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| Saint Adalbert, Pray for us ! |
βͺ Other Names :
β’ Adalbert of Praha β’ Apostle of Bohemia β’ Apostle of the Prussians β’ Apostle of the Slavs β’ Adalberto, Adelbert, Adalbert, Voitech, Voytech, Voytiekh
βͺ Born :
β’ c.957 in Libice nad Cidlinou, Bohemia (part of modern Czech Republic) as Voytech
βͺ Died :
β’ Struck in the head on 23 April 997 in Pomerania near Danzig (in modern Poland) β’ Relics forcibly taken to Prague in 1039
βͺ Patronage :
β’ Bohemia β’ Czech Republic β’ Poland β’ Archdiocese of Prague, Czech Republic β’ Prussia
βͺ Symbols :
β’ Holding a two-headed cross, two lances, and a club β’ Holding a lance with a club at the lower end β’ Pierced by three lances and beheaded β’ Baptizing Saint Stephen of Hungary β’ Chains at his feet β’ Angels carrying him to heaven β’ Stabbed with a lance
Opposition to the Good News of Jesus did not discourage Adalbert, who is now remembered with great honor in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Germany.
Born to a noble family in Bohemia, he received part of his education from St. Adalbert of Magdeburg. At the age of 27 he was chosen as bishop of Prague. Those who resisted his program of clerical reform forced him into exile eight years later.
In time, the people of Prague requested his return as their bishop. Within a short time, however, he was exiled again after excommunicating those who violated the right of sanctuary by dragging a woman accused of adultery from a church and murdering her.
After a short ministry in Hungary, he went to preach the Good News to people living near the Baltic Sea. He and two companions were martyred by pagan priests in that region. Adalbert's body was immediately ransomed and buried in Gniezno cathedral (Poland). In the mid-11th century his relics were moved to St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.
Comment:
Preaching the Good News can be dangerous work whether the audience is already baptized or not. Adalbert fearlessly preached Jesus' gospel and received a martyr's crown for his efforts. Similar zeal has created modern martyrs in many places, especially in Central and South America. Some of those martyrs grew up in areas once evangelized by Adalbert.
βͺ Prayer :
βGod our Father, you have honored the Church with the victorious witness of St. Adalbert, who died for his faith. As he imitated the suffering and death of the Lord, may we follow in his footsteps and come to eternal joyβ (adapted from the Common of a Martyr in the Easter season).
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