Good King Wenceslas

What little we know of Wenceslas is fascinating. Although the song we sing was written almost 1000 years after King Wenceslas died, it was based factually on the character and typical actions of this monarch who was devoted to Christ.

Wenceslas and his twin brother, Boleslaus, were born in 911 to the Duke of Bohemia and his pagan wife, Drahomira. The duke, a strong Christian, died when the twins were only 13. The paternal grandmother, Ludmila, became regent and continued her teaching of the Christian faith to the twins. Jealous of the grandmother’s position, Drahomira had her murdered that same year. Some sources say she was in prayer when she was strangled with her own veil.

Drahomira then became regent and began a campaign against Christians. Five years later when the boys were 18, the few remaining Christian nobles revolted against her and won. She was banished and Wenceslas, the older of the twins, assumed the position of Duke of Bohemia.

Wenceslas was known for his generosity and kindness. He would go to great lengths to find those in need so he could see to their care. Many pagans, living in Bohemia at the time, were won to Christ because of Wenceslas’ life.

When Wenceslas was in his early twenties, his twin brother and a group of young nobles assassinated him on the steps of the church as he went in for prayer. Tradition has it that Boleslaus was so guilt-ridden after participating in his brother’s murder that he repented and devoted the remainder of his life to Christ.

After his death, Wenceslas was given the titles of King and of Saint, venerated by both the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches. He was known throughout history as Wenceslas the Good, while his twin brother was forever labeled as, Boleslaus the Cruel.

The Christmas carol that we are familiar with tells a beautiful story that characterizes Wenceslas’ kindness and servant’s heart. On a bitterly cold winter day, Wenceslas was out in the countryside with one of his pages. He saw a peasant and asked his page if he knew where he lived. Read the following lyrics for the rest of the story…

Good King Wenceslas looked out,

On the Feast of Stephen,

When the snow lay round about,

Deep and crisp and even;

Brightly shone the moon that night,

Tho’ the frost was cruel,

When a poor man came in sight,

Gath’ring winter fuel.

“Hither, page, and stand by me,

If thou know’st it, telling,

Yonder peasant, who is he?

Where and what his dwelling?”

“Sire, he lives a good league hence,

Underneath the mountain;

Right against the forest fence,

By Saint Agnes’ fountain.”

“Bring me flesh and bring me wine,

Bring me pine logs hither:

Thou and I will see him dine,

When we bear them thither.”

Page and monarch, forth they went,

Forth they went together;

Thro’ the rude wind’s wild lament

And the bitter weather.

“Sire, the night is darker now,

And the wind blows stronger;

Fails my heart, I know not how,

I can go no longer.”

“Mark my footsteps, good my page;

Tread thou in them boldly:

Thou shalt find the winter’s rage

Freeze thy blood less coldly.”

In his master’s step he trod

Where the snow lay dinted;

Heat was in the very sod

Which the saint had printed.

Therefore, Christian men, be sure,

Wealth or rank possessing,

Ye who now will bless the poor,

Shall yourselves find blessing.

I’m not sure about you, but I am deeply humbled by this story. Only by the work of Christ in us can we do likewise.

“For even the Son of Man [Jesus] came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10;45)

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)