SPRING 2017 NEWSLETTER
Fr. Paul Scalia Addresses Packed Crowd
O
n Thursday, September
Scalia spoke about theology, so Fr.
22, 2016, Fr. Paul Scalia,
Scalia thought it was appropriate
Episcopal
he should speak about law that
Vicar
for
Clergy in the Archdiocese of
day.
Arlington,
presented him with an image of
entitled
delivered
“In
Fairness
remarks
to
the
As a gift, the Society
Thomas More.
He said that
Pharisees: Laws, the Law and
present had special meaning for
Lawlessness.”
He spoke to a
him because St. Thomas More is
packed crowd gathered for lunch
the patron of the Diocese of
at the Army-Navy Club.
Arlington
He
and
the
cathedral
joked that his father, the late
church in Arlington bears his
Supreme Court Justice Antonin
name.
Fr. Paul Scalia
Tour of D.C. Thomas More Exhibit Inspires
T
he Thomas More Society
King
Henry
VIII
sought
to
martyred in 1535; More said, “I
of America hosted an ex-
divorce. The exhibit offered an
die the king’s good servant, and
clusive tour of
opportunity to stand
God's servant first.”
exhibit, “God’s
in a re-creation of the
John Paul II declared More the
Servant First: The Life
cell where More was
heavenly Patron of Statesmen
and Legacy of Thomas
imprisoned
in
the
and Politicians. Sponsored by the
More” at the Saint
Tower
London.
Knights of Columbus and the
John Paul II National
Additionally,
first-
Christian Heritage Centre at
Shrine in Washington,
class
St.
Stonyhurst, the exhibit ran from
D.C. on the evening of
Thomas More were
November 2, 2016.
present including a
the
Over sixty historic artifacts were
displayed,
such
as
More’s
of
relics
of
jaw-bone fragment and tooth
which guests could venerate.
personal crucifix as well as two
The title of the exhibit is a
hats and a chasuble embroidered
reference to the last words of
by Katherine of Aragon, the wife
Chancellor More before he was
Pope St.
September 15 to March 31.
IN THIS ISSUE
● Lent with Fr. Mullins
● Remembering Br. Hilary
● Scholarly Essay Publication
● The Society on Television
LEADERSHIP
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Friends of Sir Thomas More,
OFFICERS:
Over the last year, the nation’s
President: Austin Lipari, Esq.
capital has experienced rapid,
President-Elect: Maya
Noronha, Esq.
Secretary: Peter Zolper,
COL, U.S. Army (Ret.), Esq.
Treasurer: Elsa Thompson,
CAPT, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Chaplain: Rev. Justin Huber
perhaps
unexpected
change.
Many Society members have
found
themselves
in
new
positions or experienced other
life transitions. In the Thomas
More Society of America, we
strive to bring to the people of
Washington
the
permanent
things, that to which More’s life
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
and martyrdom point.
Austin Lipari
Richard Cleary, Esq.
More, as a humanist, encourages us to consider truth, beauty, and
Jeremiah Egger, Esq.
goodness. As a saint, he teaches us that these qualities are not to
Frank Garcia,
CAPT, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
seek perfection in this world, but point to the Incarnation—of a
Joseph Milligan,
CAPT, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Jason Murphy, Esq.
Eddie O'Connell, Esq.
Chris Payne
LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Peter Redpath, Esq.
John Vittone, Esq.
God made man, who died to save us from our sins. In times of
change, More points us towards Christ who “brings us from His
Spirit consolation that will give us the strength to persevere in
those deeds that will lift us up to heaven.”
With our Society’s activities, we seek to point to these higher things.
In our first event of the year, we hosted Fr. Paul Scalia, who
explored with us the nature of law as a necessary instrument of
God’s grace. We went to the St. John Paul II Shrine to venerate
More’s relics. During Lent, we hosted a reflection with Fr. Richard
Mullins, who took us through More’s spiritual meditations on the
Sadness of Christ.
Our Society is growing and looking for new ways to bring the life
THOMAS MORE SOCIETY
OF AMERICA
c/o Elsa Thompson,
Treasurer
of Sir Thomas More to others. We hope you will consider joining
us and help us “promote interest in the life and works of Sir
Thomas More” in the nation’s capital.
204 3rd Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
[email protected]
www.ThomasMoreSocietyofAmerica.org
Sincerely,
Austin Lipari
Follow More Deeply into Lent with Fr. Mullins
F
r. Richard A. Mullins led
Centering on the life and last
sign
the Society in a Lenten
days of St. Thomas More, Fr.
During this time, More penned a
Reflection entitled “God’s
Mullins
by reviewing
manuscript, The Sadness of Christ,
More’s study at
which drew parallels between his
Little Lenten Advice
Oxford,
family
experience and the temptation,
from Saint Thomas
life, prayer and
penance, and sacrifice of Jesus
More” on Tuesday,
ascetic practices,
Christ in His last days. More’s
March 21, 2017 at the
and his meteoric
time in the Tower of London
Catholic
ascent as a law-
serves as an example for all of us
yer and states-
in Lent, as we seek to prepare
Mullins is a member
man.
ourselves for Easter.
of
chief Lenten les-
Servant
First:
began
A
Inform-
ation Center.
the
Fr.
Oratorian
More’s
Community of St.
son
Philip
however,
Neri
and
Fr. Richard A. Mullins
pastor of St. Thomas
Apostle Parish in Woodley Park.
for
us,
came
during his final
days, when he was imprisoned
and executed for his refusal to
the
Act
of
Succession.
Fr. Mullins’ reflection was very
well
received.
Nearly
60
members and guests attended the
Lenten Reflection, which was
followed by a reception with
wine and cheese.
IN MEMORIAM: Brother Hilary Mettes, S.T.
M
ember
and
loyal
uncomplainingly with his whole
Brother
heart, strength, mind and body.
Hilary Mettes, S.T.,
He used his gifts—whenever and
died on March 4, 2017. He was
however they could best be
93. Brother Hilary was a pillar of
used—to build up the precious
our Society, serving on the board,
body
and coordinating our feast day
faithfully, joyfully, ungrudgingly
Mass for many years. Many of us
in
recall his uncanny knack for
people and His congregation
finding the cheapest parking
needed him to serve.”
supporter,
garage in downtown DC—years
before BestParking.Com!
of
Christ.
whatever
He
capacity
served
God’s
The Missionary Servants of the
Most Holy Trinity established an
From the homily at the Mass of
endowment fund in his name to
Christian Burial: “Brother Hilary
support their current and future
lived his life fully, nobly, well,
missionary works. Our Board
with dignity. He knew and loved
donated $500 to the Brother
the
Hilary Mettes,
God
whom
he
served
S.
T.
Mission
Brother Hilary Mettes, S.T.
Burse in honor of his long-time
service to the Thomas More
Society of America.
Requiescat in pace, Brother Hilary!
More on the Our Father by Sr. Anne
S
ister Anne M. O’Donnell,
Sr. Anne explores the sources of
roundabout manner. Dr. Clare M.
SNDeN, Catholic Univer-
Erasmus’ Precatio dominica (which
Murphy, gave a luncheon talk on
sity of America Professor
Roper translated from Latin into
“Thomas
English as A Devout Treatise Upon
Biography of Thomas More” to
Emerita
of
longtime
English
a
1588
More
the Thomas More Society
Life
of America. on March 27,
recently com-
2012. At Dr. Murphy’s
pleted work at the Arizona
request the Society gave
State University Center for
her honorarium to the
Medieval and Renaissance
Center for Medieval and
Studies on a project that is
Renaissance Studies to
literally “related” to Thomas
subsidize publication of a
More. In fact, she has been
collection of essays on
involved in researching and
Thomas More’s daughter
writing an essay that unites
Margaret Roper. Before
Society
Member,
Thomas
and
Stapleton's
of
America
More, his daughter Margaret
Roper,
Erasmus;
and
his
“Erasmus,
Sr. Anne and Past-President Chris Payne
friend
Margaret
Dr. Murphy’s death on
June 22, 2013 (the feast
Then, she
day of St. John Fisher and St.
Roper, and Thomas More on the
examines how Roper used the
Thomas More), she invited Sr.
Pater Noster (Our Father),” will
English
Anne and a few other friends to
soon be published as part of the
translation. Finally, she surveys
contribute
collection, Margaret Roper in the
More’s references to the Pater
William F. Gentrup and Elizabeth
Republic of Letters. Tempe, AZ:
Noster in his writings. The
N. McCutcheon who edited the
Medieval & Renaissance Texts &
Thomas More Society of America
collection in her memory).
Studies.
contributed to this work in a
the Pater Noster).
language
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
On September 16, 2016, Thomas More Society
of America treasurer Elsa Thompson was
interviewed on EWTN News Nightly which
reported on the Thomas More Exhibit at the
Saint John Paul II Shrine. Thompson told the
reporter, “In this day and age, we are going to
be tested. And I think we should all be praying
to St. Thomas More for courage… courage
under adversity.”
in
her
essays
(including