While many are familiar with the popular Christmas hymn “Good King Wenceslaus,” few realize that the song is about a real king who loved serving the poor.
He remains a prime example for all leaders and politicians, showing them what kind of priorities they should have.
Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the life of St. Wenceslaus in 2009 and mentioned his holy example.
This is the lesson we can learn from Saint Wenceslaus, who had the courage to prefer the kingdom of heaven to the enticement of worldly power. His gaze never moved away from Jesus Christ, who suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow in his steps … As an obedient disciple of the Lord, the young prince Wenceslaus remained faithful to the Gospel teachings he had learned from his saintly grandmother, the martyr Ludmila. In observing these, even before committing himself to build peaceful relations within his lands and with neighboring countries, he took steps to spread the Christian faith, summoning priests and building churches.
Furthermore, he preferred the weak and downtrodden of society, always conscious of his responsibility to protect the most vulnerable.
[H]e was benevolent to the poor, clothed the naked, gave food to the hungry, welcomed pilgrims, just as the Gospel enjoins. He did not allow injustice to be done to widows, he loved all people, whether poor or rich. He learned from the Lord to be “merciful and gracious,” and animated by the Gospel spirit he was even able to pardon his brother who tried to kill him.
His example remains a powerful one and shows to us, and all political leaders, the type of priorities we should all maintain.
And today we celebrate...