When most people hear the name King Henry, they probably
think of King Henry VIII, who ruled in England in the 1500s and brought about a
break with the Roman Catholic Church.
The King Henry who we honor today wasn’t King of England at
all. Rather, he was crowned King of Germany on July 9, 1002 and 12 years later
was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Benedict VIII.
Henry took up the Imperial Crown in a time of instability in
Europe—there were ongoing wars, rebellions, and contested authority in multiple
regions of the Empire. So, one of the great goals of Henry’s reign was to
establish a stable peace in Europe. He
knew that the Gospel of Christ was indispensable for society, and he devoted
himself to the spread of Christianity by rebuilding churches. He promoted
monastic reform where needed, believing monasteries to be indispensable centers
of prayer and focal points for the civilization of people. He himself was a Benedictine Oblate.
Though wealthy, he had a great concern for the poor of his
lands. He saw material possessions as
blessings from God meant to help others.
And it was his custom to undertake nothing without prayer and often saw
angels and martyrs guiding him—protecting him and his army who guarded his
lands from the encroaching barbarian hoards.
When Saint Henry was not ruling over his empire and leading
his army to stabilize Europe, he was cultivating a holy marriage with his
wife. He and his wife St. Cunegunda are
among the dozen or so pairs of married canonized saints.
So the Gospel today, of the wise man’s house built on the solid
rock foundation of Christ’s teaching is so fitting for this holy saint, which can
refer, in St. Henry’s case, to both his holy marriage and his belief that the
empire too must be built on Christ, infused with Christ, and directed toward Christ.
Here is a man who rightly integrated his Christian mission
with his earthly responsibilities and his vocation as husband. If a Holy Roman
Emperor can do it, so can we.
St. Henry used the time he had, his social position, his
influence, his earthly power to spread the kingdom of God; he put his time,
talent, and treasure to build up and preserve what was good and to guard his
realm against those powers which threaten to tear down what is holy. May St. Henry’s prayers help us to do the same
for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
Through the intercession of Saint Henry, we pray for all
rulers of nations and those in governance, may they use their temporal power to
build up, promote, and protect what is good and holy.
That our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe
from the poisonous errors of our culture, and that their families may be places
where the faith is practiced and cherished.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the
homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and
unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who
grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their
comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of
the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends,
and parish, for the deceased priests and religious, and for N. for whom this
mass is offered.
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you
with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they
may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.
