Good King Wenceslas* - Loreena McKennitt

Remember that scene close to the end of Love Actually when the Prime Minister (Hugh Grant's character) went house to house looking for the girl he loves? He came to one house where there was a bunch of kids who pleaded with him to sing some carols. And he sang Good King Wenceslas - backed-up very ably by his driver!

Well, that is actually one of the least known carols to me. We have never sang it before and i never knew who this king was - until now!

Yeah, a bit 'out of the season' to talk about this - but bear with me. I've been reading a Christmas gift from me bro and wife about stories behind the songs of Christmas. And i came across this carol and was introduced to King Wenceslas! What a story!

He is actually Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia. At a young age of 15, he was made the leader of Bohemia. But later, his very own mother and his twin brother started a pagan revolt against his spiritual leadership. They killed his grandmother who brought him up and tried to overthrow Wenceslaus. The young young took control and ended the revolt.

In an act of Christian kindness, he spared the lives of his mother and brother and expelled them instead.

He went on to lead the nation in justice and mercy. He reached out to everyone, making sure their needs are met. He shared everything he had with his subjects especially the poor.

At the age of 22, on his way to church, he was greeting his subjects and took time ask about their condition. Just as he was about to enter the church building, he heard his brother called to him. Then his brother's confederates ran up and stabbed the good king. In his dying breath, he whispered, 'Brother, may God forgive you'. And good king Wenceslaus died. :-(

But his dying words had an effect on his brother. he had a change of heart and turned away from his colleagues. Instead he embraced his brother's faith and continued to rule in the same way his brother did.

Today, in the Czech Republic, there are many reminders of good King Wenceslaus - a square named after him, a monument, a church etc.

Statute of Good King Wenceslas at Wenceslas Square, Prague
(Pic taken from www.pragueczechtravel.com)

So even tho it is not the 'Christmas season' now, i find his story very inspiring - even at such age, he upheld justice and showed mercy. And he touched lives - even literally to his dying breath. Truly, an example to everyone, to you and to me.

*Just heard her version while doing the research for this post.