!
Nice, John!
Brilliant!!
St. James may be lesser to some,
But Apostles were all far from dumb!
At Emmanuel Church,
In a window is perched
his windmill, bathed in morn’s sun.
Some days, when the Saints duking it out don’t do anything for me, it’s your limericks that keep me coming back.
Did you dream that witty poetry would be a part of your vocation? God sure is nifty.
nice poem.
Awesome wit. Thanks for sharing
niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice
Awesome limerick!
Miguel’s linguistic creativity wins for me. James the Cute gets the loot.
The question’s not just More or Less
For us to choose who’s really best,
But rather how
Our heart is now
For that’s the one that we shall bless.
I vote for David’s poem <3
Nice!
Brilliant.
Clap, clap, clap.
Like. Like. Like.
Love all the limericks!
Brilliant! You got my vote.
You swayed my vote!
It was not just the bibles that were charred by More. It was humans, fellow citizens, tortured then burned. And he was delighted when there were and delighted that they would burn in hell. He himself said so. “(Tewkesbury) burned as there was neuer wretche I wene better worthy.” More cherished the image of Tewkesbury burning not just on earth, but in hell, “an hote fyrebronde burnynge at hys bakke, that all the water in the worlde wyll neuer be able to quenche.” That he did not do it to more people is due to the king falling out with the pope, not because he felt mercy. No, I would not vote for him- nor for Cranmer for the same reason.
That was a real eye-opener. I want to change my vote!
I don’t understand the reference to Cranmer – what did he do?
Love it! That last like, Less is not More, kept popping into my head while reading the piece o James the Lesser.
I loved Mr. Escobar’s explanation that, in Mexican Spanish, a diminutive shows love and affection. Thank you for this! So, it’s James the Less for me today.
Me too
I also voted for James the Less.
Yup, this earned my vote for the adorable apostle today!
How could anyone not vote for the “adorable apostle”? I did!
Me, too.
That won me over as well.
Me too. James the Less!
Jamesito?
Santiagito
Jaimecito
Jaimecito
Same here! Much as I appreciate the movie “A Man for All Seasons”, it’s good to learn about some of the little-known saints.
So we are underway with the Madness, eh? What a first day it has been. Thomas established a commanding lead early – but the later comments are going with James the Cute. I’m intrigued to see what the final result will be.
In honor of all the “ita-s” and “ito-s” in my life, I love that expression of cariño, today it will be James.
I am in Costa Rica and love the diminutive theory……though I did love Thomas More in The Tudors!
Yes we are! Off to a good start I mean
Patricia
Thomas More was a faithful fanatic, perhaps one of the most confusing people in history. Mostly I respect him, but can never vote for someone who burned people to death because he feared their faith.
Hi Diana, I should have read your comment before I casted my vote! Given the religious intolerance in our modern days, I now see More’s actions in a different light.
Oh my! I am guilty as well. I should have researched More before voting – pun intended.
Me too!
Off to a great start, More or Less!
I used to have a vaguely positive impression of More–Man for All Seasons and all that. Then I read Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies and realized he was misguided and violent in his zealotry.
Since those are both works of fiction, they may say as much about the authors’ attempts to create engaging stories as they do about the actual historical characters.
Mantel’s work is based on impeccable historical work; “A Man for All Seasons” is romanticized. I could never vote for someone with his own set of torture chambers.
My thoughts, exactly.
I agree completely. Did anyone read or watch “Wolf Hall”?
Oh yeah. I think anyone who sets out to make Thomas Cromwell the hero of the story is taking on a task of fantastic proportions.
Diana, spot on.
Exactly!
Since “sanctity” might actually be a bit of an elusive quality to identify, I like the constraint that any reference to our “little James” demands more conversation. I’ll go with him.
Thomas Moore was a communist to the core, he wrote Utopia and Utopia is a vision of a communist society. In addition, he was a very crude and course man. Thus he in his book suggests that the best way to pick a wife is to examine her in the nude. Please Vote for James the Less (faith without works is dead)
The same might be said about the way to pick a husband.
The early Christians also held property in common. See Acts 2:44-45 and Acts 4:32-37.
“I’d love to believe that “the less” is, in fact, a diminutive rooted in affection.”
Brilliant!
Voted for Thomas, but I’m grateful for the affectionate diminutive.
As an Anglican, it feels a little odd to be voting for Thomas More – but I can’t think of many men more dedicated to living by their consciences informed by faith and striving for the betterment of others as best he could understand it. I might not agree with him on everything, but I admire him greatly, nonetheless, and hope I can live with such fidelity, too.
I had that same reaction! We’re already off to a controversial start. As it should be!
Thomas gets my vote today for his commitment to the education of women.
Me Too! Education for women, Utopia based on Christ-like sharing and community, and the fact that unlike today’s “religious advisers” he actually picked God over king. These are the reasons that I picked Thomas More.
Kim, you expressed my thoughts exactly.
“Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me …..” comes to mind. Jesus seems to often bless the “lesser” people
This is my favorite comment of the day.
On the other hand I can accept some casualties from someone who valued women’s education.
I vote for my son James the Les(ter)
Thomas More has never inspired me, and perhaps I’m being contrary, but with the promise of more information about the saints as they advance in the brackets and the dearth of information available about James the Less, I can’t wait to see what more is provided as he joins the Saintly Sixteen. Go Team James!
I guess people are forgetting the part where Thomas burned people at the stake. That does not a saint make in my book.
I have great respect for More standing up to power, particular a king using religion to enhance royal power, but I was open to voting for James until I read the explanation. I like to know who I am voting for and James the Less seems so unclear that I really cannot cast my vote for this unknown.
It has to be “Moore” because we don’t who is “less”.
Just can’t get past More’s fanaticism. Genius, yes; great father, yes. Saint?, Not in my book.
More votes for more!
In Greek, linguist Sarah Ruden notes that the diminutive form is also associated with adorable or cute or endearing. She addresses the use of the word dogs in the parable of the Syro-Phoenician woman. The word in Greek would actually translate as cute and adorable puppies, throwing new and lighter light on troubling Gospel passage. I am voting for More anyway.
Diana, seems to me that Thomas More is the one who got burned. I voted for james anyway.
Actually, wasn’t Thomas More beheaded? I’m not sure it’s important – he was just one of Henry’s many casualties in his grab for power. I voted for More even though he’s a mixed character (as are we all). I admire his faithfulness even if I don’t always agree with some of his attitudes.
Yep, he was. Then More was less–one head, that is.
He was. He is noted for joking with the executioner about not harming his beard.
Thomas More. (I like the Robert Bolt version over Hilary Mantel). Gotta go with someone who puts their faith over politics even if it costs them their life. Also, I like the fact he tried his darndest NOT to be executed. Never carried for eager martyrs.
While I agree heartily re ‘eager martyrs’ (ugh!), and re Bolt v Mantel (“…But for *Wales*, Richard?” Lol!) Mantel’s is a lot more accurate to what the actual More was like.
He was a complicated man, for sure, and lived in dangerous times, but his approval of torture and eagerness to send people to a horrible death out of fear leaves me unable to vote for him. But maybe a lot of people will now check out “Man for All Seasons”.
Duke: “Dammit, Thomas — can you not come with us, for fellowship’s sake?”
More: “And when we die, and you go to Heaven for doing your conscience, and I am sent to Hell for not doing mine… will you come with me, for fellowship’s sake?”
If it were James,brother of Jesus,then the thought of him being sawed in half could possibly be, if they just crucified him as Christ, he could come back. Was then, sawing of his body, as their way to prevent this, as a precaution? Just a random thought
Because I assume that he never set anyone on fire, I vote for James the Less.
I’m pulling for the little guy.
Better to vote for the one whose identity is certain! …..(?)
I also love Miguel’s explanation of the diminutive in Spanish and especially love the image of the “adorable apostle.” It almost brought me over to James, and yet I relied on the certainty of Thomas More’s existence (I like knowing whom I am voting for) and have admiration for his respect for his daughters and wife and his sacrifice for his ideals. How many of us would be willing to do what he did for his beliefs of right and wrong. He’s far from perfect, but you can say that about anybody, and I may not want to share a beer with the man, but that’s true for a lot of people I admire. Unapologetically, may I have some More, please!
As my sister is rector of a church named for St James the Less my vote went his way.
Which one?
What can I say? I’m a sucker for the old biblical saints and word history. James the Less it is
Thomas More’s advocate makes an excellent case that eventually compelled my vote. I have deep trouble with his resistance to the Reformation and lack of “Anglican compromise,” (which may be a healthy reminder that not all compromise is Godly.) More’s faith, discipline, advocacy and legacy are admirable even today. I very much appreciate the advocacy for James the Less. It’s a powerful reminder that in God’s reign, there are no “lesses” and the least can be the most cherished. So, I find myself in the odd position of voting for one with whom I struggle while standing by one I’m learning to cherish. Saints are not always ones with whom we can feel warm and cuddly.
Amen to that – “Saints are not always ones with whom we can feel warm and cuddly.” God seems to have a habit of choosing to work through complicated and messy people (that includes all of us)!
Saul/Paul being a biblical example…
I wish you had mentioned More’s burning people at the stake in your biography! It seems like a pretty important part of who he was.
Though he does present rather a mixed bag, I think Thomas More showed commendable spine in standing up to an increasingly crazed authoritarian who brooked no dissent and would often lash out with deadly consequences at those he perceived as being disloyal. Not just a man for all seasons, Thomas More was a man for all centuries. He gets my vote today.
Well-put, Rebecca!
I see what you did there. Yes. Well put.
I hadn”t made the comparison but currently here in the US we have a crazed authoritarian figure who lashes out at those he perceives as disloyal- not to God or to our country- but to those disloyal to HIM.
Makes me think twice about my vote for James the Less
So James the less could be Lil’ James. I’d like to think of him that way.
I vote for Thomas More, definder of the faith and devoted to his family. He was committed to the education of his wife and 4 daughters. A man way ahead of his time.
You lost me when starting the artaicle with,” who was James the Less?”.
My all time favorite movie is the original “A Man For All Seasons,” starring the late, great Paul Scofield as Thomas. If Thomas didn’t say it, author Robert Bolt gave him the wonderful line, “Finally, it is not a matter of reason; finally, it is a matter of love.”
As others have stated, I can’t support the burning of people.
Does James win if he gets less than More?
Despite the clever “More or Less” humor, I find today’s choice rather unsettling. A man steeped in politics, and a man whose very identity is unknown. I’m looking forward to future matchups.
I agree with you.
The Sunday School at St. Raphael (Lexington KY) are learning about the saints). They voted for Thomas Moore. As Kate Melton said, “He loved Jesus more than the King.”
In the battle of More vs. Less had to go with More. Lotta Jameses running around the Gospels, but not that many men had the courage to stand up to Henry VIII.
For those of you who want politics left out of Lent Madness, alas, you are faced straight out of the gates with Thomas More, who resisted a despot. Sad. And he seems to be winning. Although he lost. The lesson of More appears to be that careful, moderate parsing of positions, such as “the king’s good servant, but God’s first,” will only enrage autocrats who put self and power first and do not acknowledge God. The collect for compline reminds us: “Be sober, be watchful; Satan your adversary prowls around like a roaring lion seeking souls to devour.” Ignoring destructive power relations and pretending that not talking about evil is “the high road” is not a Christian stance. Myself I voted for Jamesito because I was absolutely charmed by Miguel’s brilliant if desperate nominal exegesis. I am willing to buy the argument of the heart here in Lent. Our homily for the Ash Wednesday service last night was a reading of Jan Richardson’s poem “Rend your Heart.” It begins: “To receive this blessing, / all you have to do / is let your heart break.” Always in Lent Madness we debate the virtues of the activist saints versus the contemplative saints. It seems that in this little band of pilgrims the “deacon” types always win. But this year I want to insist on the primacy, in the face of false power, of the mystical, the reflective, the prayerful, NOT as a form of quiescence or fearful “rising above it all” but as a form of deep faith and union with the beloved. Or as Nadia Bolz-Weber would put it (or possibly Rumi if he was very drunk indeed), I’m going to let the Boyfriend get all up into my [deleted]. Blessings to all of you on this first morning just out of the gates on the road to Canterbury. The wise virgins among you will have had your horse shod before departure. This road is not without its rough spots, both high and low.
Touché. You know I’m with you on this!
Amen! Bless your heart ❤️
Ah, St. Celia, I wish I could write like you! Beautifully (and precisely) said, as always. Nice to see some familiar names already in the comments. I will do my best to trod this road carefully over the next forty days.
This is why I love Lent Madness – hearing from voices such as yours.
I have been reading a lot about Henry VIII and his bloody and cruel reign. So Thomas More held to his belief that the marriage to Anne Boleyn was indeed wrong, especially since Henry had his first wife, Queen Katherine of Aragon removed as queen to live out her life lonely and destitute after 16 years of marriage to the beast. I vote for More who had the courage to stand up to him and get slaughtered for it. I know a great deal of nasty killings went on during the reformation on both sides
Thomas More is my 13x great grandfather and so, of course, I am rooting for the captain of the “home team”! GO MORE!
Thomas was advocating free education in 1528. Amazing.
“Defender of the Faith” got my vote this time
JAMES THE LESS!!!!!!
I cheer the Mores in our midst and pray for more. He gets my vote today.
The battle prompted a reading of Mark Ch. 15 to learn more about James the Less. I followed that up with more research of Thomas More, which made me rethink my vote for him after hearing about some of his rulings as Chancellor. That being said my devotion with the Gospel reading was the reflection I needed today more than these 2 saints, as I reflect on the mercy given by Christ.
Although I do like your version of the meaning of “the Less” if only more would do likewise
One of the biggest Catholic names in history ooooor a guy who could be any number of guys, we don’t really know…
Can’t vote for More. First, it’s just downright hypocritical to have him on our calendar. Second, he did burn those Christians whom he considered heretics. Stood and watched them burn. But he was given a quick death. A Man for All (Burning) Seasons he was.
I think that Thomas More’s political beliefs and faith are on point for today where our loyalty isn’t to a person but to the Divine. I appreciate the humor as well!!!
Tough choice! I feel kind of sorry for James the Less because so little is known about him. On the other hand, Thomas More’s choice of faith over life is admirable. On the other other hand, James the Less was an apostle!
Several people were burned at the stake while More was chancellor. But this had been the standard punishment for heresy for over a century. More isn’t going to lose my vote for failing to overturn the law; I don’t even know if he had that power.
So I’m still up in the air. I’ll keep reading more comments as they come in before I make up my mind.
Me, too, Beth. This is harder than it should be!
Definitely a creative bio of James the Less, and almost worth my vote. But Less is More, right?
Little James the Less gets my vote for all the reasons listed above. Thank you Miguel for that insight.
Such good analysis and argumentation already! Remember it is “More,” but probably pronounced moor.
This year’s Living Compass “Living Well Through Lent” resource focuses on practicing courage – with heart, soul, strength, and mind. Thomas Moore stood up to a despotic leader with courage and determination, certainly a lesson for all seasons.
A choice between someone who is known with all his strengths and weaknesses, and someone only known as a name in a story. It sounds odd even to me, but I voted for James the Less because I have always felt kindred to all the unknown people of the world who have lived out their lives and faith in obscurity and who were known only in their own time and place – and to God.
I voted for Thomas, but I want to click “Like” on your perspective on living out lives and faith in obscurity. Too bad we only have 32 slots in Lent Madness — it would be great if we could learn about and recognize ALL the saints.
If we stick with Lent Madness long enough, perhaps we will get to all the Saints.
“ I have always felt kindred to all the unknown people of the world who have lived out their lives and faith in obscurity and who were known only in their own time and place – and to God.“
This. This is why I have learned to read the comments before voting. I’m voting for James.
Same here! James gets my vote.
Why have James the Less if you’re not sure who he is or what he did? Doesn’t make sense if you’re comparing two people.
Yes, but who could resist pairing More with Less?
Surely not the SEC!
Sometimes the Saints just pair thenselves
Maybe he stands for all of the unknown unsung people who loved and served God with all their heart and ability?
(plus the play on More or Less really is hard to pass up…)
Wish we had more Mores today who were , in the end, willing to stand up to tyrants and demigods.
Hmm, sounds like a reference to a certain political body that is too fearful of standing up to a wantabee dictator. I keep waiting for the child who will lead them to exclaim”The Emperor has no clothes!”
My son is a James so it was an easy choice.
This match-up should be a no-brainer.
On one side, you have a guy whose biography begins “Who actually was this goy”?
On the other side, you have the only person in this whole contest who was portrayed favorably in an Oscar-winning film for Best Picture. And by Paul Scofield no less, enough said.
Some here raise question here about some questionable things More did, to which I say, “It’s not like he was some kind of saint or something”
Oh wait…
As someone whose day job is as historian of England in the 16th and 17th centuries, More is an easy pick. He was a complicated man, with characteristics we admire and those we condemn. But then, so are most of us. If you believe strongly in something, intolerance may reflect faithfulness. I’m intolerant of those who are sure they are right!
One minor (or given the theme for the day, lesser) historical error in More’s bio: it is Henry, not More, who gets the title “defender of the faith”.
Thought so
Voted for Thomas More because he stood up to a powerful bully of a king.
I didn’t like either of these choices. It’s hard to vote for someone when you don’t know who you’re voting for. So I voted for Thomas More, hoping he will lose in the second round.
I wish we were awarding points :). I’d definitely give Señor Escobar points for a wonderful write up with out much to go on; but, since this is all or nothing, I had to go with Sir More.
As many pastors in the Lutheran church have taught, if a story, teaching, or person was mentioned in the gospels it is important. The gospels often leave up for interpretation why this person is important, but it doesn’t matter. They are important in the greater scheme. If James the Less was in any gospel, let a lone several, he was important to the work of Christ and that is all I need to know.
Also, Thomas Moore actively promoted the killing of Martin Luther. Not a fan of that.
“like”
Ditto.
Marian, you have been quite attentive. Praise be upon you. Though I have admiration for Thomas’ own, “Here I Stand” spirit, I will vote for Jim. And I will find a “Beam” with (in) my eye and toast his faithfulness with a little More.
I wish we were awarding points :). I’d definitely give Señor Escobar points for a wonderful write up with out much to go on; but, since this is all or nothing, I had to go with Sir More.
FactCheck: Henry VIII did not divorce his 1st or 4th wives, both marriages were annulled.
And yet, and yet, without the marriage to Anne Boleyn there would have been no Elizabeth I, arguably England’s greatest monarch ever! God’s ways are mysterious indeed!
Back to our subject, with a dim memory of seeing “A Man for All Seasons” on Broadway in my earliest days in New York City, I vote for a man strong enough to respect, honor, and educate his wife and daughters. He sounds something like my own father, who would not accept a position that meant there was no job for my mother, a gifted musician and teacher. St. Thomas, about whom much MORE is known, is my choice today.
Voting for St. James the Less and giving great thanks for St. James the Less School in Philly. The school is Episcopal in founding and in operation and spirit. Less is More.
A vote for all the ‘less’ in life…. but so important to our world❣
Thanks to both David and Miguel for their good examples of what we can expect from the fine celebrity bloggers
I voted for More, in spite of wanting to vote for James the Less in honor of my brother James. More was a man of principle, but not an unflawed man. Our own version of burning at the stake consists of lethal injection, drones, bombers, and possible again, land mines. I too love his interest in educating women and his writing about a society that is better than the one in which he lives
I enjoyed reading about both. I have to vote for Thomas More because to cast a vote for someone based on conjecture, no matter how entertaining the information, would be folly.
I am happy to find I was not the only person who immediately thought “Less is More” while reading the two biographies. While I think both may have been flawed characters, I More or Less had it a tie. Despite my minimalist lifestyle, I am rebelling against the Lenten vow of Less and going with a little More.
Not Re this, but a question that I haven’t gotten an answer to. I bought the Saintly Scorecard book for my Kindle. Is there any place where I can download and print the bracket sheet?
https://www.lentmadness.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/LM_Bracket-2020-Small-RGB.jpg
I answered your question yesterday, Grace. I see that Tim has answered again, here. Hopefully you will see it. There is also a button at the top of the page that says “Bracket 2020.” That is where a pdf of the bracket sheet can be obtained for printing.
Wikipedia seems to think More should not bear all the blame for nasty things done to Protestants, but he did at least speak in approval of burning some of them, and oversee beating a couple who were, I guess, of less worth: a child and a ‘feeble-minded man’. Odd that world was, but I know people approving of pulling children from their parents an locking them up for (basically) speaking Spanish. We are not blameless. None the less (pun intended) I shall support the early Church foundation and vote for James. Whichever one he was, he was important enough!
Although there is much to admire in Thomas More’s passion, the fact that he wrote about religious tolerance for all in his “Utopia” and then proceeded to burn Protestants at the stake for their religious differences makes me think he was a hypocrite at best and a fanatic at worst. I therefore will be voting for “Lil James”.
Sir Thomas More’s relationship with his daughter Margaret has always reminded me of my own relationship with my dad, who was a professor of literature. And Tudor history has been an avocation of mine since I was a teen, so it would seem that More would be my choice. But James’ being the underdog pulls more at my heartstrings. And he was handpicked by Jesus for his select group. What’s not to love there?
Happy Lent 2020!
Thomas for the win
Though it’s hard to vote against an apostle, and I lean to the Protestant side of the Anglican via media, Sir Thomas More’s life and witness compels me to cast my first 2020 Lent Madness vote for him. I do like Miguel Escobar’s take on Lil’ James, though!
You lean Protestant but you vote for the man that burned them alive?
Voted for James the Less, the diminutive and so far) the underdog today-though he was an apostle.
Let’s remember that Thomas More tortured people and killed them for the “crime” of reading the Bible in English. His famous conscience did not compel him to have any compassion for those who believed differently from himself.
Regina is spot on!
This is a tough choice between Thomas More and James the less. I picked More because he is complicated figure full of apparent contradictions. Yet in the end his faith held strong over the sway of a mighty king and the ultimate sacrifice. Life is full of challenges. He is a good role model.
“Less is More” was coined by CoCo Chanel to describe her fashion ideology. Chanel eliminated the elaborate and restrictive clothing constructions for women of her day by adopting the tailored line of military uniforms she saw in Paris during WWI, as well as adopting the use of jersey fabric in the creation of outerwear. Up until her fashion revolution, jersey fabric was exclusively confined to undergarments.
I did not know that. Thanks!
Very nice. Like!
Thank you, CoCo, for making my comfortable clothes possible! However, I believe it was Mies Van der Rohe who coined the phrase.
Voted for James the Less as Miguel so aptly described Less is More. (voting as a member of St James (the Less) Episcopal Westwood Cincinnati.
Well, the “man for all seasons” is certainly a controversial figure with a lot of dark pages in his history. A little too fanatical. It’s not nice to burn people, no matter how wrong you think they are. But, as had often been pointed out, a lot of saints have messy pasts before, and sometimes after, becoming saintly. Even with all his egregious faults, his courage in standing up for his faith and against the King gets him a lot of credit.
In a time when nationalism threatens the Gospel, I have to vote for Thomas More. This is an important reminder about priorities for disciples of Jesus: “the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”
As I was ordained in the Church of St. Philip and St. James, the choice was easy! St. James, all the way!
‘Cause we need folks who will stand up to kings and would-be kings these days.
This year my Lenten focus is “decrease”, so I voted for James. I think he represents the countless saints who lived faithful lives but are not remembered in history.
On a different note, here’s a song for Lent Madness:
(Sung to the tune of “Blessed Assurance”)
Welcome Lent Madness,
It’s finally here!
I can’t believe it’s
Already a year.
Waiting and wondering
Who’s on the list?
Are they my favorites,
Was somebody missed?
Chorus
When I am voting,
I think hard and long.
Sometimes it’s tough,
I don’t want to be wrong.
(repeat)
Saints in submission,
Holy and blest,
Can I be like them when
Put to the test?
Learning and laughing,
Good holy fun,
I’m almost sad when
The Halo is won.
Well done!
Fanstastic! Good work.
One additional comment. The argument for More standing up against his King’s authoritarian rule might be able to be made for James the Less as well. Tradition holds that he was martyred. This would only have happened if he was standing up for what he believed in against the powers that were over him. Just something to think about.
Lil’ Jimmy is cute and all that, but nobody really knows his story, or who he really is. Tommy, on the other hand was a martyr for his beliefs. Tommy for the win!
As a retired Spanish teacher, I had to go with James the Less. Besides, I couldn’t get past the hair shirt.
Hilary Mantel’s letter to Thomas More: ‘We have to lie about you a little in order to like you’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/hilary-mantels-letter-thomas-have-lie-little-order-like/
Little James for sure!
Thomas may have been for education for women, but he tortured and killed people who disagreed with him theologically and politically in his basement. James!
Reading the comments is only making my decision harder. :-O I wish Senor Escobar had given the Spanish for “lil’ James” – Iagito? Diegito? I have a good and holy friend named James so for his sake it’s more the Less for me.
Well, Boys, you have certainly started us off with a bang. A pun (the lowest form of humor) combined with folks who bring forth all kinds of serious theological and political implications, throw in gender equality, and add a brilliantly written biography about someone who is sort of someone, maybe. This is going to be quite a Lent!
It seems a bit odd to remember some someone who died committed to Rome as an Anglican, but I have to go with someone we have more historical knowledge about. Sorry St. James the Less!
A fave passage, “But of others there is no memory; they have perished as though they had never existed;…But these also were godly men.” Whoever James was, Jesus thought he had worth. Not much of a narrative, I know.
Charmed by Miguel’s lovely suggestion, and as former vicar of St. James on Warwoman Road (which James remains a mystery, I believe), I went with him. But Sir Thomas had quite a pull on me, too, and with all his flaws, we know who he was. I read “Utopia” as a teenager and was most impressed. Looks like I’m down one right out of the gate.
I am thinking Moore is Less
Best saint you never knew…
I’m voting for James! Here’s a poem I wrote about him:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
James the Less, you’re super awesome,
And I’m definitely voting for you!
There were 3 Joannes in my family so in memory of my mother, little Joanne, I’m voting for James the Less
I’m for the little guy!
The nature of God is to bless
all people of true faithfulness.
While Thomas was sure
his actions were pure,
I’ll stick with good ol’ James the Less.
Thomas More was no saint. He deliberately took uneducated wives, and then decreed that all dinner time conversation must be in Latin, shutting them out. He had a private torture chamber in his house, where he oversaw the torment of select heretics; he also had an outdoor torture setup in his garden, for use in fine weather. When he could not persuade a heretic to return to Holy Mother Church, he always made a point of attending the burning. There are good reasons that he wasn’t canonized for such a long time. He never deserved it it all.
Thomas More spoke truth to power. He gets my vote!
Finally, the opportunity to quote Professor Eric Mascall’s wonderful poem from Pi in the High —— “To a Church Dignitary Who Has Spoken Contemptuously of a Saint” Last line, “I could not love thee, Dean, so much loved I not Thomas More”. This tiny book of poetry has been my joy since I first met it in the 1970’s. My vote is for Thomas.
Love Migeul’s thoughts about James the Less but ultimately voted for Thomas More.BTW, In addition to the play/movie Man for all Seasons, he also has a pop song! it was the B side to a top 40 hit in 1979
Cool find, Kate B! I never heard this. One boo-boo in it: He sings about Henry Plantagenet, but this is, of course, Henry Tudor we’re talking about. Do you think he was confusing Thomas More with Thomas à Becket?
Yeah I just read about that mix up on his wikipedia page (when I was looking for the year the song came out). Good pick up!
As an ardent socialist, Thomas More has my sympathy, but I can’t in good conscience vote for anyone as opposed as he to the protestant – especially the English – reformation.
Less is not Moore
Sant Iagito!
All the determined current adherents to RIGHTNESS are exhausting. I’m going with quiet faithfulness that was such that he was granted an honorable mention.
Less is More. I vote for James.
Any friend of Erasmus is a friend of mine.
As an American literature specialist who faced down Thomas More in many a literary incident, I’m voting for him.
I vote for Jimmy
James the Less, the Little, the Minor, the Lessor.
Less is best opening the early church to more, to ALL. Nay More!
His life of faith still inspires as we are called to continue this path together, to respond and listen to the struggles and joys of ALL peoples in a broken world.
So Less is more.
Why is James the Less even in this match? There is no mention of what he actually did! Are we scraping the bottom of the barrel for a saint to include?
After reading all of the comments so far, and feeling like someone mentioned in the Gospels was, like the other apostles, taking a giant leap of faith and actively following Jesus, I had to vote for St James the Less. However, I would like to know More about the Roman Catholic version of James the Less, as Jesus’s brother?
James the Less, not More.
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See the box where you are supposed to enter your email address, upper right hand corner of the home page, lentmadness.org
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Welcome aboard!
More loved to torture Protestant heretics or those suspected of such. Anglicans beware of the rack and iron maiden!
In honor of my friend Xanti – and for a few other reasons – voted for James.
less is the best
I agree with Elizabeth R. What did he do and which James was HE?
If More had gotten his way, we’d all be Roman Catholics today. I’m glad I am Episcopalian. James was an apostle, chosen and called by Jesus to be a witness to Him. So I voted for Jimmy, the sweet, cute, and fondness-inspiring apostle.
And just how is Thomas More an Anglican? He’s Roman Catholic. He’s probably rending his chancellor’s robes right now!
I like the thought of the “Less” in James the Less being a term of endearment, and I will hold onto that, but my vote was easily swayed to Thomas More, not only for his willingness to die for his faith, but that he felt so strongly about educating his wife and children.
More was no saint in his vehement reaction to Protestantism…I love someone who works quietly, not seeking attention, and advocating acts of charity. The Mexican Spanish definition is spot on for James the Less.
Maybe James the Less is a Jr.
when i saw the teo contends names I thought i would vote for Thomas More. The write up for James the Lesser won me over.
Going for the underdog
While I respect Sir Thomas’s devotion to the faith as he saw it; I can only be reminded that, we’re he successful in his purpose, I would be unhappy in my church as opposed to being a happy Episcopalian.
So, it’s James the Less for me!
Voting for Thomas More was an easy choice for me … he championed the education of girls.
Poor James, with only a dubious fable or two to his name, and props to his biographer for rolling up his sleeves and feeding the legend! I was reminded of a friend I used to call “Jaimezinho,” the Portuguese equivalent; but in the end the bio failed to put Jimbo over the top for me.
It’s good that Anglicans remember Thomas, and I think his liturgical color should be purple in penitence for the many wrongs committed by the sweet little Church of England of our imagination and its progeny. My affection for the saint derives partly from having once played him in a local production of “A Man for All Seasons.” But there’s a cautionary tale in that: I was very into the part and became, for a time, somewhat judgmental at a time when a close friend was in need of understanding.
I voted after reading the bios and was surprised to find out that More was a zealot when it came to heretics. Neither the bio nor the play mentions that dark side, but I’m not going to revisit my vote: “What I have written I have written.”
I voted for
Poor James, with only a dubious fable or two to his name, and props to his biographer for rolling up his sleeves and feeding the legend! I was reminded of a friend I used to call “Jaimezinho,” the Portuguese equivalent; but in the end the bio failed to put Jimbo over the top for me.
It’s good that Anglicans remember Thomas, and I think his liturgical color should be purple in penitence for the many wrongs committed by the sweet little Church of England of our imagination and its progeny. My affection for the saint derives partly from having once played him in a local production of “A Man for All Seasons.” But there’s a cautionary tale in that: I was very into the part and became, for a time, somewhat judgmental at a time when a close friend was in need of understanding.
I voted after reading the bios and was surprised to find out that More was a zealot when it came to heretics. Neither the bio nor the play mentions that dark side, but I’m not going to revisit my vote: “What I have written I have written.”
Sorry for the duplication.
Don’t you wish we had a “delete” button! I long for that, as well as an automatic insertion of name and email. *sigh*
Have you mentioned your inclination toward thespianism previously? I like knowing that about you!
At St. Philip’s in the Hills, Tucson, there are stained glass windows depicting each of the apostles. James the Lesser is titled “James the Miner” and is shown with a pickaxe! A little problem in translation, since the windows, if I remember right, were done by Mexican artists!
I love that!
A very long time ago as a young teenager I read that Thomas Moore imprisoned and killed entire families, including children for reading the Bible in English. It stuck with me for this many years. As a child therapist and advocate for the voice of the child, I can’t possibly vote for Moore for anything. As a member of St. James in Downingtown, named for James the lesser, I may be a bit biased on the side of this apostle. So sad to see him losing.
Thomas More was undoubtedly a great man, if terribly flawed, but my cop-out vote is for Diego because he is so far behind. Well, that and an apostle, too.
On behalf of 54 fourth graders at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, VA, I cast their vote for More (32 v. Less’s 22). Each of four classes voted separately, and then I totaled the votes and recorded it here. In the process, they learned a lot of new words: reformation, piety, chancellor, astute, obstinate, Parliament . . . whew. He won a lot of hearts through his support of education for women. James the Less was admired for his humility. Not a flashy disciple, he simply did he work he was called to do (if he was indeed the James who was a disciple); we got to talk about Spanish, which most of them have taken; and hearing about Jesus’ brothers was a revelation to many (Mark 6:3). Thanks for the great teaching tool!
Fabulous, 4th graders! Happy to see the students participating in Lent Madness this year.
Although not much is known about James the Less, I liked the thought of “less” being a term of endearment. Also, as a beneficiary of Luther’s protestant movement, I can’t quite bring myself to vote for a man who railed against Luther.
A new job makes it impossible to relyric show tunes and remain employed. Sorry all. This year, we have a meme theme. Click and enjoy!
https://birdsonstix.wordpress.com/2020/02/27/lent-madness-meme-thomas-more-versus-james-the-less/
I appreciate your work pressures. Love the meme!
I love the meme, but I’ll miss the show tunes. Oh well, I guess you have to eat…
Piety, perhaps, is best
In Less, as in Least,
Than in more of More,
a bit of a Beast.
He may be cute and cuddly,
But his lineage is rather muddly.
It’s clear that James’ bonafides
Could change depending on the day.
A man for all seasons gets my vote
For in “Utopia” he wrote
That education should be free
For you and you and you and me!
Luke says it best “For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”
It took some reading to decide but since Thomas More fought for religion and died for religion I chose him. James the less seemed obscure
Remember, if Thomas More had his way, there would be no Anglicans, therefore no Episcopalians, therefore no Forward Movement, therefore no Lent Madness; therefore this conversation wouldn’t be happening and I’d be bored right now.
And there would be no United Methodist Church to be (possibly) splitting soon! (I’m a very concerned retired Methodist clergy.)
Worth revisiting:
Sarah Bryan Miller
February 27, 2020 – 11:35 am | Permalink
“Thomas More was no saint. He deliberately took uneducated wives, and then decreed that all dinner time conversation must be in Latin, shutting them out. He had a private torture chamber in his house, where he oversaw the torment of select heretics; he also had an outdoor torture setup in his garden, for use in fine weather. When he could not persuade a heretic to return to Holy Mother Church, he always made a point of attending the burning. There are good reasons that he wasn’t canonized for such a long time. He never deserved it it all.“
Thank you Sarah Bryan Miller
This was a. Difficult choice, but I chose Thomas More because he was willing to die for what he knew to be right.
Apostles may come by the dozen,
But I salute my martyred cousin,
where Less is never More.
At first glance, it appears that More is more worthy than Less and I was worried that poor James would be left in the dust. However, it seems to me that James the Less represents the millions upon millions of believers who go through life quietly living their beliefs, doing nothing outstanding but somehow bearing witness of God’s love for all of us to see. He is the perfect role model for all of us “lesser” folks…he is a testament that we are all God’s beloved children. We all shine in our our way. My first vote for the 2020 Golden Halo goes to James.
I love the way you put that.
Without the first of the personal followers of Jesus history considers “the Apostles,” the Christian movement would not have begin to spread far and wife in the world, even without all of canonical scripture and conciliar creeds and Western and Eastern doctrines. The first ones to spread the Good News will never be less than those who came later!
More, for sure.
I, too, voted for James but, sadly, I don’t think he’s going to win.
Thomas More’s “opposition to the Protestant Reformation” is more about allegiance to his religion then allegiance to God. For me that disqualified him. I went with James the less.
Today I am persuaded by Thomas More’s commitment to the education of women (having put out of my mind the scene in Wolf Hall where Thomas is reading the New Testament in Greek as a man is tortured before him). Lovely as the affectionate write up for James was there was too little to base a vote on.
I swooped down here since I couldn’t vote earlier. Seems that the cliff notes in the blurb for Tom indicates that ” universal religious tolerance” was part of Utopia. Seems like Tom was a gigantic hypocrite. Maybe I should read Utopia, or vote for Less.
How many of us would have reacted the way Thomas did?
Today I wanted to vote for Thomas More because I want Thomas More to win
I voted early.. easy! Looking forward to more
Good luck everyone
While leaning towards More, I voted for Less. The creativity and spirit of the writer won me over. Less is more.
While the romanticized and “dubious” version of “Less” being the more beloved or well-loved makes for interesting reading, let’s be clear. The appellation refers to the fact that this James was YOUNGER than the other apostle. This becomes very clear if read in the original Greek.
I love the Mexican concept that is 180° opposite to US capitalistic belief that Bigger is Better and that one always needs MORE. As Jesus said “Whatever you did for the LEAST (Less) of these you did for Me”
Since I was young I have always been a fan of More Admiring him for his conviction to faith and family.
I find I cannot vote for More, even as I can admire much that he did. In memory of the most important James in my life (lovingly called “Seamus”), I cast my vote firmly for James the Less.
My reasons as well!
James the less, apostle of Jesus,
Much loved, gentle, kind and good.
Less is more!! ❤
Less is better
This is my 1st Lenten tournament madness. My sister is an Episcopal priest in St. Louis. We were talking about Lent and she said she never gives anything up for Lent.She adds something on. In her case more reading material of a spiritual nature.She convinced me to do the same. So in that vein I also added”MORE”reading material and voted for him.
Besides it’s March madness and I am a huge basketball fan.I live in Kentucky.Where else can you have The SEC(conference and Supreme Executive Committee) It was a sign from above that I do this.My sister also told me the puns were hilarious. Low brow humor to be sure but soooo very funny. Keep up the good work.
I live in St Louis. At which church is your sister?
My sister is the bishop’s assistant for the diocese. I believe they call the a Canon to the Ordinary, Though there is nothing ordinary about my sister. She was at Emmanuel Webster Grove and also Grace Kirkwood as an assistant rector.
Yes, Doris is the interim Canon to the Ordinary. She’s been a friend since I moved to St. Louis.
James the Less has my heart; but Thomas More tipped the scales, for me, when he took his stand for our Lord G-d Almighty…, even unto death!
At this hour of the night and after so many incredible comments and teachings, my little musings hardly matter but I shall add them to the mix anyway.
I was tempted to vote for James the Underdog, but mused a while before doing so. Then, it struck me that all this not knowing exactly who he was is so much like our everyday lives. We drown in information, but still don’t really know “where it’s at” (whatever “it” may be). So a tip of the hat – and a vote – to all the Jameses and all the uncertainties of life, and to the grace of God that sees us through it all.
Yes, More was a doer of bad things. But so was Paul of Tarsus and look where we put today! Both men have become great Christian saints even though both had a very un-Christian past. Further, it is hard to vote for a man whose very identity is obscure. If James was known to be the James who convened the Council of Jerusalem, I would be impressed. In fact, personally grateful in light of what was decided at that Council. But Thomas More finished his race in great style and he gets my vote.
More was far from perfect, but he was a serious Christian, stuck to his principles, had enlightened ideas about a number of topics, wrote beautifully, and died nobly as a martyr. James may have been all those things in his time as well, but we really know nothing about him except his name and his patronymic. So for me it has to be More not Less.
Yeah! Communism wins! Works are not important. Faith? Very telling.
James doesn’t move me, whomever he may be. More, despite his faults, was willing to die on the same hill he created for others. He was at least consistent.
Oh, No! Faith, RIP.
Is anyone else having the problem of not being allowed to vote? I am being shown only the vote totals but not the Vote button.
I’m going with James.
Less is more this Lenten season – speak truth to power boldly in whatever small way you can!
I don’t know whether the members of the SEC read these comments, but I hope they’ll see this one. I was frankly shocked that the entry on Thomas More failed to mention his cruel, bloody, and zealous persecution of Protestants. The celebrity blogger failed to give us a complete picture here; surely that’s a part of the job, for better or for worse. When More comes up again in the Saintly Sixteen, can we please have that information in his entry? I enjoyed the humor of “More or Less,” but there’s not much that’s humorous in maintaining not one but two spaces at one’s home devoted to the torture of one’s fellow human beings. It will be a travesty if that monster wins the Golden Halo.
Blessings & Shalom Sarah…
“Saul of Tarsus…, his cruel, bloody, and zealous persecution of Christians.” Does not Thomas More rate the same forgiveness as extended to Apostle Paul??? Was More’s ultimate stand for the one and only true G-d, Abba YHWH, for nought??? It is so wonderful for “all” Believers that G-d, Abba YHWH, looks on our hearts [motives]…, not the outward like man does…. Just a thought.
Thomas More never repented of his evil deeds against other members of the Body of Christ; he was smugly certain that their horrific sufferings were God’s will. What kind of monster maintains not one but two areas dedicated to carefully calibrated suffering of others in his own home? When torture failed to make them apostate, he always attended their public martyrdoms by burning alive; who does that, besides a sadistic fanatic? I doubt that Saul of Tarsus was in More’s category of evil, but at least he repented of his persecutions. The hypocritical More seems to have rejoiced in his ghastly deeds until the end. There are a lot of very good reasons that he was not canonized until 1935, 400 years after his execution. One is that he was, manifestly, unworthy of sainthood.
Touche, Bryan…
But in the greater scheme of things, horrific is horrific…, be it Saul of Tarsus [who, yes, also reveled in his atrocities!
We have the Bible [the Holy Spirit inspired Word of G-d]] that continues to follow the life of Apostle Paul.
I am just offering another point of view…, as morally right as we ‘humans’ feel we can be, bottom-line, no one knows our hearts [motives] better than Abba YHWH – no one! And ACCEPT for the Grace of G-d…, More’s horrific way could be attributed to any of us; yet when the “chips were down” the man, More, chose G-d [sort of like the thief on the cross who asked Christ Jesus to remember him] – that was literally that man’s 24th hour…, & at his last second our Christ Jesus granted him Salvation. More is no different than the thief on the cross…, & we are no different than More! Intolerance is Intolerance, any way it is sliced….
For a lot of reasons, I cast my vote for James the Less
I vote for Thomas More! He was a man of conscience, willing to stand up to Henry VIII when most of his contemporaries towed the line to save themselves. Hillary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall” is a work of fiction which tries to paint Cromwell as a hero, so it is bound to be biased. For me More is the hero who gets my vote! ❎
Actually, Mantel’s work is based on carefully researched history; I learned all that about More as an undergraduate in an advanced course on Tudor history. She’s not making it up. It’s “A Man for All Seasons” that’s dipped in fiction. (And, of course, all the great dialogue that people have been quoting was made up.)
If you’re okay with voting for a man who really did maintain his own torture chambers and regularly attend burnings, that’s your business. But please don’t pretend that facts aren’t facts because you find them inconvenient. Sometimes beloved preconceptions are wrong. This is one of those times.