FEAST DAY: APRIL 23
Christened Wojciech in Bohemia, in today’s Czech Republic, he took the name of his teacher, St. Adalbert of Magdeburg. He became the bishop of Prague while still in his 20s, but because of pastoral and political difficulties there retired to a Benedictine abbey in Rome in 990.
The pope sent him back to Prague, where he founded an abbey at Brzevnov, but local troubles again prompted his return to Rome. Eventually he was allowed to evangelize the Prussians of Pomerania, but he faced opposition there, too. He and his fellow missionaries persevered and were martyred.
Image: CNS