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Description
Holy Roman Emperor, Duke of Bavaria, King of Germany and Pavia (Italy), Ottonian Dynasty;
Oblate of St Benedict [Benedictine Oblate] (972 - 1024)
Feast / Memorial Day: July 13
Patronage: against sterility, Benedictine oblates, childless people, dukes, kings, people with disability, people rejected by religious orders
Also known as Good King Henry; Heinrich, Duke of Bavaria

+ SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:

Son of Gisella of Burgundy and Henry II the Quarrelsome, Duke of Bavaria, Henry was educated at the cathedral school in Hildesheim by bishop Wolfgang of Regensburg. He became Duke of Bavaria himself in 995 upon his father‘s death, which ended Henry’s thoughts of becoming a priest. Ascended to the throne of Germany in 1002. Crowned King of Pavia, Italy on 15 May 1004. Married St Cunegunda, but was never a father. Some sources claim the two lived celibately, but there is no evidence either way.

Henry’s brother rebelled against his power, and Henry was forced to defeat him on the battlefield, but later forgave him, and the two reconciled. Henry was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1014 by Pope Benedict VIII; he was the last of the Saxon dynasty of emperors. He founded schools, quelled rebellions, protected the frontiers, worked to establish a stable peace in Europe, and to reform the Church while respecting its independence. Fostered missions, and established Bamberg (Germany) as a center for missions to Slavic countries. Started the construction of the cathedral at Basel, Switzerland; it took nearly 400 years to complete. Both Henry and St Cunegunda were prayerful people, and generous to the poor.

At one point he was cured of an unnamed illness by the touch of St Benedict of Nursia at Monte Cassino. He became somewhat lame in his later years. Following Cunegunda‘s death, he considered becoming a monk, but the abbot of Saint-Vanne at Verdun (France) refused his application, and told him to keep his place in the world where he could do much good for people and the advancement of God‘s kingdom.

(CatholicSaints.Info - St Henry II )

+ FURTHER READING:

Vultus Christi - St Henry II
Wikipedia - Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor / Ottonian Dynasty
Catholic Herald (UK) - St Henry II
New Advent - St Henry II
...

Textile design © Watts & Co. London

...

Description
Holy Roman Emperor, Duke of Bavaria, King of Germany and Pavia (Italy), Ottonian Dynasty;
Oblate of St Benedict [Benedictine Oblate] (972 - 1024)
Feast / Memorial Day: July 13
Patronage: against sterility, Benedictine oblates, childless people, dukes, kings, people with disability, people rejected by religious orders
Also known as Good King Henry; Heinrich, Duke of Bavaria

+ SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:

Son of Gisella of Burgundy and Henry II the Quarrelsome, Duke of Bavaria, Henry was educated at the cathedral school in Hildesheim by bishop Wolfgang of Regensburg. He became Duke of Bavaria himself in 995 upon his father‘s death, which ended Henry’s thoughts of becoming a priest. Ascended to the throne of Germany in 1002. Crowned King of Pavia, Italy on 15 May 1004. Married St Cunegunda, but was never a father. Some sources claim the two lived celibately, but there is no evidence either way.

Henry’s brother rebelled against his power, and Henry was forced to defeat him on the battlefield, but later forgave him, and the two reconciled. Henry was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1014 by Pope Benedict VIII; he was the last of the Saxon dynasty of emperors. He founded schools, quelled rebellions, protected the frontiers, worked to establish a stable peace in Europe, and to reform the Church while respecting its independence. Fostered missions, and established Bamberg (Germany) as a center for missions to Slavic countries. Started the construction of the cathedral at Basel, Switzerland; it took nearly 400 years to complete. Both Henry and St Cunegunda were prayerful people, and generous to the poor.

At one point he was cured of an unnamed illness by the touch of St Benedict of Nursia at Monte Cassino. He became somewhat lame in his later years. Following Cunegunda‘s death, he considered becoming a monk, but the abbot of Saint-Vanne at Verdun (France) refused his application, and told him to keep his place in the world where he could do much good for people and the advancement of God‘s kingdom.

(CatholicSaints.Info - St Henry II )

+ FURTHER READING:

Vultus Christi - St Henry II
Wikipedia - Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor / Ottonian Dynasty
Catholic Herald (UK) - St Henry II
New Advent - St Henry II
...

Textile design © Watts & Co. London

...