Homily for Memorial of St. Boniface

Homily for the Memorial of St. Boniface

June 5, 2025
Collect
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

St. Boniface Window
(Collegiate Church, Mons, Belgium)

“May we firmly hold the faith he taught with his lips and sealed with his blood and confidently profess it by our deeds” (Collect).

Butler’s biography of Boniface begins by noting that parts of Germany had already been converted before Boniface arrived; “but he was responsible for systematically evangelizing and civilizing the great central regions of Germany, for setting up an organized church, and for bringing it into relation with the Holy See.”  It then notes his reform of the Church in France.

Like countless Irish priests and religious in the last 2 centuries, Boniface left his home to preach the Gospel in lands and among people where Christ wasn’t known.  Eventually that led to his martyrdom at age 80.

His missionary work had several characteristics that we might note.  1st, it had a monastic character.  As a monk, Boniface took care to bring a monastic presence to the churches he established in Germany.  Their religious and civilizing example provided a solid foundation for the Christian lives of new converts.  That’s a heritage that your congregation as well as mine can also be proud of.

2d, Boniface handed off church leadership readily to new generations, not clinging to prestige and authority.  He finally resigned his episcopal see and resumed missionary activity where Christ was less well known and followed.  There’s an example of humility and simplicity for us.

3d, Boniface did everything in union with the apostolic see.  Peter’s successors were for him the assurance of the apostolic faith, “so that they may all be one” as Jesus is with his Father and all believers may be one in Jesus (cf. John 17:21).  Rejection of Petrine authority leads to tragic fragmentation in the body of Christ, “every man his own Pope,” as Luther implied.

Boniface backed his beliefs with his life and his death.  Our lives are hardly as dramatic, but they can be as faith-filled and exemplary.