Sunday, July 13, 2025

Be like Henry! (Sunday homily)

Today we celebrate the patron of this church, Saint Henry.

That makes today a solemnity for this church!

And that’s why the readings and prayers for this Mass 

are different from what they will be at neighboring churches.


Henry was born in 973; he died on this day, in 1024 – 1,000 years ago.


The Benedictine Order reveres Henry as one of its patron saints.

Henry was taught by a Benedictine, Bishop Wolfgang,

And his wife, Cunigunde, lived in a Benedictine convent 

when she became a widow.


Henry may have felt an attraction to the religious life, 

but his family duties meant he would succeed his father as a Duke, 

and then become King of Germany and the Holy Roman Emperor.


He certainly devoted himself to building up the Church in his realm.

And he gave his support to a reform movement 

that had begun a century earlier 

at a Benedictine monastery in Cluny, France.


It is striking – if you read church history – 

to see how regularly someone was calling for reform.

But, given human nature, this is no surprise.

In each of our own lives, do we not wake up periodically to realize: 

I’ve gotten lazy, I’ve developed bad habits, I’ve let things slip?


Whether it’s John the Baptist, or a Benedict or Catherine of Siena, 

or Pope John XXIII, or the Emperor Henry, 

the Body of Christ on earth continually needs 

those who sound the alarm and call for housecleaning.


This is why our Catholic Faith has always included a focus on penance, 

meaning both including acts of self-denial in our regular routine, 

and of course, observing Lent each year,

and then, regular use of the sacrament of penance.


And that process of reform isn’t only about moral renovation.

Henry reorganized church structures to serve his times.

Our Archdiocese is doing the exact same thing in our time.


In Henry’s situation, they were trying to share the Gospel 

with the Slavic tribes to the east.

In our time, our parish family must go out 

and seek our families and neighbors and re-present Jesus to them.


Another striking detail from those times: it was anything but calm!

There were constant wars and political struggles.

Henry’s father was called “Henry the Quarrelsome”!


One of the wise decisions his father made 

was to entrust Henry to be educated by the bishop Wolfgang, 

who was later recognized as a saint. 


We might notice that not many politicians become saints!

Why did Henry? Maybe because of the seeds of faith planted early.


If you did the math, Henry lived only 51 years on earth – 

fewer years than this parish has been here in South Dayton –

And yet the light of heaven that shined through his life 

reaches forward a thousand years to us and beyond.


Think about that whenever you say, what difference can I make?



So many kings valued their wives solely for giving them heirs.

He and his wife Saint Cunegunda did not conceive any children. 

Other kings would abandon their wives; Henry remained true.


As king, Henry commanded armies and faced wars; 

but he was notable for seeking paths of peace and reconciliation.


There was one neighboring King who Henry would make peace with – 

then war would break out again, then peace, then war – 

It took a lot of patience before peace finally took hold.


Where did Henry learn these things? 

Was it when he got together with other kings and dukes?


Or was it when he attended Mass, 

or in the habit of prayer that he learned as a youth?

Perhaps as he and his beloved wife contemplated 

how to make a difference for eternity?


Again, it’s all about what you and I make a priority.

We always find time for what matters most. 


As St. Henry Parish comes together with Our Lady of Good Hope 

and St. Mary, as we work together, as we build together,

you and I can be just like Henry, as we:


Share our gifts with our community, not hesitantly, but confidently;

Be messengers of reconciliation, even repeatedly;

Don’t be discouraged as we plant seeds of faith; 

they will sprout, even if it takes a thousand years!


Sunday, July 06, 2025

Love our country like Isaiah (Sunday homily)

Friday we celebrated our nation’s birthday: 

Almost 250 years of independence! 


I’ve seen news items recently claiming many Americans, 

including many younger Americans, don’t feel great patriotism.

I don’t know if that is true, 

but I will take this moment to say a few things about patriotism.


Loving our country is good and right.

The Fourth Commandment calls us to honor our father and mother;

That extends to all in authority and all who give us life.


In the Roman way of thinking, patriotism was a form of “pietas”;

We get our word “piety” from that. In Roman thinking,

It was about the devotion and obligation we owe:

To family, to our country, and above all, God.


You and I enjoy such remarkable advantages, 

that most people who ever existed, 

and most people alive today, do not have.


Maybe you don’t like our elected officials.

You have the freedom to say that in public.

You get to protest and organize and vote them out.


No, our nation isn’t perfect. 

As Catholics, we experienced prejudice in this country at times.

However, we’ve never enjoyed this level of freedom anywhere else.


Yes, our society is materialistic, and that’s bad.

But consider this. In 1900, 60% of the world’s population 

was in extreme poverty. Today, that number is 10%.

That’s huge progress. And our nation played a big role.

A lot of complaints people have 

come from misunderstanding our Constitution.

Someone says, why’d she get to say that? It’s called free speech.


Why didn’t they send that person to jail? 

Because a jury found him not guilty. It’s called due process.


Our Founding Fathers gave us the Constitution they did 

because they knew that without certain limits and protections, 

people could get run over.


And one of the best things they did was to give us  

the power to change our system of government.

Over the years, “we the people” have made a more perfect union.

That’s a lot to be grateful for.


In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah loves his country, too. 

God’s People were in deep trouble, in every way. 


Isaiah sees a better future, when God’s people 

would be secure, as in the arms of their mother.

Yet not only Israel, but all nations would be secure in, 

and draw life from, the City of God. 


Isaiah was the voice of conscience in his time.

That responsibility falls to you and me, 

especially given our freedoms and advantages! 


We might notice what Jesus told the 70 disciples.

Stay focused, don’t get distracted along the way. 

Don’t worry too much about what stuff you bring along; 

make sure you bring a peaceful spirit. 

If you find yourself getting worked up, stop and get prayed up.

One way to keep our focus is frequent trips to confession. 

When we feel anger, or worry, or we get off track, 

a good confession helps get our priorities back in order. 


In the second reading, Saint Paul said, 

“the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” 


He’s not saying, I don’t care. He’s not giving up, either.

He’s doing what Jesus did on the Cross:

Giving it all to the Father.


It was when our Lord was seemingly most powerless – on the Cross – 

that he poured out his grace on the world most abundantly.


There is a lot of anger and ugliness in politics.

Our right answer isn’t to turn away, but to bring a peaceful spirit.

Speak out; vote, get involved.

But do so with the grace and power of Jesus Christ.