Henry VIII, Sinfully Mad!

A recent presentation of Henry VIII on Masterpiece Theatre has evoked a discussion between me and a friend about whether he was “mad.”

From my perspective, Henry VIII was not only "mad", but evil. So severely affected psychologically by his moral, ethical and political corruptions that his thought process and consequent actions, although expedient for his purposes, were destructively irrational, irresponsible and sinful.

His dynastic obsession to produce a son to continue his rule was punctuated by conspiracy and murder; wives A. Boleyn and K. Howard were both unjustly executed, as were a host of others whom he felt were a threat. He ruled mostly through fear and intimidation. He signed death warrants, execution by beheading, like they were party invitations.

He is one of the few figures in history who was guilty, I think, of every one of the seven deadly sins: let's see, pride, envy, greed, anger, lust, sloth and gluttony. I think he qualifies.

Sin creates sin; it engenders vice by repetition of the same acts. This results in perverse inclinations which cloud conscience and corrupt the concrete judgment of good and evil. Sin tends to reproduce itself and reinforce itself and potentially can destroy all moral and ethical sense. Thus, madness results.

And, thus, this poem:


Bound for the
Promised Land

When the roll call sounds
in heaven who will assemble?
All faithful in word and deed,
honest in heart and spirit,
and true to God’s Law.

“ Blessed are the clean of heart:
for they shall see God”

Repentant sinners, reformed
criminals, the non-believers,
the deceivers, the cheats,
those who scorn, souls in
mourn, spirits torn.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”


The oppressed, the repressed,
the dispossessed, the tortured,
the sick and disabled, the unstable.


“Blessed are they that suffer
persecution for justice' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven”

When the roll call sounds
in heaven who will assemble?