Merry Christmas! I'm recording this episode in December 2023 and Christmas is fast approaching. So, in honor of this festive season, today's episode will focus on the history and stories surrounding two men that have become part of our Christmas traditions in the West. One, Boniface, is most famous as the bringer of the Christmas tree. The other, Wenceslaus, for his noble act of kindness.

RESOURCES

BONIFACE SOURCES

Franciscan Media: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-boniface/

Fordham University: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/willibald-boniface.asp

Christianity Today: https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/martyrs/boniface.html

Christianapostles.com: https://christianapostles.com/st-boniface/

Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/st-boniface-and-the-christmas-tree

WENCESLAUS SOURCES

Franciscan Media: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-wenceslaus/

Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wenceslas-I-prince-of-Bohemia

St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church: https://stwenc-ic.com/about-us/history-of-the-saint/3-history-of-st-wenceslaus

St. Wenceslaus Parish: http://www.stwenc.org/St_Wenceslaus/St-wencelsaus-story.html

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQVUMG6LZGM