Saint henry ii biography

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But it was not until later, on his third expedition to Rome, that he was able to restore the prestige of the empire completely.

Before this happened, however, he was obliged to intervene in the west. Henry had to undertake several campaigns before he was able to enforce his claims. 7.New York: Robert Appleton Company,1910.<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07227a.htm>.

Transcription.This article was transcribed for New Advent by HCC.

Ecclesiastical approbation.Nihil Obstat. June 1, 1910.

in his palace of Grona, at Gottingen, 13 July, 1024.

Like his predecessor, Otto III, he had the literary education of his time. Aribo was an opponent of the reform movement of the monks of Cluny. Of these men, Adalbero had made himself Bishop of Trier by uncanonical methods (1003); but he was not recognized any more than his brother Theodoric, who had had himself elected Bishop of Metz.

True to his duty, the king could not be induced to abet any selfish family policy at the expense of the empire.

At all times he used his power to adjust troubles. The Counts of Lutzelburg (Luxemburg), brothers-in-law of the king, were the heart and soul of the disaffection in that country. Sick and suffering from fever, he traversed the empire in order to maintain peace. Otto von Hammerstein had been excommunicated by Aribo on account of his marriage with Irmengard, and the latter had successfully appealed to Rome.

This called forth the opposition of the Synod of Seligenstadt, in 1023, which forbade an appeal to Rome without the consent of the bishop.

This time the object was to put an end to the supremacy of the Greeks in Italy. By means of its economic and educational resources the Church had a blessed influence in this epoch.

But it was precisely this civilizing power of the German Church that aroused the suspicions of the reform party. But it was ultimately in the political realm, not the Church, that he would seek to exercise these virtues.

With all his learning and piety, Henry was an eminently sober man, endowed with sound, practical common sense. It is true that he had a quarrel with the Conradinians over Carinthia and Swabia: but Henry proved victorious because his kingdom rested on the solid foundation of intimate alliance with the Church.

That his attitude towards the Church was dictated in part by practical reasons, primarily he promoted the institutions of the Church chiefly in order to make them more useful supports his royal power, is clearly shown by his policy.

But Henry was far from irresponsible, as his leadership of the Western Empire in both war and peace demonstrated. His success was not complete; he succeeded, however, in restoring the prestige of the empire in northern and central Italy.

Henry was far too reasonable a man to think seriously of readopting the imperialist plans of his predecessors.

In this dispute the emperor was entirely on the side of the reform party.

Henry IIFeast day: Jul 13