St. Henry Parish at 6696 Springboro Pike, Dayton, OH 45449 US - Who Was Saint Henry?

On July 5, 1960, Fr. Francis Franer was appointed to establish St. Henry Parish, named for Germany's emperor-saint. The name was chosen at the request of several individuals who lived in the area of south Dayton that was included in the new parish's boundaries.

More about Saint Henry II

The son of Duke Henry of Bavaria and Gisela of Burgundy, he was born at Hildesheim, Bavaria, on May 6, 972. Henry succeeded his father as duke of Bavaria in 995, married Kunigunda about 998, and in 1002 was chosen emperor on the death of his cousin, Emperor Otto III.

In the early years of Henry's reign, he was involved in constant warfare as he strove to consolidate Germany into political unity. In 1014 he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Benedict VIII.

Henry founded, and richly endowed, the see of Bamberg in 1006; restored the sees of Hildesheim, Magdeburg, Strasbourg, and Meersburg; made numerous foundations; and was the benefactor of many churches. Though he often interfered in ecclesiastical matters, he was usually supported by Rome.

He went to Italy in an unsuccessful expedition against the Greeks in Apulia in 1021. He became ill at Monte Cassino, and reportedly miraculously cured by St. Benedict, though he remained lame.

A monarch of great ability and extraordinary piety, Henry died in his palace of Grona, near Gottingen, Germany, on July 13, 1024, and was canonized in 1146 by Pope Eugene III. His feast day is July 13.