Sunday, December 26, 2010

Tread Thou in Them Boldly

The 26th is best known for being the Feast of St. Stephen, although because it falls on Sunday this year things are somewhat different for liturgical purposes. But it's worthwhile remembering the Protomartyr. The most famous St. Stephen's Day carol:

Good King Wenceslas
by John Mason Neale


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
Gath'ring winter fuel.

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st 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 will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's 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, my good page,
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps 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!

St. Wenceslas, of course, also known by the Czech name Vaclav (he's the patron saint of the Czech Republic and you'll find lots of Czechs named after the saint), was Duke of Bohemia in the tenth century. His grandfather was converted to Christianity by Saints Cyril and Methodius. He was murdered on the way to church on the Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian by his younger brother Boleslav, who then became Duke. There is an old Czech legend that St. Wenceslas sleeps beneath Mount Blanik with a legion of knights, and that he will return in the time of the Czech people's greatest need. His own feast day is September 28. The page also has a name: Wenceslas's most loyal servant was a man named Podevin, who assisted Wenceslas with his charitable works and, after his death, attempted to avenge his death (for which he was killed).