TRIVIA - DEFENDER OF THE FAITH

In 1521, Henry the VIII

had the title of "Defender of the Faith"

Did you know that ten years before Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church and established the Church of England over the issue of his divorce, he wrote a book entitled, Assertion of the Seven Sacraments, which attacked Martin Luther's theses and affirmed his loyalty to the pope. The pope granted Henry the title, "Defender of the Faith" for having written this scholastic work. The king kept the title after breaking away from Catholicism--as have his successors to this very day.