Today, among the brothers remembered in our prayers, the Province of St. Albert the Great especially remembers Bro. Henry Denier, OP, who died on this day in 2004. It's rare for people who lead such humble, unassuming lives to be noticed by others, let alone considered saints--that's just how our Bro. Henry is remembered. Even in the prayer line before dinner, while we were praying for our dead, the prior referred to this brother as Saint Henry Denier.
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Currently, I don't have any great stories to tell about Bro. Henry. The notice about his life in our official directory has only the bare bones. He was born Anthony Dominic Denier in Cincinnati, OH on March 26th, 1912, the youngest of three sons. He and his brothers ended up in an orphanage, where Anthony was baptized. Eventually, he went the Ohio Mechanic's Institute in Cincinnati, and worked as a machinist, a gardener, and painter. But in January, 1937, he entered the Dominican Order as a cooperator brother, receiving the name Brother Henry. He made first profession of vows on July 25th, 1938. Bro. Henry served the newly formed Province of St. Albert the Great in Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, and Colorado, doing maintenance and sacristan work.
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In 2001, Br. Henry's health declined when he had to have quintuple bypass surgery, and later, he had to have a leg amputated. After being moved to Chicago for care, he died on April 27th, 2004, and was buried in All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois.
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Seven years after his death, Bro. Henry's memory lives on and is revered.
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If you want to learn more about Bro. Henry visit: http://www.domcentral.org/inmemoriam/henry/default.htm and listen to the stories that were told by the friars who knew and loved him.
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Also, if you have a need that you'd like some help with, drop Bro. Henry a line, and see what happens. Perhaps God would like to be glorified through the life of this holy cooperator brother.
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I am mindful, as well, that this is the anniversary of the day that I recognized that I was called to be a cooperator brother. Who knows, perhaps Bro. Henry was helping me with my discernment.
Peace,
Bro. Paul~
