Homily: June 5 - Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Boniface, who was an English Benedictine monk is He devoted his life to the evangelization of the Germanic tribes.  When he made his first missionary journey to Germany in 719 at the request of Pope Gregory II, Boniface found that his work was cut out for him. Literally. 

The Germanic tribes worshiped gods of Norse Mythology: Odin and Thor and the like. Boniface learned of a giant oak tree where the Pagans gathered to offer false worship to the God Thor.  Boniface began chopping down the tree.  The local militia gathered, but Boniface continued chopping.  The pagans waited for him to be struck dead by their gods for his sacrilege.  When the tree fell and nothing happened to him, the pagans were converted.  This is why his stained glass windows and statues often contain a tree stump and Boniface holding an axe. 

Boniface opposed the false worship of his age and won converts to Christ.  He did so, at great risk to his mortal life. 

In a letter written to a Benedictine abbess, Saint Boniface wrote: “Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial…let us be neither dogs that do not bark, nor silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf.”

During this Year of Faith we are to reflect quite deeply upon our role in the spread of the Gospel.  We cannot be silent onlookers, while we watch the false gods of modernity rise up around us.  False gods are being worshiped by our family members who do not come to Church.  We may fail at bringing them back to the Church, but as Mother Theresa said, “God doesn't ask that we succeed in everything, but that we are faithful.”  And faithfulness involves working for the spread of the Gospel.

Boniface was a man of tremendous courage.  While he was preparing converts for Confirmation in territory that was still hostile to Christianity, he and 53 companions were massacred.  He was 80 years old when he was martyred.  We’re never too old to witness.

One writer wrote, “St. Boniface had it all: natural brilliance, formidable powers of persuasion, and unstoppable energy and resolve.  He could have had a great career and high status in society, but this saintly man wanted something very different: nothing for himself and everything for Christ and His Church.” 

As we prayed in the opening prayer: “may the Martyr Saint Boniface, be our advocate that we may firmly hold the faith he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood and confidently profess it by our deeds” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.