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Saint for the Day - July 15 - St. Henry
Henry, Duke of Bavaria,
saw in a vision his guardian, St. Wolfgang, pointing
to the words "after six." This moved him to prepare
for death, and for six years he continued to watch
and pray, when, at the end of the sixth year, he
found the warning verified in his election as
emperor. Thus trained in the fear of God, he
ascended the throne with but one thought—to reign
for His greater glory.
The pagan Slavs were then despoiling the empire.
Henry attacked them with a small force; but angels
and Saints were seen leading his troops, and the
heathen fled in despair. Poland and Bohemia, Moravia
and Burgundy, were in turn annexed to his kingdom,
Pannonia and Hungary won to the Church. With the
Faith secured in Germany, Henry passed into Italy,
drove out the Antipope Gregory, brought Benedict
VIII. back to Rome, and was crowned in St. Peter's
by that Pontiff, in 1014. It was Henry's custom, on
arriving in any town, to spend his first night in
watching in some church dedicated to our blessed
Lady. As he was thus praying in St. Mary Major's,
the first night of his arrival in Rome, he "saw the
Sovereign and Eternal Priest Christ Jesus" enter to
say Mass. Sts. Laurence and Vincent assisted as
deacon and sub-deacon. Saints innumerable filled the
church, and angels sang in the choir.
After the Gospel, an angel was sent by Our Lady to
give Henry the book to kiss. Touching him lightly on
the thigh, as the angel did to Jacob, he said,
"Accept this sign of God's love for your chastity
and justice;" and from that time the emperor always
was lame. Like holy David, Henry employed the fruits
of his conquests in the service of the temple. The
forests and mines of the empire, the best that his
treasury could produce, were consecrated to the
sanctuary. Stately cathedrals, noble monasteries,
churches innumerable, enlightened and sanctified the
once heathen lands. In 1022 Henry lay on his bed of
death. He gave back to her parents his wife, St.
Cunegunda, "a virgin still, as a virgin he had
received her from Christ," and surrendered his own
pure soul to God.
Saint for the Day - St. Henry
Read about the Saint for today - July 15 and spare a thought for family or friends who might suffering from ill health or are experiencing times of trouble.
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Daily Reflection
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St. Henry deprived himself of
many things to enrich the house
of God. We clothe ourselves in
purple and fine linen, and leave
Jesus in poverty and neglect. |
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Saint for the Day Website
We hope that you gain spiritual knowledge and inspiration reading about the saint for today - July 15. An online Catholic resource providing a short Reflection for the year ahead. Use these short, inspiring words to request guidance or assistance for yourself and for the sake of others. |
