Page 9 - 12 Days of Christmas (2020)

The Story Behind the Carol Bible Verse:

Matthew 25: 34-40

Good King Wenceslas (AD 907-935) actually was a
duke of Bohemia. He is most known for his act of
kindness that is revealed in this carol. John Mason Neale
“Then the king will say to those at his
(1818-1866) was an Anglican priest and also a prolific
right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed
hymn writer. Neale turned the story of King Wenceslas,
by my Father, inherit the kingdom
who was canonized, into a poet and used a Finnish folk
prepared for you from the foundation
song, Tempus adest floridum. This carol was criticized as
of the world; for I was hungry and you
“an unnatural marriage between Victorian whimsy (text)
gave me food, I was thirsty and you
and the thirteenth-century (tune).” Using “Saint
gave me something to drink, I was a
Wenceslas” as the theme and using a secular tune
stranger and you welcomed me,I was
created quite a “scandal” among his colleagues, Anglican
naked and you gave me clothing, I was
priests, who opposed Catholicism. Neal’s intention was
sick and you took care of me, I was in
not to write to celebrate Christmas Day, but to teach us
prison and you visited me.’ Then the
to live, to serve like Christ, to share Christmas joy and
righteous will answer him, ‘Lord,
wealth in our daily lives. (See the latter part of Stanza 5)
when was it that we saw you hungry
and gave you food, or thirsty and gave
you something to drink? And when
was it that we saw you a stranger and
welcomed you, or naked and gave you
clothing? And when was it that we saw
you sick or in prison and visited you?’
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly
I tell you, just as you did it to one of
the least of these who are members of
my family, you did it to me.’ “

Text: John Mason Neal
Tune: TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM (Finnish folk song)
arr. Boyd Bacon
Performed by the The Ruch Family Vocal Trio:
Miles-King, Hannah-Page, Sarah-Narrator