If you have seen Devon Stack / Black Pilled's youtube video on Christmas songs, you will find that so, so, so many of them were written not by Christians, but Jews, and the true meaning of Christmas is watered down or perverted. Many of those stories and songs are now ruined for me. But one excellent song from centuries ago was penned about Wenceslaus, written to commemorate and honor the life of Wenceslaus, one of the church's earliest saints.
His father was a strong Christian, and constructed the oldest surviving church in the country, St George's Basilica, in the year 920 AD.
He was raised a Christian by his grandmother, until she was murdered by his pagan mother, who then served as regent until Wenceslaus came of age.
At the age of 18, Wenceslaus took power as the hereditary monarch of Bohemia, a Slavic land part of the modern day western Czech republic. He ruled over a portion of the land, and his a separate part of Bohemia was carved out for this brother to rule. He took a vow of chastity and poverty, and was instrumental in spreading Christianity through his country. Though he faced war and was surrounded by enemies, he imported German priests to prosthetylize and spread the word of God throughout his nation, and constructed the beautiful Gothic Metropolitan Cathedral of St Vitus (now also named after Wenceslaus).
en.wikipedia.org
Wenceslaus grew a long beard and was often seen bringing food and gifts to the poor, imprisoned, and lonely.
While still in his 20s, he was invited to a feast by his brother, who ruled the other half of Bohemia with a group of non-Christian nobles. His brother and the nobles murdered him at the church door as he was heading to attend mass. Despite a short rule, he firmly established Christianity in the nation, and was adored by his people, who viewed him almost immediately as a martyr. After many miracles were reported around his tomb, he was declared a saint, and his body moved to Prague where it was the destination for many who took pilgrimage.
Wenceslaus was often cited as an example of rex justus (a righteous king, devined by God to do good here on earth). The Holy Roman Emperor conferred the title of King posthumously. The song's melody was written in the 13th century as Tempus Adest Floridum, which celebrated the end of frost and coming rebirth. It was finalized in its current form in Britain in the 1800s and commemorates the feast of St Stephen, the 2nd day of Christmastide. The song is so popular in the modern Czech state that it was strongly considered for the national anthem. If one visits Prague today, one can visit Wenceslas Square, the heart of the city, full of people, and site of many historical events.
The song speaks of the king spotting a poor peasant in a cold snowstorm, and orders his page to gather firewood, meat and wine that they will deliver to the poor subject. The page is about to give up hope when Wenceslaus encourages him to step in his snowy footsteps and they will soon reach their destination. The song was sung in the Christmas Truce, where British and German troops stopped fighting in a brief (and dangerous, for their rulers) moment, where enemy armies came together and celebrated, realizing their shared humanity, values, faith, and history.
The song ends with the refrain:
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye, who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
The song is particularly beautiful when sung in a chorus. There is a 1994 movie about the King which I have not been able to locate in America. Take a listen and step back to a time when leaders took seriously their duty to their faith and their people, and vowed poverty to God, spending wealth not on themselves but on beautiful churches and shrines that last hundreds of years. The modern world has nothing to compare to the beauty of of a single St Vitus cathedral.
A superb male duet rendition from the British "A Castle Christmas"
The BBC created an animation of Wenceslaus' life, as the Feast of Stephen is known as Boxing Day in Commonwealth nations, and Wenceslaus is the most popular carol celebrating this day. The special was aired publicly during every Christmas season. A reminder of how recently even western governments were not evil.
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
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gathering winter fuel
Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou knowst 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 shall see him dine
When we bear them thither.
Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude winds 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 shall find the winters rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.
In his masters 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.
His father was a strong Christian, and constructed the oldest surviving church in the country, St George's Basilica, in the year 920 AD.
He was raised a Christian by his grandmother, until she was murdered by his pagan mother, who then served as regent until Wenceslaus came of age.
At the age of 18, Wenceslaus took power as the hereditary monarch of Bohemia, a Slavic land part of the modern day western Czech republic. He ruled over a portion of the land, and his a separate part of Bohemia was carved out for this brother to rule. He took a vow of chastity and poverty, and was instrumental in spreading Christianity through his country. Though he faced war and was surrounded by enemies, he imported German priests to prosthetylize and spread the word of God throughout his nation, and constructed the beautiful Gothic Metropolitan Cathedral of St Vitus (now also named after Wenceslaus).
St. Vitus Cathedral - Wikipedia
Wenceslaus grew a long beard and was often seen bringing food and gifts to the poor, imprisoned, and lonely.
While still in his 20s, he was invited to a feast by his brother, who ruled the other half of Bohemia with a group of non-Christian nobles. His brother and the nobles murdered him at the church door as he was heading to attend mass. Despite a short rule, he firmly established Christianity in the nation, and was adored by his people, who viewed him almost immediately as a martyr. After many miracles were reported around his tomb, he was declared a saint, and his body moved to Prague where it was the destination for many who took pilgrimage.
Wenceslaus was often cited as an example of rex justus (a righteous king, devined by God to do good here on earth). The Holy Roman Emperor conferred the title of King posthumously. The song's melody was written in the 13th century as Tempus Adest Floridum, which celebrated the end of frost and coming rebirth. It was finalized in its current form in Britain in the 1800s and commemorates the feast of St Stephen, the 2nd day of Christmastide. The song is so popular in the modern Czech state that it was strongly considered for the national anthem. If one visits Prague today, one can visit Wenceslas Square, the heart of the city, full of people, and site of many historical events.
The song speaks of the king spotting a poor peasant in a cold snowstorm, and orders his page to gather firewood, meat and wine that they will deliver to the poor subject. The page is about to give up hope when Wenceslaus encourages him to step in his snowy footsteps and they will soon reach their destination. The song was sung in the Christmas Truce, where British and German troops stopped fighting in a brief (and dangerous, for their rulers) moment, where enemy armies came together and celebrated, realizing their shared humanity, values, faith, and history.
The song ends with the refrain:
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye, who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
The song is particularly beautiful when sung in a chorus. There is a 1994 movie about the King which I have not been able to locate in America. Take a listen and step back to a time when leaders took seriously their duty to their faith and their people, and vowed poverty to God, spending wealth not on themselves but on beautiful churches and shrines that last hundreds of years. The modern world has nothing to compare to the beauty of of a single St Vitus cathedral.
A superb male duet rendition from the British "A Castle Christmas"
The BBC created an animation of Wenceslaus' life, as the Feast of Stephen is known as Boxing Day in Commonwealth nations, and Wenceslaus is the most popular carol celebrating this day. The special was aired publicly during every Christmas season. A reminder of how recently even western governments were not evil.
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
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gathering winter fuel
Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou knowst 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 shall see him dine
When we bear them thither.
Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude winds 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 shall find the winters rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.
In his masters 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.
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