St. Wenceslaus

First published in the September 26, 2022 Bulletin of St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, Delray Beach, FL

You might wonder why I’m talking about St. Wenceslaus now, instead of in December. After all, if you only know one thing about St. Wenceslaus, it was that he was a good king who went out on the feast of Stephen (December 26) when the snow was deep and crisp and even. But, of course, there is more to St. Wenceslaus’ story than what you may recall from a song we only hear at Christmas.

St. Wenceslaus was born about 907 in a village in Bohemia. The place is now known as  Stochov, a town in Kladno District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, about twenty-seven miles northwest of Prague. His family background and early history are steeped in history – and violence. His paternal grandfather had been converted to Christianity by the great Saints of the Eastern Church, Cyril and Methodius. His paternal grandmother was Ludmilla of Bohemia, who saw to Wenceslaus’ education. His mother, Drahomira, was the daughter of a pagan chief but was baptized at the time of her marriage.

In 921, when Wenceslaus was about thirteen, his father died, and his grandmother became regent. Jealous of the influence that Ludmila wielded over Wenceslaus, Drahomíra enlisted two noblemen to kill Ludmilla. They strangled her with her own veil. Drahomíra then assumed the throne as regent and began persecutions of Christians. A few years later, there was a successful rebellion against Drahomira, who was exiled. At the age of eighteen, Wenceslaus became the ruler of Bohemia. He was a good and noble ruler, known for going about in secret every night, visiting churches, and giving alms generously to those in need, including widows, orphans, and prisoners.

It may be amazing that one with such a love for his people was himself deposed after just a few years as regent. But in championing the poor and helpless, he angered the nobles, whose oppression of the people was hindered by Wenceslaus’ politics and policies. They entered into a conspiracy to have him killed. Once again, it was family against family, as Wenceslaus own brother, Boleslav, was part of the conspiracy. After Wenceslaus was stabbed by three of his brother’s friends, Boleslav himself ran his lance through his brother.

The cult of Wenceslaus grew up in Bohemia and England soon after his death, and four biographies of him were circulating within a few decades. The hymn "Svatý Václave" (Saint Wenceslaus) or , as we know it, Good King Wenceslaus, is one of the oldest known Czech songs, and can be traced to the 12th century A.D. It remains one of the most popular religious songs of Bohemia. It had been a contender for the national anthem of the newly formed Czechoslovakia in 1918. Some say that during the Nazi occupation of what was then Czechoslovakia, it was often played with the national anthem.

St. Wenceslaus feast day is September 28 and is particularly celebrated in the city of Stara Boleslav, the place of his death. Since 2000, his feast day has been a public holiday in the Czech Republic, celebrated as Czech Statehood Day.

If you ever visit Prague, you will see a statue of St. Wenceslaus, as well as those of other patrons of Bohemia, including St. Ludmilla, on Wenceslaus Square. His helmet and armor are on display inside Prague Castle.