January 18 SAINT MARGARET OF HUNGARY, Virgin

 

 

The daughter of Bela IV, king of the Hungarians, and Maria Lascaris, daughter of the emperor of Constantinople, Margaret was offered to God by her parents on behalf of the freedom of her country before she was born (1242). Before she reached the age of four, she was given to the nuns of the Order of Preachers at Vezprim. When she reached the age of twelve, at Buda in a new monastery that the king had built for her, she made her religious profession into the hands of Master Humbert of Romans. She advanced with extraordinary swiftness and totally joined herself to Christ crucified.

 

Distinguishing herself for monastic practices and works of mercy, Margaret had a zeal for bringing about peace and an indomitable strength for denouncing injustices, and a great sweetness toward her sisters, for whom she always desired to stand out in service, Burning with a wonderful love for the Eucharistic Mystery and the passion of the Redeemer, she shone forth with devotion for the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin Mary. She dedicated her life as a victim in propitiation for the liberation of her people from the invasions of the Tartars. She died on January 18, 1270, and was canonized by Pope Pius XII on November 19, 1943. Her tomb disappeared in the 17th century.

 

From the Letter of Canonization of Saint Margaret by Pope Pius XII

 

Being consecrated to the Spouse of Virgins, she readily desired to be joined to the King of martyrs

 Margaret was born into the royal Hungarian dynasty of the Arpads, which during the thirteenth century produced four women famous for holiness of their lives: Saint Elizabeth, Blessed Agnes of Prague,  cousin, and the daughters of King Bela IV, Cunegunda and Iolanta,  cult was confirmed by the Apostolic See.

 

She was born of pious parents, King Bela IV of Hungary, and Queen Maria Lascaris. Her parents had vowed that, if their child was a girl, they would consecrate her on behalf of the liberation and safety of the kingdom. Their prayers and wishes were heard. Her good mother, mindful of promise and its benefits, brought Margaret (before she had reached the age of four) to the monastery of nuns of the Order of Saint Dominic at  to be trained in regular observance from her youth, so that she might serve God more readily.

 

Quickly forgetting her royal origins, and becoming a devoted follower of the Cross, Margaret acquired such a docile and obedient spirit that nuns attended her with most tender affection. She cultivated an angelic devotion, far beyond her years, to Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mother of God. She exhibited a natural character and sincerity of spirit.

 

For that reason, her father the king, to obtain securely and effectively divine aid for himself and his kingdom, built a monastery on an island in the Danube River to the honor of the most Blessed Virgin Mary. Here he took care to bring not only holy and consecrated virgins, but even his daughter Margaret, "whom he embraced with affection more delicate for any of his other children, because of her resolve even in the early stage of her life to be holy and pleasing to God in her way of life."

 

After she had refused marriage to a certain prince of Poland, she made solemn vows at the age of twelve in the presence of the venerable Master of the Order, Humbert. Although she was sought after earnestly by the king of Bohemia, she nevertheless desired to present herself espoused again to Christ, and to preserve intact, with all her strength, the fidelity that she had given to her Divine Spouse, although she had other opportunities for taking proposals from dedicated and persistent suitors. She eagerly asked to receive the sacred veil, which she received from the archbishop of Esztergom with great joy.

Consecrated to the Spouse of Virgins, she readily desired to be joined to the King of martyrs, by contempt of' herself' and the world and by despising the flesh. Always dressed in the most ragged clothing and desiring the lowest duties, she had to sweep the house, to clean laundry and to prepare food.  She took delight even when she was weighed down the heaviest duties. She waited upon ill sisters and servants, to whose diseases other sisters feared exposure, with such charity and desire for abasement. She asked that the care of all the most seriously ill a be given to her alone.

 

She recalled the mysteries of the Passion with singular devotion, a with the flame of martyrdom. She poured out her heart before Christ, hidden in the Eucharistic veil, or depicted on the Cross. She used to pray always, seemingly without interruption, often adding to the psalter prayers to God the Father or to the Holy Spirit, or sweetest salutations Mother of God, to the praise of God that had been prescribed.

 

To soften the anger of Almighty God and obtain divine clemency for her people "she would shed copious tears and afflict her body with fast in sack cloth, as if mourning the sins of all of those who were doing evil God, and as if lamenting the adversities of those who are oppressed. She interceded for all people with her prayers before God, so that right hand of his power, our Lord Jesus Christ would defend the holy mother Church, gathered together by the shedding of his  most precious Blood."

 

Furthermore, Margaret did not limit her activity only to unceasing prayer to God and the harshest penances, but, inflamed by apostolic zeal and strengthened by heroic fortitude, she did not hesitate to rebuke evil openly, no matter by whom it was done, no matter how high the authority or dignity received.

 

Margret refused proposals of marriage three times, responding freely to place her virginity at the service of her Lord Jesus Christ. The Divine Spouse, always faithful and most generous, made a sweet dwelling in the heart of his servant. At length he gathered her to his to his richest and most exalted rewards, making her a companion of his suffering, and the consort of his consolation and power, after her death well as in her life.