Saint Henry of Uppsala

Biography

Saint Henry of Uppsala, also known as Henry of Finland, Henry of Sweden, Heikki of... and Henrik of..., was an English-born Catholic saint who played a significant role in the evangelization of Scandinavia. Henry was born in England and later moved to Rome, Italy, where he became involved in ecclesiastical work. During this time, he caught the attention of Cardinal Nicholas Breakspear, who would later become Pope Adrian IV. Impressed by Henry's piety and dedication to the faith, Cardinal Breakspear enlisted Henry's help in the mission to evangelize Scandinavia. In 1148, Henry accompanied Cardinal Breakspear on his journey to Scandinavia, specifically to Sweden and Norway. His mission was to bring the Christian faith to the region, which was predominantly pagan at the time. In Sweden, Henry became a close friend and advisor to King Saint Eric, who himself was passionate about spreading Christianity. In 1154, Henry joined King Eric in a battle against Finnish pirates, offering them friendship and the opportunity to embrace Christianity. However, the Finns chose to fight instead, but their forces eventually fell to the Swedes. Undeterred, Henry turned his attention to evangelizing in Finland. Henry built a church at Nousis in Finland, which soon became his headquarters for missionary work. He dedicated himself to preaching the Gospel and converting the Finnish people to Christianity. His commitment to his mission and his ability to communicate the love of Christ quickly earned him a devoted following. Tragically, Henry's life was cut short when he was martyred by a Finnish soldier named Lalli. Henry had just excommunicated Lalli for murdering a Swedish soldier, a punishment that led to Lalli's intense anger. In a fit of rage, Lalli struck Henry with an axe during Mass, ending the saint's life. The legend says that Lalli, the murderer, was plagued by remorse and faced a life filled with torment. Mice reportedly tormented him continually as a form of penance for his attack on the saint. Saint Henry of Uppsala is often represented in artwork as a bishop being murdered at Mass with young King Saint Eric, or as a bishop being murdered by a man wielding an axe. Another representation shows him trampling on Lalli, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Henry was canonized as a saint in 1158 by Pope Adrian IV in recognition of his martyrdom and his exceptional contributions to the spread of Christianity in Scandinavia. He is venerated as the patron saint of Finland and is invoked for protection against storms. Saint Henry's feast days are celebrated on January 20th and June 18th, which marks the translation of his relics. After his death, his body was buried at Nousis in Finland. In 1300, his relics were translated to Torku. Unfortunately, the relics were stolen by Russian troops in 1720. Saint Henry of Uppsala's life and martyrdom serve as a source of inspiration for Christians seeking to spread the Gospel and persevere in their faith, even in the face of adversity. His commitment to evangelization and his devotion to the Christian cause have left a lasting impact on the Church and the people of Finland.