Saint Henry II is the patron saint of couples who cannot have children.

This July 13, the Catholic Church celebrates Emperor Saint Henry II, who achieved sainthood with his wife. This saint is considered the patron saint of couples who cannot have children due to a choice of love.

The book collection Christian Year, from the Library of Christian Authors (BAC), describes that Saint Henry (973-1024 AD) received training from Saint Wolfgang, Bishop of Regensburg (Germany) and his baptismal godfather. At the age of 22 he assumed the throne of Bavaria and some time later married his lifelong love, Saint Cunegonde.

He became emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and together with his wife promoted Christianity. The BAC indicates that the saint was “a true father to his subjects.” However, he never had children of his own with the empress.

In the book Golden Legend o golden legenda, del Blessed Santiago de la Vorágine, a tradition is narrated in which the saint would have made a vow of virginity before marrying. Promise that she supposedly kept after marriage, in agreement with her husband.

For its part, the Catholic Encyclopedia points out that this legend is questionable and that this virginal marriage “certainly has no basis in fact.”

Vatican News indicates that there are authors such as Rodolfo Glabro, a great chronicler of the Middle Ages, who consider that the reason they did not have children was sterility. Furthermore, he makes it known that at that time, when these cases occurred, it was common to repudiate the woman or have illegitimate children.

However, Saint Henry did not despise his wife, but respected her and chose her until the end as his faithful companion. “A choice that testifies, without a doubt, a deep respect for the Sacrament of marriage and love for his wife,” he points out.

Blessed Santiago de la Vorágine says that before dying, Saint Henry called his in-laws, some who had important positions at court, and begged them to take care of his wife.

Then, he took the hand of Saint Cunegonde and ratified the honor to his wife: “You and Jesus Christ one day gave me this woman as my spouse; Well then, to you and to Our Lord Jesus Christ, return her today just as you gave her to me: with her virginity intact.”

Saint Cunegonde did not remarry and gave herself completely to the Lord as a nun in a convent of Benedictine nuns. After doing many works of charity she left for the Father’s House. Both saints are buried together in Bamberg Cathedral.