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His life
He was born in a Czech noble family in Bohemia. His name was Vojtěch.
He was a well educated person. He studied for ten years (970-980) in Magdeburg under St Adalbert, the Archbishop of the city. When Adalbert died, Vojtěch took on the name Adalbert Vojtěch. He is usually called Adalbert of Prague.
In 980 Adalbert Vojtěch finished his studies at Magdeburg school and returned to Prague where he became a priest.
Gifted and industrious, Adalbert Vojtěch soon became well-known all over Europe.
In 982 Adalbert became the Bishop of Prague. Although Adalbert descended from a rich family and could afford comfort and luxury, he lived poorly of his own free will. He was noted for charity, austerity, and zealous service to the Church. His duty was difficult even in baptized Bohemia, as the pagan creed was deeply embedded in the peoples’ minds. Adalbert complained of polygamy and idolatry, which still were not unusual among the Czechs.
His efforts to reform the clergy added to his difficulties and aroused more enmity from many influential people. He had to flee Prague and went to Rome, where Pope John XV released him from all Episcopal obligations. He withdrew to St. Alexis Benedictine monastery, where he lived as a hermit and occupied himself in the most humble duties of the house.
Four years later, in 993, the Pope, under strong request from the people, sent Adalbert back to Prague. The people received him with great demonstrations of joy. Adalbert became the Bishop of Prague again. He founded a monastery, near Prague, the first one for men in the Czech lands.
Unfortunately, he was caught in a fierce rivalry between Bohemian rival princes. His family was attacked. Four of Adalbert’s brothers were murdered. He had to flee again and returned to Rome.
In those years, the people of Hungary were just then turning towards Christianity. Adalbert was sent to Hungary as a missionary, and probably baptized King Geysa and his family, and King Stephen. He afterwards evangelized the Poles, and was made Archbishop of Gnesen. But he again relinquished his see, and set out to preach in Prussia. Success attended his efforts at first, but his strong manner in commanding them to abandon paganism irritated some Russians, and at the instigation of one of the pagan priests he was killed. This was in the year 997. His feast is celebrated 23 April, and he is called the Apostle of Prussia. Boleslas I, Prince of Poland, is said to have ransomed his body for an equivalent weight of gold.
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