The story of St. Wenceslas of Bohemia (Czech Republic) is somewhat tormented, as were many of the stories in those times when new Christians were emerging from barbarism.
Newsroom (September 27, 2020 12:10 pm Gaudium Press) — The story of Saint Wenceslaus of Bohemia (today’s Czech Republic) is somewhat tormented, as were many of the stories in those times when new Christians were emerging from barbarism.
He was born in Prague about the year 907. His father was a Christian, Wladislaus, but his mother was not. The pagans murdered his father. His mother, Drahomira, remained as regent and developed an anti-Christian policy.
Grandson of a saint
But the pagan princess did not suspect that her child would be such a faithful servant of Christ. That was due to the education Saint Wenceslaus received from his grandmother, Saint Ludmila, who the pagans murdered before he became king.
In the year 925, the Saint became king. Therefore, the tasks and crosses of government fell on his shoulders; namely, the Christian formation of his subjects. He was a great supporter of priests and religious.
Instead of following Wenceslas’ path, his brother Boleslaus opted for paganism and plotted his death. After being lured by deceit into the territories dominated by Boleslaus, his brother killed him on September 28, 935. Since the motives for his death were both political and religious, he is venerated as a martyr for the faith.
In one of those surprising turns of history, three years after the fratricide, Boleslao repented and had the remains of the saint taken to the Church of San Vito.
St Wencelsas was canonized in 1670.
With information from Corazones.org
