[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 130 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1805-E1806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF ST. WENCESLAUS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 25, 1998

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the annual 
celebration of the Feast of St. Wenceslaus which will be celebrated at 
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish on September 27, 1998.
  St. Wenceslaus is the patron saint of Bohemia. He was born near 
Prague in 903. His father was the Duke of Bohemia as Wenceslaus was 
growing up, his grandmother, also a saint, taught him the values of 
Christianity. In the year 922, when an anti-Christian faction killed 
Wenceslaus' father and took over the government, Wenceslaus staged a 
coup and was

[[Page E1806]]

named the new ruler. During his reign, Wenceslaus attempted to reduce 
the oppression of the peasants by the nobility and promoted 
Christinity.
  His younger brother, Boleslaus joined a group of dissenters after he 
lost succession to the throne as a result of the birth of Wenceslaus' 
son. Boleslaus invited his brother to a religious festival, and while 
Wenceslaus was on his way to mass on the morning of September 28, 929, 
Boleslaus and a group of followers ambushed him. Wenceslaus' last words 
were, ``My God forgive you, brother.'' Wenceslaus was immediately 
venerated as a martyr, and was celebrated as the nation's parton saint 
by the end of the century.
  Today. St. Wenceslaus is remembered for his concern for the poor in a 
popular Christmas carol, where he leaves his castle with a page during 
a winter storm to deliver food and wood to a peasant. As the storm 
worsens, the page follows in Wenceslaus' footsteps which miraculously 
warm his freezing feet. By following the path of righteousness the two 
were led out of their respective storms. Wenceslaus was led into 
sainthood, and the page was led out of the storm. The parishioners of 
Our Lady of Lourdes also try to follow the path of righteousness and 
St. Wenceslaus' example. They are celebrating his feast day this 
weekend with a mass and a traditional Czech meal.

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