It was an age in which the notion of separation of church and state was essentially unknown. Popes crowned kings (e.g., St. Stephen of Hungary — husband of Henry's sister Gisela — whose crown was sent to him in the year 1,000 by Pope Sylvester II), some bishops were secular rulers as well as spiritual (prince bishops), and kings founded churches and appointed bishops. And thus Henry took an active interest, not only in the defense of his empire, but also in the well-being of the church within his realm. The Schott daily missal credits him with filling the bishoprics of Germany and Italy with excellent men, supporting monastic reforms (monasticism always is in danger of becoming too worldly), re-establishing the diocese of Meresburg, and establishing the diocese of Bamberg as a center for missions to the Slavs.
He married St. Cunigunda, daughter of the Count of Luxemburg. The marriage was childless, possibly because she or both took a vow of virginity. They are entombed side by side in the cathedral of Bamberg — another place (in addition to St. Boniface's tomb in Fulda) I have visited and prayed for Germany.
St. Henry is patron saint, among other things, of Benedictine Oblates*, which makes him of further interest to me, since I am a secular oblate since my time at the monastery. Whether Henry was himself an oblate I don't know. There are accounts of his asking to join a monastery and being refused by the abbot because his work as ruler was too important.
I think it is worth reflecting on the point that being a layman fully involved in the affairs of the world is no bar to holiness. Indeed, we are all called to be holy by doing our work in ways which correspond to God's will, ways which make this world more the sort of place God wants it to be — to the best of our understanding and ability — and doing the same in family life and all our dealings with others.
*(From the linked article) — From the very beginning Benedictine monasteries accepted boys, and convents received girls, "offered!' to them by their parents for their religious training and education. These children lived in the community, shared its daily round of religious activities, and became known as Oblates. In the course of time, lay people asked to be associated with the work of the monks and nuns, without however leaving their homes, families, and occupations. These too were received, offered. themselves to God, became Oblates of a monastery or convent, and promised to regulate their lives according to the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict. They applied the teachings of the Rule to their lives in the world, in their family circles, in their places of work, and in their civic and social activities.
Oblates are called "claustral" (=cloistered) if they live in the monastery, and "secular" (=of the world) if they do not live in the monastery. I like to say I am "a very secular oblate."
