By Michael Gryboski, Editor Sunday, July 06, 2025

Throughout the extensive history of the Church, numerous events of lasting significance have occurred.

Each week marks anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths.

Some events, spanning over 2,000 years of history, might be familiar, while others may be unknown to many.

The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the execution of Sir Thomas More, the issuing of the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges, and a Luis Palau evangelism event in New York City that drew 60,000 attendees.

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By Michael Gryboski, Editor Sunday, July 06, 2025

Thomas More executed – July 6, 1535

This week marks the anniversary of when Sir Thomas More, a notable Catholic saint, writer, and former chancellor of England, was beheaded after being found guilty of high treason.

More was imprisoned and eventually beheaded for refusing to accept the legitimacy of the marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn due to Henry being divorced, as well as rejecting the king’s claim to be head of the Church.

“In the short term, Henry and his counsellors had faced down a formidable opponent. They also swiftly banned publications about More’s life or trial,” wrote Neil Johnston of The National Archives in 2023. “These restrictions were relaxed over the rest of the sixteenth century and More’s complicated life fascinated many people.”

“Beyond England, tributes to More were swift and he was quickly acknowledged as a martyr. His legacy has continued to grow, both because of his published works, but also his dramatic death.”

More would be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 1935.