St. Henry, Holy Roman Emperor
Another saint who is indirectly connected to Pope Benedict XVI and whose feast day was celebrated on July 15 in the old calendar is Saint Henry. He was the King of Germany and the Duke of Bavaria (the Pope's homeland).
One interesting fact about St. Henry (972-1024) is that he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Benedict VIII in 1014. Who would have known that a Bavarian Pope would have the same name as a pontiff who had crowned a Bavarian saint?
"When the Faith was secure in Germany, Henry passed into Italy, drove out an antipope and brought Benedict VIII back to Rome. He was crowned in Saint Peter’s Basilica by that Pontiff, in 1014. It was Henry’s custom, on arriving in any town, to spend his first night in prayer, in some church dedicated to our Blessed Lady. As he was praying in Saint Mary Major’s, during the first night of his arrival in Rome, he saw “the Sovereign and Eternal Priest-Child Jesus” enter to say Mass. Saints Lawrence and Vincent assisted, as deacon and sub-deacon. Countless Saints filled the church, and Angels sang in the choir. After the Gospel, an Angel was sent by Our Lady to give Henry the sacred book to kiss. Touching him lightly on the thigh, he said, “Accept this sign of God’s love for your chastity and your justice,” and from that time on, the emperor always limped."
He was called St. Henry, the pious or the lame.
One interesting fact about St. Henry (972-1024) is that he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Benedict VIII in 1014. Who would have known that a Bavarian Pope would have the same name as a pontiff who had crowned a Bavarian saint?
"When the Faith was secure in Germany, Henry passed into Italy, drove out an antipope and brought Benedict VIII back to Rome. He was crowned in Saint Peter’s Basilica by that Pontiff, in 1014. It was Henry’s custom, on arriving in any town, to spend his first night in prayer, in some church dedicated to our Blessed Lady. As he was praying in Saint Mary Major’s, during the first night of his arrival in Rome, he saw “the Sovereign and Eternal Priest-Child Jesus” enter to say Mass. Saints Lawrence and Vincent assisted, as deacon and sub-deacon. Countless Saints filled the church, and Angels sang in the choir. After the Gospel, an Angel was sent by Our Lady to give Henry the sacred book to kiss. Touching him lightly on the thigh, he said, “Accept this sign of God’s love for your chastity and your justice,” and from that time on, the emperor always limped."
He was called St. Henry, the pious or the lame.
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