Saint Henry of Uppsala
Also known as
- 20 January
- 18 June (translation of his relics)
Profile
While working in Rome, Italy, Henry was sent to evangelize Scandinavia, travelling with papal legate Cardinal Nicholas Breakspear, the future Pope Adrian IV. Bishop of Uppsala in 1148. Evangelized Sweden and Norway. Friend of King Saint Eric of Sweden, and accompanied him into battle with Finnish pirates in 1154. Eric offered friendship and Christianity to the Finns; they chose war, but lost to the Swedes. Henry then evangelized in Finland. Built a church at Nousis, Finland which became his headquarters. Martyred by a Finnish soldier named Lalli whom he had just excommunicated for murdering a Swedish soldier. Legend says that Lalli had a long life – continually tormented by mice as a penance for his attack.
Born
- struck with an axe c.1156 at Nousis, Finland
- buried at Nousis
- miracles reported at his tomb
- relics translated to Torku on 18 June 1300
- relics stolen by Russian troops in 1720
- against storms
- Finland (proclaimed on 24 February 1961 by Pope John XXIII)
- Uppsala, Sweden
- bishop being murdered at Mass with young King Saint Eric
- bishop being murdered by a man wielding an axe
- trampling on Lalli
MLA Citation
- “Saint Henry of Uppsala“. CatholicSaints.Info. 29 February 2024. Web. 29 April 2024. <>