ON 18 JANUARY, THE CHURCH CELEBRATES THE MEMORY OF ST. MARGARITA, DAUGHTER OF KING BELA IV OF HUNGARY, CONSECRATED TO THE LORD AS A DOMINICAN NUN AT AGE 12
Newsroom (26/01/2025 08:58, Gaudium Press)) Margaret was a princess, the daughter of King Bela IV of Hungary and Queen Maria of Byzantine origin. She was born in the castle of Turoc in 1242 and was soon baptized, as the kings were fervent Christians. Her parents, who had consecrated her to the Lord by a vow from birth, sent her at the age of three and a half to the convent of the Dominican nuns in Vesprin.
After the King founded a monastery of the same order on an island in the Danube, Margaret was transferred there and made her profession two years later, at the age of twelve. Fervour replaced the number of years in her life and earned her the intimate communications of the Holy Spirit that are only meant for perfect souls.
She made the practice of the most complete abjection her delight. It is astonishing how far her love of penance would take her; she would lie on the floor of her room, covered only with a very rough skin, and for a pillow she had a stone.
When she saw her sisters being punished for some transgression of the rule, she would in a saintly way envy them the fortune they had in being able to practice mortification. If God made her suffer an illness, she would hide her condition with the greatest care, so as not to be forced to use the reliefs granted to the sick.
Her gentleness was admirable, and any fear that one of her sisters might have the slightest cause for discontent led her to throw herself at their feet to beg their forgiveness.
From childhood, Margaret had a tender devotion to Jesus Crucified. She constantly carried a wooden cross of the Saviour, and often put it to her lips, both by night and day. She was often heard uttering the Sacred Name of Jesus in the most affectionate way.
The abundant tears that flowed from her eyes during the celebration of the divine mysteries and at the approach of Holy Communion spoke volumes about what was at the centre of her heart.
Surrendering her life to the Lord
On the eve of the day on which she was to unite herself to Jesus Christ by receiving His adorable flesh, her only food was bread and water, and she spent the night in prayer. On the day of Communion, she fasted until evening and ate only what was necessary to sustain her body.
Her love for Jesus Christ also led her to especially honour the creature from whom He wished to be born in time; hence the joy that lit up her face when the feasts of the Mother of God were announced. She celebrated them with a piety and fervour that were very rare.
A soul as holy as Margaret’s could have no attachment to earthly things. Dead to the world and to herself, she longed only for the moment when she would be united with her Divine Spouse. Finally, her desire was fulfilled: she fell ill and died at the age of twenty-eight, on 18 January 1271. Her grave became a pilgrimage destination due to the successive graces and miracles attributed to her intercession.
Holy and Pure, Margaret is raised to the honour of the altars
A year after Margaret’s death, her brother, Stephen V, King of Hungary, sent a petition to Rome for sainthood for his sister. But this process disappeared, as did another one, which was sent in 1276. Yet, in her homeland and in other countries, Margaret was already venerated as a Saint.
After many disagreements, in 1729 a file arrived in Rome, complete and containing data on Margaret of unquestionable authenticity. In the meantime, because of the Turkish invasion, Margaret’s relics had been transferred from the convent on the Isle of Hares to Presburg in 1618.
In 1804, even without official recognition, her cult spread to the Dominican Order and the Diocese of Transylvania. In the 19th century, her feast spread to all Hungarian dioceses.
The canonization of St. Margaret of Hungary was granted by Pope Pius XII in 1943, amidst the jubilation of devotees and faithful from all over the world, especially those from the Christian community of Eastern Europe, where her veneration is very intense.[1]
With Files From: Heralds.org
[1] Father Rohrbacher. Lives of Saints, v. II, p. 230-231
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
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