What cost?

Last Sunday, a friend of mine and I went to a local stage production of “A Man for All Seasons.” The actors did a fine job – it was interesting to see a live production of a movie I’ve seen several times. Anyway, that’s not why I thought to include this particular event on the blog.
Thomas More, in the face of incredible pressure from his friends, his family (until close to the end), and the very powerful, maintains a morally and intellectually honest position. It eventually costs him everything he has, including his life. More, who lives by a clear and strong conscience, serves God “wittily in the tangle of his mind.” The royal court is rife with sycophants, many in the Church are morally corrupt, even the Common Man – the character who connects the events of the play – shows no backbone when the wind shifts. More’s integrity becomes intolerable.

I think More’s life serves us (apostolic women religious in the U.S.) well as we work our way through the Apostolic Visitation being conducted now at the instigation of the Vatican. Surely our desire to serve God in a morally and intellectually honest way may cost us.