<p>St. Wenceslaus was the son of Vratislaus I, Duke of Bohemia.&nbsp; His father was raised as a Christian, and his grandfather was converted by Saints Cyril and Methodius.&nbsp; His mother was baptized when she married his father.&nbsp;</p> <p>In the year 921 when Wenseslaus was thirteen, his father died.&nbsp; His grandmother, St. Ludmila brought him up and raised him as a Christian.&nbsp; After a dispute between the Christian regent and her daughter-in-law, Ludmila sought sancuary at Tetin Castle near Beroun.&nbsp; St. Wenceslaus&rsquo;s mother was furious about losing influence over her son, and arranged to have Ludmila strangled to death.&nbsp; Legend has it that his mother, once she regained control of him set out to convert him to the pagan religion.&nbsp;</p> <p>Wenceslaus is usually described as exceptionally pious and humble, and a very educated and intelligent young man for his time.&nbsp; In 924, at the age of 18, he assumed the throne.&nbsp; Once he was in power, he had his his mother exiled, for her constant fighting with him about being Christian.&nbsp; He also defeated a rebellious Duke at this young age.&nbsp; He also founded a Rotunda consecrated to St. Vitus at Prague Castle in Prague.&nbsp; This still remains, as the present day St. Vitus Cathedral.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>In 935 a group of nobles that were teamed up with Wenceslaus&rsquo; younger brother Boleslav, plotted to kill the Prince.&nbsp; After Boleslav invited Wenceslaus to the feast of Saints Cosmos and Damian, three of Boleslav&rsquo;s companions murdered Wenceslaus on his way to church.&nbsp; Boleslav then became the Duke of Bohemia.&nbsp;</p> <h1><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Pracitcal Take Away</strong></span></h1> <p>St. Wenceslaus was a very gifted young man and was faced with a lot of suffering at a young age.&nbsp; His would become the heir to the Throne at an early age as well.&nbsp; His father passed when he was 13, and he was raised by his grandmother.&nbsp; She was a devout Christian, and went on to be canonized, St. Ludmila.&nbsp; His mother who was of a pagan religion had her killed, and took her son back, trying to get him back into the pagan religion.&nbsp; Finaly at the age of 18, he assumed the Throne and shortly after his brother and a gang of nobles conspired to have him killed.&nbsp; He died a martyr at the age of 28, after a lot of responsibility was placed on him.&nbsp; His life shows us that through it all, he kept the faith, remained true to God.&nbsp; Despite all the things that were going on around him, that were out of his control, he never took his eyes off of Jesus.&nbsp; This merited for him, canonization.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>