The Standard December 27, 2025
The lyrics of a carol written by John Mason Neale in 1853 were set to a beautiful 13th century tune to commemorate the Feast of Saint Stephen, or Boxing Day. A tradition took hold in Victorian England that on December 26, Boxing Day, wealthy people would box up extra food and items and give them to the less fortunate. Servants would receive special treats from their employers. This well-known Christmas carol captures the spirit of sharing, even at the cost of great discomfort.
“Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen, when the snow lay round about deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel when a poor man came in sight gathering winter fuel.” The King finds out from his page where the peasant lives.
“Bring me flesh and bring me wine; Bring me pine logs hither. Thou and I shall see him dine when we bear them thither. Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together through the rude winds wild lament and the bitter weather.”
Through the harsh snowy conditions, King Wenceslas and the page make it to the modest dwelling of the peasant and leave provisions. Neale pens an appropriate conclusion. “Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing, Ye, who now will bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing.”
This carol pays tribute to Wenceslaus I, the Duke of Bohemia, who was posthumously given the title of King and who is the patron saint of the Czech Republic. Wenceslaus indeed was known for his many acts of charity.
As Jesus lays out in the parable of the sheep and the goats, God expects the lives of followers to be characterized by such compassion. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25: 34-40)
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