![[Saint Henry II]](sainth14.jpg "22kb jpg photograph of detail from a statue of King Henry II, c.1235; from a portal in the Bamberg Cathedral, Germany")
Heinrich, Duke of Bavaria Good King Henry
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. He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1014 by Pope Benedict VIII; he was the last of the Saxon dynasty of emperors. 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 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 Saint Cunegunda were prayerful people, and generous to the poor.
At one point he was cured of an unnamed illness by the touch of Saint Benedict at Monte Cassino. He became somewhat lame in his later years. Widower. Following Cunegunda's death, he considered becoming a monk, but the abbot of Saint-Vanne at Verdun 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.
against sterility Bamberg, Germany, diocese of Basel, Switzerland Benedictine Oblates childless people disabled people dukes handicapped people kings people rejected by religious orders physically challenged people
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate Catholic Encyclopedia New Catholic Dictionary Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society,