Good King Wenceslas- a typology of Christ.

From the article "25 classic Christmas songs"

'Good King Wenceslas' (1853)

©Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons

Published by hymn writer John Mason Neale in 1853, this carol was based on the life of the virtuous ruler Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia. Wenceslaus I was revered for his piety, morality, and virtue. After his assassination, he was posthumously conferred as a king by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I, which is why people don't sing of good Duke Wenceslaus. Wenceslaus was elevated to sainthood immediately after his death, and he's considered the patron saint of the Czech Republic.

The story of Good King Wenceslas, portrayed in the Christmas song of the same name is a song about heroic virtue and a model for all Christians. Lyrics in blue, my commentary in black.

Good King Wenceslas looked out,

on the Feast of Stephen, (December 26th, the 2nd day of Christmas)

When the snow lay round about,

deep and crisp and even;

Brightly shone the moon that night,

tho’ the frost was cruel,

When a poor man came in sight,

gath’ring winter fuel.

“Hither, page, and stand by me,

if thou know’st it, telling,

Yonder peasant, who is he?

Where and what his dwelling?”

“Sire, he lives a good league hence, (about 3 to 5 miles)

underneath the mountain;

Right against the forest fence,

by Saint Agnes’ fountain.” (Saint Agnes of Bohemia)

“Bring me flesh, and bring me wine,

bring me pine logs hither:

Thou and I will see him dine,

when we bear them thither.”

Page and monarch, forth they went,

forth they went together;

Through the rude wind’s wild lament

and the bitter weather.

The Duke has compassion on a poor man gathering firewood in a blizzard. After his faithful page identifies the man, and where he lives, they decide to march to his home to bring him a proper Christmas dinner.

“Sire, the night is darker now,

and the wind blows stronger;

Fails my heart, I know not how;

I can go no longer.”

“Mark my footsteps, good my page.

Tread thou in them boldly

Thou shalt find the winter’s rage

freeze thy blood less coldly.”

In his master’s steps he trod,

where the snow lay dinted;

Heat was in the very sod

which the saint had printed.

Therefore, Christian men, be sure,

wealth or rank possessing,

Ye who now will bless the poor,

shall yourselves find blessing.

The Page, overcome by the blinding snow and freezing cold, had not the strength to go on. The Duke took the front of him to block the raging snow and plowed steps for the Page to march in. If that is not Christ-like, I do not know what would be. The miracle that is claimed, and celebrated in the song, is that the imprinted steps created by the Duke actually produced heat to warm the Paige.

After his death, Good Duke Wencelas was posthumously promoted, first to King Wenceslas then to Saint Wenceslas.