ST WENCESLAS, DUKE AND MARTYR - 28 SEPTEMBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER

Saints celebrated on the 28th of September

WELCOME!

SAINT WENCESLAS, KING AND MARTYR 

Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, was the son of a Christian father, Wratislaus, and a pagan mother, Drahomira. He was brought up piously by his grandmother, Ludmilla, a very holy woman, and was noted for every virtue; he preserved his virginity unstained throughout his life with the greatest zeal.

CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT 

His mother, through the brutal murder of Ludmilla, seized the government and lived a wicked life, as did her younger son, Boleslaus. This stirred up against her the indignation of the nobility, who, wearied of their wicked rule, threw off the yoke of both mother and son and proclaimed Wenceslas as king of the city of Prague.

GOOD KING WENCESLAS 

He ruled his kingdom with kindness rather than by might, and was skillful and constant in aiding the poor and afflicted. He had a very deep respect for priests, and with his own hands sowed the wheat and pressed the wine for the sacrifice of the Mass. After he had been honoured by the emperor with the royal coat of arms, while praying in church, he was slain by his impious brother, who was urged on by his mother [on September 28, 935]. His blood may still be seen splattered over the walls.

PRAYER:

O God, who through the palm of martyrdom transported Wenceslas from an earthly dominion to heavenly glory, keep us, by his prayers, from all harm and grant us to rejoice in his fellowship. Through our Lord.

Source: An Approved English Translation of the Breviarium Romanum, Burns & Oates, London, 1964

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King Wenceslas helps to gather winter fuel for the poor

REFLECTION ON THE FEAST OF SAINT WENCESLAS 

In wonderful ways does God lead his own towards their glorious heavenly goal, but mostly on the path of suffering. A myriad of restrictions, hardships, persecution and oppression are usually the lot of a pious Christian on earth.

Since we suffer for proclaiming our Lord's teaching in deed and word, how would we not feel privileged to suffer for Jesus? Did not the Divine Master, whom we follow, endure the same to a far greater extent? 

PRAYER:

O God ! Loving Father! We abandon ourselves utterly and joyfully to your guidance and help. For your sake and for the sake of the Gospel, every bitterness is bound to be joyful. Give us the grace of strength, fortitude and perseverance, and lead us, and all those whom we are meant to edify, to eternal life. Amen. 

From an old German prayer book