About Saint Henry (Sunday homily)

 Our air conditioning has been revived 

but is very tenuous so I will be brief.

This weekend we remember the patron of this church, St. Henry.

It doesn’t seem that many politicians have been recognized as saints.

You and I can speculate about why! 

So, when one makes it, we should take note.

One point that is hard to appreciate about Henry 

has to do with his involvement as emperor in the Church. 

He worked passionately to clean up immoral behavior 

in monasteries and slap down clerics who traded sacraments for money. 

He supported more beautiful celebration of the sacred liturgy.

Yet as Americans, the very last thing we want 

is a politician using government power to shape the Church! 

Instead, we apply the lesson by taking up this call ourselves. 

Through baptism, each of us shares 

in the dignity of Christ as priest, prophet, and king.

One great strength of the Church in our country 

is the activism of lay Catholics, being well informed about our Faith, 

and being engaged with decision-making.

For example, Archbishop Casey is inviting every Catholic 

to participate in an upcoming archdiocesan synod. 

This week you can sign up online, just google “Synod 2027 Cincinnati.”

Another way the grace of baptism is powerfully at work

is lay Catholics embracing evangelization 

as their personal task, not just for the priest.

Think about what God told Isaiah just now, 

and what the Son of God told us: 

The ordinary deeds of generosity and justice – 

which all of us can offer – bring the glory of God into our world.

Jesus did not say, you are a light to your neighbor but to the world. 

Yet: that light illuminates the world, one neighbor at a time.

There is another detail from Henry’s life that shines like a supernova 

across the 1,000 years that separate us from him. 

Henry and his queen, Cunigunde, were unable to have a child. 

Most rulers would rid themselves of their spouses in this situation, 

no matter the damage caused. 

Henry remained faithful to her, and by all accounts, 

they were a partnership. 

In the city of Bamberg, there is a massive cathedral which he built. 

I’ve been there. But what I recall most powerfully 

wasn’t the impressive architecture, but the two graves, 

of Henry and Cunigunde, side by side.

It is fun to imagine being an astronaut or a king; 

to do valiant deeds that change the world. 

And perhaps you will ride a rocket and be the first president of Mars!

But in any case, the moments that matter come in small choices, 

out of everyone’s sight but God’s. 

It recalls a well known quote, attributed to many: 

“Sow a deed, reap a habit; sow a habit, 

reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

Saint Henry & Saint Cunigunde: pray for us!