Saint Ludmila of Bohemia

Saint Ludmila of Bohemia was born around 860 in Mělník, the daughter of the Sorbian prince Slavibor. In 873 she married Bořivoj I, the first Christian Duke of Bohemia, and together they embraced the faith through the preaching of Saint Methodius. Their desire to bring Christ to their people met fierce resistance; for a time they were driven from their land by pagan opposition, yet they returned and continued to rule with steadfast devotion before retiring to Tetín. Ludmila became the mother of a princely line and, most tenderly, the grandmother and early teacher of Saint Wenceslaus. After her son Vratislav died, Ludmila’s guiding influence over young Wenceslaus stirred jealousy in his mother, Drahomíra. In 921, Ludmila was murdered at Tetín—tradition says she was strangled with her veil—thus sealing her witness as a martyr. Soon honored as a saint, her relics were translated to St. George’s Basilica in Prague. She is venerated as a patroness of Bohemia and especially of widows. Her feast day is September 16.