The wind whipped, blowing the snow into deep drifts.  Wenceslas, wrapped in his warm furs, stared off into the distance.  The shadow of a man moved across the edge of the woods. The figure moved into the light from the moon and then faded into the dark of the trees. The man was unfamiliar to him, which caused him to be alert.

“Page” he called to the young man who worked for him.  “Do you know who that is moving about?”  He worried an enemy might be scouting the defenses looking for a weak spot.

“Yes, sire” The page pointed in a direction far past the woods. “He lives a great distance away.”  The boy of no more than sixteen looked down and continued. “He has so little, he came this far just looking for wood to burn.”

Wenceslas watched as the man disappeared from sight. The Duke’s mind jumping from thought to thought.  Today, the church celebrated the Feast of Stephen.  Stephen, the man whom the apostles trusted to care for those in need, died a martyr’s death.  And today was his day.

Wenceslas sighed; this man lived on his lands and under his care.  What would God say if he let this man go hungry or cold?  No, not on his watch!

“Lets gather meat and wine and anything else you think they will need.  Hurry”

They rushed about gathering everything they thought the family could use.  With a bundle tied to each of their backs and their hands full, the two men ventured out into the cold.

The man’s home stood two or three miles away and the snow rather than slowing seemed to be falling harder.  Wenceslas blinked and pushed ahead in the direction his page had pointed.  The page said he lived near the edge of the mountain.  The Duke used the glimpses of Mountain he could see as a point of reference everything else seemed hidden beneath a blanket of white.  Holding to the edge of the woods he focused on his destination and prayed for God to protect them as they walked.

The wind tore at their skin and the cold bit deep.  Then, the full light of the moon slipped behind the grey clouds leaving a dark wall ahead of them.  The little they had been able to see disappeared from sight.

The page cried out “Duke Wenceslas, please Sire, I cannot bare this cold.  Maybe we should turn back”

Wenceslas heard the tremble in the young man’s voice.
“Just look down”

The Page thought the response strange? “Sire?”

“Move close and step in my steps.  Stay near me and only step where I have stepped and you will be warmer”

The page, which had fallen behind, hurried to catch up and then did as commanded.  He watched his master’s feet stepping where he stepped.  He felt warmer almost immediately.  They trudged forward until Wenceslas saw the home.

The Duke banged on the door.

The father cried out. “Coming”.   A minute later,  he slid open the door a crack to see who was out in this weather.  He flung it open wide and bowed at the sight of the Duke.

Wenceslas dropped the burden in his hands onto the father’s open arms.  “May we come in?  We have brought dinner and hoped to celebrate with you.”

The man’s family at first shyly and then with full laughter took the food and wine to set the table for a grand feast.  The mother’s heart filled with gratitude as she saw enough food to last until the snows faded away.

Happy Saint Stephen’s Day

King Wenceslas died a martyr’s death.  His brother feared the Christian Duke  would spend all the inheritance helping others.  His brother had him killed.  He received the title of King after his death in honor of the Christian Love he showed for others.