From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

July 13th - St Henry II =E2=80=93 Holy Roman Emperor
(Also known as Good King Henry )

(Born 6 May 972 at Albach, Hildesheim, Bavaria, Germany. Died 13 July
1024 at Pfalz Grona, near G=C3=B6ttingen, Saxony (in modern Germany) of
natural causes.

In the 10th century, leaders were not elected and so they did not have
to worry about pleasing their subjects in order to stay in power.
Because of this, many emperors and kings took advantage of the power,
luxury and honour of their position without responsibly working for
the good of their people. Kings often chose to ignore or to squelch
conflict rather than to resolve it justly. In the midst of these
circumstances, Henry, the son of the Duke of Bavaria, set the example
of a Christlike leader. Jesus said that a leader is one who serves.
And that is what Henry did.

Henry was married to Cunegunda of Luxembourg but they had no children.
When he was 34 years old, Henry became king of Germany. As a ruler,
Henry concentrated on the good of his people. He built monasteries,
helped the poor, fought against unjust seizure of power and relieved
all kinds of oppression.

Once his brother-in-law and some other relatives complained that Henry
was wasting the family fortune on the poor. They actually got an army
together to challenge Henry's rule. Henry met them on the battlefie=
ld
and put down the uprising, then pardoned them out of Christian
charity.

In 1014 Henry was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. That title
made him ruler of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland and
northern Italy, as we know these countries today. Henry was well known
for his missionary spirit and for his protection of the Pope in times
of trouble. Henry ruled with a spirit of great humility and always
sought to give the glory to God. He used his position to promote the
work of the Church and the peace and happiness of the people. Henry is
buried in the Cathedral of Bamberg beside his wife Cunegunda; He was
Canonised in 1146 by Pope Blessed Eugene III., and she was canonised
in 1200.

Patronages =E2=80=93 against sterility, childless people, disabled,
handicapped or physically challenged people, dukes, kings, people
rejected by religious orders, diocese of Bamberg, Germany, Basel,
Switzerland, Benedictine Oblates.

Comment
As German king and Holy Roman Emperor, Henry was a practical man
of affairs. He was energetic in consolidating his rule. He crushed
rebellions and feuds. On all sides he had to deal with drawn-out
disputes so as to protect his frontiers. This involved him in a number
of battles, especially in the south in Italy; he also helped Pope
Benedict VIII quell disturbances in Rome. Always his ultimate purpose
was to establish a stable peace in Europe.
According to eleventh-century custom, Henry took advantage of his
position and appointed as bishops men loyal to him. In his case,
however, he avoided the pitfalls of this practice and actually
fostered the reform of ecclesiastical and monastic life.
All in all, this saint was a man of his times. From our standpoint, he
may have been too quick to do battle and too ready to use power to
accomplish reforms. But granted such limitations, he shows that
holiness is possible in a busy secular life. It is in doing our job
that we become saints
--Fr Don Miller, OFM


Saint Quote:
According to the divine plan, action must be fed with prayer. The
interior life is the wellspring of the apostolate. Do not believe in
the slogan, 'The priest is sanctified in sanctifying others' -- it's
an illusion. The real formula is, 'Sanctify yourself so as to sanctify
others.'
--Blessed Edward Joannes Maria Poppe

Bible quote:
34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, =E2=80=98Come, O bles= sed
of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world; (Matt 25:34) RSVCE

<><><><>
Behold me, O sweet Lord, behold me!
For I hope that in Your loving kindness,
O Most Merciful One,
You will behold me
either as a loving physician to heal,
a kind teacher to correct,
or an indulgent father to pardon=E2=80=A6
confident in Your sweet powerful mercy
and most merciful power,
I ask in virtue of Your sweet Name
and of the mystery of Your sacred humanity,
that, mindful of Your kindness
and unmindful of my ingratitude,
You forgive me my sins
and heal the languors of my soul. Amen
--St Aelred of Rievaulx
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)