Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/92

IV., the center of European culture.

It was due to his consummate statesmanship that he was able to maintain peace with long established empires and become an influential personage at their courts. He was one of the seven electors of the German Emperor.

His austere and saintly life coupled with a successful management of government was looked upon with disfavor by a hostile feudal faction. They objected to his wise policies and noble life from purely selfish motives and together with his brother Boleslaus began to conspire against his life. The murderous deed was carried out on the occasion of Wenceslaus’ visit to his brother. On the morning of the fatal day, the 28th of September, 929, while Wenceslaus was on his way to church, he was treacherously attacked by the conspirators, who were lead by the fratricidal brother. As St. Wenceslaus received the death blow, he turned to his brother and said “God forgive you, brother”.

After the death of St. Wenceslaus, Boleslaus ascended the throne, ever mindful of this ignominious deed. Some time after he repented, and had the body of his saintly brother brought to Prague to be buried in the Cathedral of St. Vitus.

The Saint was mourned by the entire nation, particularly by the widows, orphans and the poor, whom he had aided very frequently. From the moment of his death and through the succeeding generations he was acclaimed a saint and patron of the Czech people everywhere.

The people have perpetuated his name in many ways. They often sang a hymn called “Sv. Václave, vévodo české země” (St. Wenceslaus, King of the Czechs) particularly when they marched in battle array to meet their national foes. Cathedrals and churches were erected and dedicated to his honor. The trade guilds and various societies chose him for their patron. The coin of the country bore his image. The famous university of Prague, founded in the year 1348, placed his image on its official seal. Children at baptism were given his name. Palacky, a great Czech historian, appropriately remarked, that whatever was dearest to the Czechs, namely, their faith, their language, their crown, their places of assemblage were named in honor of this great saint and ruler.

In America, too, has St. Wenceslaus received the homage due to him. Over two hundred churches and schools have bene dedicated to his memory. Many of you recall the historic anabasis of the Czechoslovak Legions over Russia and the Siberian wastes, where they were opposed at every step by the Bolshevik forces, and even there it was behind the banner of St. Wenceslaus that the Czechoslovaks made their way to the Pacific Ocean and finally back home to their fatherland.

Today St. Wenceslaus stands out as a figure of unique historic significance, the beacon light of