SWORMVILLE — The St. Thomas More Guild of Western New York, an association of Catholic lawyers, sponsored a luncheon on May 14, to announce this year’s essay contest winners. Gianna Charland from St. Mary School in Swormville received the grade school honor.
The seventh grader is an altar server, Girl Scout, and prolific volunteer, who gives her time to organizations such as Brothers of Mercy at Christmastime and St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy on New Year’s Eve.
In her essay, Gianna answered the question: “Who is a modern St. Thomas More?” She picked St. Maximilian Kolbe, who gave his life at Auschwitz by volunteering to die in place of another prisoner. As Gianna wrote in her essay, St. Kolbe, like St. Thomas More, inspires us to stand up for what’s right no matter the consequence.
St. Thomas More gave the famous quote, “I die the king’s good servant, but God’s first,” reflecting his willingness to sacrifice his life for his conscience and religious beliefs, even in the face of royal disapproval.
The 16th century lord chancellor of England was the highest law officer of King Henry VIII. He gave up his office, and later his life, to remain true to God and his conscience. During his life, he was known for his sociability, sense of humor, integrity and faith, as well as his sense of obligation to active citizenship and statesmanship. Today, he is the patron saint of lawyers.