Good King Wenceslaus Looked Out

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • St. Josaphat Formation Center, Phoenix, AZ

For some reason the tune of ‘Good King Wenceslaus’ kept coming to mind recently, and I looked up all the lyrics of its five verses. While it would not normally be my choice for a Christmas carol during Christmas Mass, it seems very appropriate for a Christmas reflection this year because of its timely message.

On a freezing cold December 26th – Feast of St. Stephen, good King Wenceslaus with his reluctant page pursues a poor man the king saw collecting “winter fuel.” Christmas comes this year while many of our friends, countrymen and brothers and sisters around the world have to celebrate the festivities amidst repair and recovery from devastating storms and other calamities these past months with so many having lost most of their worldly possessions thus feeling the pinch of poverty, want and need like the poor peasant of King Wenceslaus’ wintry realm.

Burdened with meat, wine and pine logs in the face of “cruelly frozen bitter weather,” the page is daunted and fears he will not be able to continue: “Sire, the night is darker now and the wind blows stronger, fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer.” We are burdened this year with so many desperate cries for help from Texas, Florida, California, Puerto Rico and beyond that we may wonder, if our heart is sincerely generous and willing to help, how we can continue this path of generosity?

“Mark my footsteps, my good page, tread thou in them boldly. Thou shalt find the winter’s rage freeze thy blood less coldly.” There is no specific reference to the Nativity of Christ in this traditional carol, but the allusion to the Savior is unmistakable: “For in his Master’s steps he trod where the snow lay dinted.”

The Spirit of Christmas joy and peace that we all long for in the Yuletide season is best found in the imitation of the Good King’s concern for those who need help and can’t help themselves. Our Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief efforts especially come to mind for an island of dear friends, Miles Jesu members and benefactors that has been totally decimated. Yet, “Heat was in the very sod which the Saint had printed.” ‘Well done good and faithful servant, come and share your Master’s joy!’ “Therefore, Christian men, be sure… ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.”

A very Merry Christmas to all our readers, friends and benefactors! Thank you for all your generous support for our causes and missions in 2017! May the Joy and Peace of Christ and His Mother warm your hearts and fill your lives!