Boniface's Boldness

Fighting neo-paganism with the Gospel

St. Boniface was born circa 675 in Wessex, England. He studied in English monasteries before traveling to Europe, where he converted pagan peoples in present-day Germany and the Netherlands. In his role as a bishop and archbishop, he also worked on church reforms. After returning to missionary work, Boniface was killed by pagan tribespeople in Frisia on June 5, 754, at the approximate age of 80. In the first half of the 8th century, St. Boniface served as a missionary in Europe and helped reorganize the church in Germany and the Frankish kingdom.

            I’ve always been partial to German people, even long before I learned the Aryans – the so-called “Super Race” – had arrived in India as far back at 1,500 BC.  There’s likely Aryan blood running through my veins believe it or not.  I graduated from St. Theresa’s elementary school with classmates named Beck and Gangluff, Kordsmeier and Uekmann.  My best friend since fifth grade was a little kid with German ancestry, named David Beck.  For five years I was pastor of St. Edward’s, formerly called “St. Edward’s German Catholic Church,” when people were still proud of their pedigree.  It’s true that Germans keep wanting to take over the world – remember that diminutive dictator named Adolph? – and we have to remind them not to get too big for their britches, but there’s something ultimately appealing about the German spirit.

            Today is the feast of St. Boniface, a Benedictine monk who was sent to tame that bold German spirit.  Let me share just one story about St. Boniface, a story depicted outside St. Boniface Church a few blocks from here.  Boniface met the German boldness with the even greater boldness of the Gospel.  On a pre-announced day, in the presence of a tense crowd – no doubt with Becks, Gangluffs, and Kordsmeiers, as well as Reiths, Wewers and Borengassers present – Boniface wielded a huge ax and chopped down a sacred pagan oak tree dedicated to the god, Donar, on Mt. Gudenberg.  The people waited for the gods to strike Boniface dead, but nothing happened.  Boniface then took the planks from the tree to build a Christian chapel.  That’s why the local church of St. Boniface, and so many German styled churches in the world, use wood in their construction and architecture.  It’s a reminder that the spirit of the Gospel always trumps the spirit of the world, even the bold German spirit.

             I think the modern world needs Boniface’s boldness desperately, as we face a pervasive paganism in our culture.  Pope Benedict, with that same Aryan blood coursing through his veins, boldly reminded the Church and the world not to give in to this new paganism.  His first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, is worth re-reading, where, like Boniface, he lays an ax to the tree of modern paganism.  I also believe that’s why Benedict resigned as pope.  He wasn’t running away from the fight, rather he was going to where the fighting is the fiercest, in prayer.

            On this feast of St. Boniface, patron saint of Germany, let’s pray for all Germans, especially all my friends from school and here at I.C.  May Boniface teach us again how the spirit of Gospel always trumps the spirit of this world.

Praised be Jesus Christ!