Hello and welcome to Giants of the Faith episode 71. And Merry Christmas! I'm recording this episode in December 2023 and Christmas is fast approaching. So, in honor of this festive season, today's episode will focus on the history and stories surrounding two men that have become part of our Christmas traditions in the West. One, Boniface, is most famous as the bringer of the Christmas tree. The other, Wenceslaus, for his noble act of kindness.
Boniface was born in England - maybe Wessex or Devon or maybe even Ireland - around the year 675. His birth name was Winfrid. Not much is known of his family but they were supposedly of somewhat noble birth and Winfrid was intended for a life in the law or some other secular pursuit. The story goes that he was drawn to the religious life after a group of missionary monks guested at the family home when Winfrid was only five years old. Winfrid was captivated by these monks and desired to enter religious life himself. His father disapproved and forbad it. But then Winfrid became gravely ill and his father saw the sickness as punishment from God for not allowing Winfrid to enter church service.
At age 13 Winfrid was sent to school at Exminster where he entered service as a Benedictine monk. He was ordained at about the age of 30 and was given a commission by the Archibishop of Canterbury to travel to Friesland (which is today in the northern part of the Netherlands) and evangelize the pagan tribes there. Winfrid failed but when he returned he was chosen as Abbot of his monastery anyway.
Winfrid's heart for the pagans in Europe was still open, however. In 1718 he went to Rome to seek the Pope's approval to evangelize the Germanic tribes. Apparently, the Pope was pleased to receive Winfrid and in 1723 he was made Bishop and commissioned to evangelize the regions of Hesse, Franconia, Thuringia, and Bavaria. The Pope also changed his name from Winfrid to Boniface - meaning "doer of good".
The newly named Boniface made several missionary journeys where he preached the gospel, planted churches, and confronted the local customs and superstitions. He also reformed the Frankish church, which was plagued by corruption and heresy. He established monasteries - including the abbey of Fulda, schools, and dioceses, and appointed bishops loyal to Rome.
One of the most famous episodes of his life - and why he's featured in this episode - was when he cut down the sacred oak of Thor at Geismar, a symbol of the pagan religion. The oak of Thor - also known as the Thunder Oak - was an old, very large tree that served as the center of a religious ceremony for the pagans of that region. In winter the people of the are would gather at the tree and sacrifice a child to seek Thor's blessing.
Boniface knew he must do something about this practice to break the stranglehold that paganism had on these people. So, one winter he arrived at the gathering with a group of missionaries. He wanted to show that the tree had no power and that Thor was a false god. The pagans believed that Thor would strike down anyone that messed with the oak. Boniface needed to do something drastic so he and his fellow missionaries cut the tree down. He used the wood from the oak to build a chapel dedicated to St. Peter, showing the power of Christ over the false gods.
And then Boniface preached the gospel to the people using the common fir tree as a metaphor. Pointing to a fir that grew in the shadow of the Thunder Oak he said “This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be your holy tree tonight. It is the wood of peace… It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are ever green. See how it points upward to heaven. Let this be called the tree of the Christ-child; gather about it, not in the wild wood, but in your own homes; there it will shelter no deeds of blood, but loving gifts and rites of kindness.”
And that, supposedly, is the origination of the Christmas tree tradition that comes to use from Europe.
Boniface was martyred on June 5, 754, near Dokkum in Frisia. He was preparing to confirm a large group of converts when he and his companions were attacked by a band of armed pagans. He told his followers not to resist, saying, “Cease my sons, from fighting, give up warfare for the witness of Scripture recommends that we do not give an eye for an eye but rather good for evil. Here is the long awaited day; the time of our end has now come; courage in the Lord!” He then took a book of the gospels and held it over his head as a shield. The pagans struck him down and killed him and 52 others. His body was taken to Fulda, where he had founded a monastery, and buried in the cathedral. His book of the gospels, stained with his blood, is still preserved as a relic.
Boniface is venerated as a saint and a martyr by the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. He is the patron saint of Germany, the Netherlands, and Devon. He is also considered one of the founders of Western civilization, as he shaped the culture, politics, and religion of medieval Europe. He was a giant of the faith, who left a lasting impact on the world for Christ.
You may have heard of Wenceslaus from the famous Christmas carol, "Good King Wenceslas", which tells the story of how he went out on a cold winter night to help a poor peasant. But who was Wenceslaus, and why is he considered a giant of the faith?
Wenceslaus was born around the year 907 in Prague, the capital of Bohemia, a region that is now part of the Czech Republic. His father, Vratislaus, was the duke of Bohemia, and his mother, Dragomir, was the daughter of a pagan chief. His grandmother, Ludmila, was a devout Christian who had been converted by the missionaries Cyril and Methodius, who brought Christianity to the Slavic peoples.
Wenceslaus was raised by his grandmother, who taught him the Old Slavonic language and the Christian faith. She also arranged for him to be educated at the college of Budweis (yes, that same Budweis where the famous beer gets its name), where he learned Latin, Greek, and German. Wenceslaus grew up to be a pious, humble, and generous young man, who loved God and his people.
When Wenceslaus was about 13 years old, his father died, and his mother became the regent of Bohemia. However, she was hostile to Christianity and favored the pagan factions in the country. She also resented the influence that Ludmila had over Wenceslaus, and plotted to have her killed. In 921, Ludmila was strangled by assassins hired by Dragomir, while she was praying in her castle.
Wenceslaus was deeply grieved by the death of his grandmother, and vowed to honor her memory by following her example. He also decided to take control of the government, with the support of the Christian nobles who rebelled against his mother. He banished Dragomir from the court, and became the prince of Bohemia.
As the ruler of Bohemia, Wenceslaus faced many challenges and enemies. He had to deal with the raids of the Magyars, a nomadic people who invaded from the east. He also had to deal with the pressure of the German king, Henry the Fowler, who wanted to expand his influence over the neighboring lands. Wenceslaus tried to maintain peace and independence, by forming alliances with other Christian rulers, such as the Bavarian duke Arnulf.
Wenceslaus was also a reformer and a builder. He strengthened the church in Bohemia, by establishing bishoprics, monasteries, and churches. He also promoted education and culture, by supporting the use of the Slavonic language and the Cyrillic alphabet. He was known for his charity and justice, by helping the poor, the widows, and the orphans. He also respected the rights and customs of his subjects, regardless of their religion or ethnicity.
One of the most famous stories about Wenceslaus is the one that inspired the Christmas carol. According to legend, on the feast of St. Stephen the first martyr - which falls on December 26 - Wenceslaus saw a poor man gathering firewood in the snow. He decided to help him, and asked his page to follow him with food and wine. As they walked, the page complained that it was too cold, and that he could not see the way. Wenceslaus told him to walk in his footsteps, and miraculously, the snow melted where he stepped, and the page felt warm. They reached the poor man's hut, and gave him the food and wine, and blessed him in the name of Christ.
Wenceslaus was beloved by his people, but hated by his brother, Boleslaus, who was jealous of his power and popularity. Boleslaus conspired with some of the pagan nobles to kill Wenceslaus, and invited him to a feast in his castle. On September 28, either in 929 or 935, Wenceslaus went to the feast, and on his way to the church, he was attacked by Boleslaus and his men. Wenceslaus fought back, but was overpowered and stabbed to death. His last words were, "Brother, may God forgive you."
Wenceslaus was buried in the church of St. Vitus in Prague, where his tomb became a place of pilgrimage. He was soon recognized as a martyr and a saint, and was declared the patron of Bohemia and the Czech people. He is also honored as one of the patrons of Europe, along with St. Benedict, St. Cyril, St. Methodius, and St. Bridget of Sweden.
Wenceslaus was a giant of the faith, because he showed us how to be a Christian leader in a world of conflict and temptation. He was faithful to God, loyal to his people, and generous to the poor. He was courageous in the face of danger, and forgiving in the face of betrayal. He was a good king, and a good man.
And that's it for this Christmas episode. I hope you've learned something new about these two men who's lives and legends live on every Christmas. Until next time, God bless and Merry Christmas!
RESOURCES
BONIFACE SOURCES
Franciscan Media: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-boniface/
Fordham University: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/willibald-boniface.asp
Christianity Today: https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/martyrs/boniface.html
Christianapostles.com: https://christianapostles.com/st-boniface/
Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/st-boniface-and-the-christmas-tree
WENCESLAUS SOURCES
Franciscan Media: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-wenceslaus/
Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wenceslas-I-prince-of-Bohemia
St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church: https://stwenc-ic.com/about-us/history-of-the-saint/3-history-of-st-wenceslaus
St. Wenceslaus Parish: http://www.stwenc.org/St_Wenceslaus/St-wencelsaus-story.html
Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQVUMG6LZGM