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Chapter 7LegC.1.7

Legenda Christiani

The Saint’s Virtues and Merciful Rule

Wenceslaus is presented as a humble vessel of Christ whose virtues, mercy, and care for the poor and condemned reveal his imitation of Christ.

Therefore, with his kingdom arranged and confirmed, and with Christ himself — the craftsman — helping him, blessed Duke Wenceslaus showed himself to Christ and offered himself as a vessel of election. What sort of man he showed himself to be, and what sort of chosen vessel he made of himself — mind, tongue, speech, and the written page all fail to say. At the same time, weighed down by the burden of my sins, I am unable to set it forth: how great a soldier of Christ he was, what losses he inflicted on the devil while serving the Lord, and how many sheaves of Christ this faithful servant gathered into his barn.12 But so that I may say a few things about many: from his boyhood he never departed from the discipline of the Lord. He was truthful in speech, just in judgment, faithful in what was entrusted to him, exceeding the measure of human piety.3 For when any of the accused, in the assembly of judges and at his arrival, had been sentenced to death by the judges, Wenceslaus would seize any opportunity to withdraw and hide the condemned person as best he could, recalling the threats of Christ in the Gospel: 'Do not judge, so that you may not be judged, and do not condemn, so that you may not be condemned.'4 He destroyed the prisons and gibbets built in ancient times that still existed in his day. He was an unfailing consoler of orphans, widows, the poor, the groaning, and the wounded. He fed the hungry, refreshed the thirsty, clothed the naked, visited the sick, buried the dead, welcomed guests and strangers as if they were his own neighbors, and honored priests, clerics, and monks as though he were honoring the Lord himself. To those who had gone astray he opened the way of truth, observing humility, patience, gentleness, and love — which surpasses all things. He took nothing from anyone by force or fraud. He adorned his army not only with the finest arms but also with clothing for the body.56

Walking the Way of the Cross

Wenceslaus bears the cross of Christ through austere penances, hidden mortifications, and urgent repentance for even slight failings.

From the very beginning of his reign he was distinguished by these and similar virtues. He flourished, applying the cross of Christ to his own limbs, and was remembered for the divine precepts that say: If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Indeed, during Lent or in the winter season he walked barefoot over icy, steep paths from city to city, visiting the churches of Christ on foot, so that his footprints, wet with blood, could be seen. From then on he wore hairshirts — exceedingly rough ones, preserved for reverence up to this day as though they were new — and constantly dressed in woolen tunics against his flesh like a monk; yet above them he wore the finest and most splendid royal garments, shining before God and men. Refreshing his body with moderate food, ever watchful, he never ceased to give immense thanks to God alone. But if it ever happened to him as prince — lying down among so many beasts — that late in the evening he had drunk beyond his usual custom from an abundance of yesterday's wine, he would shake off sleep at daybreak, hasten as quickly as possible to whatever church he could find, and there seek out whichever priest or cleric was present. Stripping off whatever of his own finest garments he was wearing and handing them to that person, he would prostrate himself at his feet, urgently asking that the cleric might more earnestly beseech Christ the Lord on his behalf, so that He might mercifully forgive the offense committed the night before.

Hidden Devotion and the Lord’s Sacrifice

In secret manual labor and eucharistic preparation, Wenceslaus serves the Lord’s sacrifice while uprooting pagan rites and welcoming teachers and relics.

In the divine services he was so constant that every day he would offer to the Lord a sacrifice prepared by his own hands. For at harvest time, in the dead of night's silence, he would go out to seek his own field, accompanied by his most faithful retainer — about whom a remarkable prodigy would later be recorded, a sign to declare the merit of them both. Reaping the wheat and carrying it on his own shoulders, he would bring it home, and grinding it himself at the hand-mill, he as baker and master would sift the flour; and fetching water too, drawing it by night in the same way, he would confess: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.✦ And carrying it home, mixing the aforesaid fine flour, he would prepare the offerings. And hastening to the vineyard, picking the clusters of grapes and crushing them with his own hands, pouring them into a jug, he would keep the supply for the holy sacrifice. Because the superstitious rites of the pagans had not yet been torn out root and branch, and while very many were still hastening to sacrifice abominable offerings to demons, defiling themselves with foods and drinks from those same sacrifices, he himself was never defiled by consenting to any of these things; on the contrary, he withdrew himself from all of them, no matter what the occasion. He destroyed the prisons and the gallows, the instruments of torture that existed in those times for tormenting people, and with his devotion he uprooted them entirely; and he leveled the shrines of the pagan temples to the ground. With this reputation, Christians — and not only them, but priests, Levites, and very many servants of God — flock to him from the places of the Bavarians, the Suevi, and other provinces, just as bees to their hives, bringing with them relics of the saints and very many libraries. He received all of them with enormous honor, and welcoming them with a grateful and willing spirit, he complied with their needs as was fitting, generously bestowing an abundance of gold or silver, stockings, slaves, or garments, giving freely to all according to their need, serving everyone. And the teachers marveled at his learning in doctrine, so that he could be seen proclaiming with the psalmist: 'I have understood more than all my teachers, for your commandments are my meditation.'

The Pearl of His Mind and Grace in Battle

The brightness of a precious pearl in his mind and the grace granted by the Lord reveal his interior purity and victorious strength in battle.

In whose mind alone the brightness of a precious pearl shone brilliantly. To him also the Lord deigned to confer the grace of his devotion in the greatest measure, so that he might prove victorious in very many battles as well.

Zeal, Pastoral Care, and the Church of Saint Vitus

Wenceslaus combines gentleness with holy zeal, labors to bring souls into the Church, and, inspired by grace, builds a church in honor of Saint Vitus.

He was tall in countenance, embracing chastity — though that is a rare quality among married people — and longing to end his life in martyrdom. He was always gentle in his dealings with the mild, but with the harsh, with those who wandered in drunkenness and dissipation, or with those given over to drinking bouts, or with those who desired to stray from sound teaching or the straight path, he was inflamed with divine zeal. If he could not have won them over in any other way, he would at least summon them by grace within a month of the occasion and have them beaten with heavy whips. Always taking up the shield of faith against the ancient enemy, and wielding the sword of the Holy Spirit, which is the word of God, he unceasingly overcame the airy powers of this world.✦✦✦ For he was a true worshipper of Christ, without complaint. Rebuking many according to apostolic precepts, beseeching, chiding unweariedly, he invited all to the supper of the true Father of the household. And having freed them from the jaws of the devil, he placed them in the bosom of the holy mother Church, and continually revived them with divine nourishment.✦ Then, with divine grace inspiring his heart, he planned to build a temple to the Lord in honor of the blessed martyr Vitus. He sent envoys to the bishop of Regensburg — in whose diocese, as we said before, Bohemia was at that time established — so that according to the statutes, the bishop would grant him permission to build the basilica. He said: 'My father built a temple to the Lord in honor of the blessed George; I myself, however, with your permission, desire to found one in the same manner in honor of the blessed martyr of Christ, Vitus.' When the venerable bishop heard these things, with thanksgiving he stretched out his hands to Christ the Lord and spoke: 'Take these commands, returning, to my most fortunate son Wenceslaus: Your church has now been built most beautifully before the Lord.' When the prince received the news with his ears, he was gladdened in his heart. He soon laid the foundations of the church and set up the walls excellently.

Desire for Monastic Life and the Shadow of Martyrdom

Wenceslaus longs to renounce power, live as a monk, and win the palm of martyrdom, even as Satan stirs fraternal hatred against him.

Not content with these things, but wanting to approach the thresholds of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul in Rome, he sought out the pope of that time so that he might tonsure him as a cleric, dressed in monastic garments, and for the love of God, relinquishing the principality to his brother — alas, a man too intent on secular affairs — he would hand it over, while he himself, living in peace, might gather a few little sheep to Christ the Lord.✦ And he would have fulfilled this in deed, had not the foretold work of the basilica hindered him. But with the enemy of the human race attacking the ranks of the faithful from the very beginning, and while he could not entirely overcome Christ's invincible servant, he turned to ancient weapons, striving to overthrow the Christian faith.✦ For his younger brother — whom we also compared to Cain in earlier passages and mentioned a little after — having relinquished all secular pomp, was arranging to hand everything over to him. But forestalled by the counsels of wicked men, as many as were grieved to abandon their accustomed ways and found it not at all permissible to do unlawful things, he sharpened the weapons of hatred and death against his own most holy brother.✦ But he himself — foreknowing all of these things by the nourishing Spirit breathing within him, like a stag thirsting for streams of water — longed none the less to obtain the palm of martyr's glory, yet by no means feared his brother's hand bringing him eternal destruction, for he always had confidence in Christ.✦

Read the original Latin

Igitur composito confirmatoque suo regno, opifice se iuvante Christo, beatus dux Wenceslaus, qualem se Christo exhibuerit qualeque vas eleccionis semet ipsum prebuerit, mens, lingua, sermo paginaque dicere deficit, simul moleque gravatus peccaminum pandere nequeo, miles Christi quanta domino militans detrimenta zabulo intulerit, quantosve manipulos Christi in horreo ipsius fidelis servus aggregaverit. Verum ut de multis pauca eloquar: a puericia sua minime discedens a disciplina Domini, verax fuit in sermone, iustus in iudicio, fidelis in commisso, modum humane excedens pietatis. Cum enim quilibet reorum in concilio iudicum presenciaque ipsius adventus, a iudicibus capitali addictus sentencia fuisset, occasione suscepta qualibet semet subtrahens occultabat, qua valebat, minarum Christi memorans in ewangelio, quod minatur: Nolite iudicare, ne iudicemini, nec condempnare, ut non condempnemini. Carceres patibulaque antiquitus constructa, que ad hec tempora inerant, destruens, orphanorum, viduarum, pauperum, gemencium sauciorumque indefessus existens consolator, esurientes sacians, sicientes refocillans, nudos tegens, infirmos visitans, mortuos sepeliens, hospites et peregrinos proximos ut proprios excipiens, presbiteros clericosve ac monachos ut Dominum honorans, errantibus viam veritatis aperiens, humilitatem, pacienciam, mansuetudinem, caritatem, que supereminet cunctis, observans, per vim fraudemque nulli aliquid subtrahens, exercitum suum non solum armis optimis, verum et indumento corpus adornabat.

Hiis et huiuscemodi virtutibus ab ipso tirocinii tempore insignitus florebat, crucemque Christi membris applicans suis, memorabatur divinorum preceptorum, per que dicitur: Si quis vult post me venire, abneget semet ipsum et tollat crucem suam et sequatur me. Siquidem in quadragesimali vel hiemali tempore per gelidum et arduum callem discalciatus gradiebatur de civitate in civitatem, ecclesias Christi pedestris illustrans, ita ut vestigia ipsius cruore madencia cernerentur. Ciliciis exhinc, ob ablucionem mundicie servandam, utens asperrimis nimis, que tempora usque ad hec reverenciam ob ipsius velut nova servantur, assidueque laneis ceu monachus indutus tunicis ad carnem, desuper vero optimis et regalibus amictus, splendebat coram Deo hominibusque. Pabulo modico refocillans artus, pervigil assidue, gracias soli inmensas non cessabat agere Deo. At si quando illi ut principi, feras inter tantas cubanti, contigisset sero hesterno habundantem hausisse morem extra solitum potum, sompno se excuciens diluculo, citissime properans ecclesiam, quemcunque sacerdotum seu clericorum inibi reperisset, optimo quocumque indumentorum tegebatur, sese exuens illique contradens, pedibus ipsius advolvebatur, obnixe postulans, quo pro semet attencius Christum dominum exoraret, noxam quatinus illi hesterna nocte patratam clementer indulgeret.

In officiis vero divinis tam assiduus inerat, ut cottidie oblacionem suam, manibus suis confectam, Domino exhiberet. Nam in messis tempore, intempeste noctis silencio, agrum petens proprium adibat cum sibi fidelissimo cliente, de quo postmodum precipuum et ad declarandum utriusque meritum insigne exarabitur prodigium, triticumque metens, humeris baiolans propriis domui inferebat, manualique terens mola, pistor ipse et dux, farinam cribrabat, aquamque petens, itidem nocturnaliter hauriens, fatebatur: In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti. Quam eciam domum deferens, predicta cum farinula miscens, oblatas conficiebat. Vineamque properans, botros carpens suisque illos manibus conterens urceoque infundens, usum ad sancti conservabat sacrificii. Quia vero radicitus necdum avulsi fuerant paganorum supersticiosi ritus, dum plurimi ad immolandum demoniis nefanda properarent sacrificia, cibisque ex ipsis potibusque simul inquinarentur, nunquam ipse horum consenciens contaminabatur, verum in cunctis se subtraxit, occasione facta qualibet. Carceres destruxit, patibula suppliciaque, que usque ad hec inerant ad excruciandos tempora homines, funditus sua pietate evulsit fanaque profanorum terre coequavit. Qua opinione Christicole exhausta ad eum ceu apes ad alvearia, haut secus sacerdotes, levite plurimique famuli Dei confluunt Bavarorum, Swevorum aliarumque provinciarum locis, reliquiis cum sanctorum bibliotecisque plurimis. Cunctos honore cum ingenti quos suscipiens animoque gratanti amplectens obsecundabatur, uti decebat, tribuens habunde auri vel argenti copiam, crusinas mancipiaque vel vestimenta hilariter largiens, cunctisque prout opus erat, serviens, universis didascalis hiis in doctrina mirantibus ipsius, ut cum psalmista proclamare cerneretur: Super omnes docentes me intellexi, quia mandata tua meditacio mea est.

Mente in cuius sola preciose claritas fulgebat margarite. Cui eciam Dominus pietatis sue graciam quam plurimam conferre dignatus est, ut in plurimis quoque victor preliis existeret.

Procerus vultu, castitatem amplectens, quamvis hec rara vis uxoratis, martirio presentem inhians finire vitam, blandum semper cum mitibus habens colloquium, cum inmitibus vero et vagantibus crapulisque seu potibus deditis vel a doctrina seu tramite recto deviare cupientibus, zelo accensus divino, si haut illos aliter apprehendere valuisset, saltim mense sue occasionis accersitos gracia, flagris verberabat ingentibus, semper contra antiquum hostem scutum sumens fidei, cumque framea Spiritus sancti, verbum Dei quod est, incessanter aereas expungnans mundi huius potestates. Erat enim sine querela cultor Christi verus, multos apostolica secundum precepta arguens, obsecrans, increpans indefesse, cunctos ad cenam veri invitans Patris familias, faucibusque exemptos a dyaboli, gremio sancte collocans matris ecclesie, divinis assidue refocillabat alimentis. Gracia deinde divina cordi eius inspirante, templum Domino in honore beati Viti martyris condere meditans, legatos allegat Ratisponensem ad pontificem, in cuius, ut prediximus, tunc temporis diocesi constabat Bohemia, secundum statuta ut canonum licenciam illi pontifex tribueret edificandi basilicam, inquiens: Pater meus templum Domino in honore olim statuit beati Georgii, egomet vero licencia cum vestra eodem gestio condere more beati in honore Christi martyris Viti. Quibus venerandus auditis pontifex, graciarum cum accione Christum ad dominum extendendo manus profatur: Filio meo felicissimo Wenceslao hec, redeuntes, mandata referte: Ecclesia tua iam venustissime ante Dominum constructa extat. Auribus princeps captatis quibus, exhilaratur corde, fundamenta mox ecclesie iecit parietesque optime locavit.

Nec hiis contentus, verum limina beatorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli Rome adire voluit, quo papam illius temporis expeteret, quatinus eum monachicis indutum vestibus attonderet in clericum, proque Dei amore principatum relinquens fratri suo, heu, nimium secularibus intento actibus, contraderet, ipseque pacifice degens, oviculas aliquantulas Christo domino aggregaret. Quod et opere implesset, nisi illum prenotatum basilice impediret opus. Verum inimico humani generis ipsis ab exordiis inpungnante fidelium turmas, dum inevincibilem famulum Christi totus evincere nequit, arma ad antiqua vertitur, fidem Christianam evertere nitens. Nam fratrem eius iuniorem, quem et in anterioribus Cayn coequavimus et paulo post mencionem fecimus, relictis cui cunctis secularibus pompis universa disponebat tradere, consiliis malignorum preventum quam plurimis, qui sese dolebant assveta relinquere et illicita agere minime licere, in fratrem suum sanctissimum arma odii necisque exacuit. Cunctorum ipse quorum, Spiritu sibi inspirante almo, prescius, veluti cervus fluenta aquarum siciens, haut aliter martyrii exoptabat adipisci glorie palmam verumtamen minime fratris sui de manu, interitum perhennem metuens eius - in Christo semper fiduciam habebat.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Matt.28.19 — Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
  2. ↩Eph.6.17 — And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
  3. ↩Eph.6.16 — In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
  4. ↩Eph.6.12 — For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
  5. ↩Luke.14.15-Luke.14.24 — When one of those reclining at the table heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is the one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God." Luke.14.16 — But he said to him, 'A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many.' Luke.14.17 — And he sent his servant at the hour of the banquet to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for it is now ready.' Luke.14.18 — And they all, with one accord, began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you, have me excused.' Luke.14.19 — And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. I ask you to excuse me.' Luke.14.20 — And another said, 'I have married a wife, and because of this I am not able to come.' Luke.14.21 — And the slave came back and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house was angry and said to his slave, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the crippled and the blind and the lame.' Luke.14.22 — And the servant said, 'Lord, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' Luke.14.23 — And the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the roads and the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. Luke.14.24 — For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.
  6. ↩John.10.16 — And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice, so there will be one flock, one shepherd.
  7. ↩Gen.3.15 — I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
  8. ↩Gen.4.1-Gen.4.16 — Now the man knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, 'I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.' Gen.4.2 — And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain was a worker of the ground. Gen.4.3 — And it came about at the end of days that Cain brought, from the fruit of the ground, an offering to the LORD. Gen.4.4 — And Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering. Gen.4.5 — but to Cain and to his offering he had no regard; and Cain was very angry, and his face fell. Gen.4.6 — Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?" Gen.4.7 — If you do well, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. Gen.4.8 — And Cain said to Abel his brother, 'Let us go out to the field.' And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Gen.4.9 — Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" Gen.4.10 — And he said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground." Gen.4.11 — And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. Gen.4.12 — When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a restless wanderer on the earth. Gen.4.13 — And Cain said to the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Gen.4.14 — Look, you have driven me out today from the face of the ground, and from your face I will be hidden, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the land, and whoever finds me will kill me. Gen.4.15 — But the LORD said to him, 'Therefore, anyone who kills Cain will suffer sevenfold vengeance.' And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would strike him down. Gen.4.16 — And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
  9. ↩Ps.41.2 — Blessed is the one who has regard for the poor; in the day of trouble, the LORD delivers him.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Vas electionis (vessel of election) echoes Acts 9:15 (Paul as vas electionis); the hagiographer applies the Pauline title to Wenceslaus.
  2. 2 ↩Opifice rendered 'craftsman' to preserve the image of Christ as divine maker/creator, not merely 'worker.'
  3. 3 ↩Disciplina Domini rendered 'discipline of the Lord' — encompassing both divine teaching and the ordered life of Christian formation.
  4. 4 ↩Nolite iudicare, ne iudicemini, nec condempnare, ut non condempnemini — echoes Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:37. Final Moses resolution pending.
  5. 5 ↩Caritatem rendered 'love' per default lexeme policy; the context (surpassing all things) signals the theological virtue of charity.
  6. 6 ↩Ut Dominum honorans — 'as though honoring the Lord himself' — reflects the Christological identification with clergy/monks (cf. Matthew 25:40).

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