March 21

On this day in 1556, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, was burned at the stake—mostly for treason, but also for heresy. Cranmner presided over the formation of the Church of England under Henry VIII. While this shift away from the Roman Catholic church was provoked for political reasons (it gave Henry the right to divorce), it incorporated Reformation theology that was already percolating in England. Cranmer compiled the Book of Common Prayer, which also shifted worship from Latin into English. When the Roman Catholic queen Mary became queen, Cranmer became an enemy of the state. When monarchs loyal to the Church of England returned to power, they likewise persecuted Roman Catholics, as well as other Protestants.

Today is also the feast day of Nicholas of Flüe, or “Brother Klaus,” the patron saint of Switzerland, who died on this day in 1487. He was a former soldier who renounced political life to become a hermit. His visions and piety made him locally famous, and his former political experience gave him the skills to broker peace between warring factions in Switzerland. 

Today is also marked by the United Nations for several international days of recognition:

• International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

• International Day of Forests

• World Poetry Day

• World Down Syndrome Day

Reflection: 

Nicholas’s words about politics have influenced Swiss political philosophy (including neutrality) for centuries: 

Since our current administration is currently making aggressive noises about annexing Canada and Greenland and threatening Panama, I think it is worthwhile to consider Nicholas’s combination of piety and political philosophy. He saw expansionism as a threat to a nation’s integrity. 

Before his execution, Thomas Cranmer preached the following: 

Prayer: 

This is a prayer of Brother Klaus: