Page 25 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Wenceslas was the son of Vratislaus I, Duke of Bohemia, who was brought up in the Christian faith by his parents, and his wife Drahomira who, although baptized before their wedding, remained in alliance with the pagan religious traditions of her family. Wenceslas was primarily raised by his devout grandmother Ludmila, who was later canonized as a saint in her own right. At the death of his father Vratislaus, Wencelas was only 13 years old, so Ludmila became regent until her grandson reached majority. Before that could happen, Drahomira arranged for Ludmila’s assassination, so that Drahomira could wield power herself. She used her newfound infl uence to suppress Bohemia’s Christians. When Wenceslas reached age 18, the remaining Christian nobles supported Wenceslas in rebellion against his mother. Wenceslas became the rightful duke, exiled his mother, and, according to “The Real Story Behind Good King Wenceslas,” “sought to spread Christianity. He commissioned the building of several churches including part of what is now St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. He also developed a reputation as a wise and compassionate ruler, known for his deeds of mercy. Legend has it that he paid particular attention to caring for the poor, widows, orphans and even prisoners. He opposed the slave market and would buy slaves in order to set them free. He also is known for successfully negotiating peace with the Bavarians, who had been traditional enemies of Bohemians.” All was not well, however, as his younger brother Boleslav grew jealous and wanted to rule the duchy himself. With the support of their mother, Boleslav planned his brother’s overthrow. Taking advantage of Wenceslas' piety, Boleslav invited him to celebrate a Christian feast day and, on the way to church, Boleslav and his associates assassinated him. Almost immediately upon his death, Wenceslas was revered for his piety and good works. People began to make pilgrimages to his grave to honor him and attributed miracles to his intercession. Today Wenceslas is the patron saint of the Czech Republic, Bohemia, and Prague. His feast day, September 28, the day he was murdered, is a public holiday in the Czech Republic, celebrating Czech statehood. His statue has adorned Wenceslas Square in Prague for almost 100 years. Pilgrims may still visit his grave in St. Vitus cathedral at Prague Castle– one of the churches that he helped to build. Wenceslas died while a duke, so how did a deceased duke become a legendary king? A few years after his death, Holy Roman Emperor Otto I posthumously awarded Wenceslas the title of king. King Wenceslas became a model for the medieval vision of a “righteous king;” one who used his power and infl uence for God and for the good and service of his people. But what is the connection of a Bohemian saint to American Christmas? In 1849, John Mason Neale, an English scholar, hymn writer and Anglican priest, wrote the lyrics to “Good King Wenceslas” for the Feast of St. Stephen, which falls on the day after Christmas, the second day of Christmastide in the liturgical calendar. He published them fi rst in a children's book entitled “Deeds of Faith” and four years later in a book of carols. The Feast of St. Stephen honors the fi rst Christian martyr as recorded in the New Continued --
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