The Roots of Good King Wenceslas
A Carol about a Bohemian Duke by an Anglican Minister
The song Good King Wenceslas is the result of two men who lived very different lives but who shared a common passion for helping the poor and needy. One was a Bohemian Duke and the other was an Anglican Minister. One was considered a progressive leader and the other was considered a crotchety churchman with old-fashioned ideas.
A Bohemian Duke
Wenceslas was born to Duke Ratislav who had him educated by his god-fearing grandmother. Unfortunately, Wenceslas’ father died and his mother mismanaged the affairs of state and so Wenceslas took power. Fortunately, seizing power was as about as violent as Wenceslas would get. He immediately began to improve the situation for the country.
He made peace with neighboring countries, reformed the judicial system, reduced the number of death sentences handed out, limited the power of judges, and promoted the building of churches. The depth of his compassion is revealed in stories that say he personally cut wood and carried it to the poor and widowed. These anecdotes surely inspired the poem that John Mason Neale wrote.
Unfortunately, Wenceslas’ role as a kind and generous leader did not last long. His pagan brother Boleslav murdered him on September 28, 929 when Wenceslas left his home to attend church. His good works caused him to be recognized by Bohemian’s as a martyr and today he is the patron saint of Czechoslovakia.
An Eccentric Minister
John Mason Neale ((January 24, 1818 - August 6, 1866) was an eccentric Anglican minister whose mission in life was to restore church architecture to its previous grandeur. In addition, he detested the hymns of Isaac Watts, believing that church music was better at its medieval roots. As a result he translated Greek, Latin, and Syrian hymns to English. Among the popular Christmas carols that came to us because of his efforts are Good Christian Men Rejoice and O Come, O come Emmanuel.
As an Anglican minister, Neale celebrated Boxing Day; a holiday in which the wealthy give boxed gifts to the working class and poor. Neale himself had an interest in serving the poor and served as a warden in a home for destitute old men. As a result, of Neale’s interest in the poor, he wrote a poem to honor Wenceslas’ charity and compassion for the poor. The poem Good King Wenceslas was set to the tune of a Swedish carol.
Sources
Morgan, Robert J. Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories. Thomas Nelson Publishers. 2003.
Good King Wenceslas
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