St. Thomas More Exhibit -- St. John Paul II National Shrine, Washington, D.C.

(CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

Destination: An exhibit featuring artifacts revolving around St. Thomas More has opened at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. Titled “God’s Servant First: The Life and Legacy of Thomas More,” the exhibit runs through March 31, 2017. The title comes from what are believed to be More’s last words before he was beheaded: “I die the king’s good servant, and God’s servant first.”
Masses are offered at the shrine Monday through Saturday, 12 noon (preceded by the Angelus); and Sunday, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Photo: A display depicting the 1535 execution of St. Thomas More by Henry VIII is seen at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington Sept. 15. An exhibit of artifacts associated with the saint be open daily at the shrine until March 31, 2017. Why to go: St. Thomas More, a lawyer and the first layman to serve as chancellor of England, had balked at helping Henry VIII obtain an annulment so he could marry Anne Boleyn. After the pope denied the annulment, Henry declared himself head of the church in England, conferring upon himself the power to divorce and marry whomever he pleased.  More resigned his position as chancellor to the throne to avoid being forced to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the church. More also refused to sign a document acknowledging Henry’s authority. His actions led to his beheading. He has since been seen as a champion of conscience rights.
Nearly all of the 60 or so items in the exhibit come from Stonyhurst College in England, according to Jan Graffius, the curator of collections at Stonyhurst, a Jesuit institution. The Knights of Columbus and Stonyhurst’s Christian Heritage Center organized the exhibit and are its sponsors.
The exhibit comes during the golden anniversary of the 1966 film biography of St. Thomas More, “A Man for All Seasons.” The movie was nominated for eight Oscars and won six, including Best Picture. It also won five British Academy Film Awards and four Golden Globes, as well as a Best Actor award for Scofield at the Moscow International Film Festival.
(Grand) Kid friendly: As a regular stop on the Rockford Diocese’s March for Life pilgrimage, the St. John Paul II shrine has welcomed  — and impressed — many young people.
Info: Address — St. John Paul II National Shrine, 3900 Harewood Road NE, Washington, DC 20017 n Phone — 202/635-5400 n Website — www.jp2shrine.org
— Mark Pattison,  CNS
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org