Margaret of Hungary (saint) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Margaret of Hungary O.P.
Nun and Virgin
Born	January 27, 1242 Klis Fortress, Klis, Kingdom of Croatia
Died	January 18, 1270(1270-01-18) (aged 27) Nyulak Szigete, Kingdom of Hungary
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church (Dominican Order)
Beatified	July 28, 1789, Saint Peter's Basilica, Papal States by Pope Pius VI
Canonized	November 19, 1943, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope Pius XII
Feast	January 18
Attributes	A lily and a book

Margaret of Hungary (born January 27, 1242 – died January 18, 1270) was a Dominican nun. She was the daughter of King Béla IV of Hungary and Queen Maria Laskarina. Margaret was also the younger sister of Kinga of Poland and Yolanda of Poland. Her aunt was the famous Elizabeth of Hungary.

Her Early Life

Margaret was born at Klis Fortress in the Kingdom of Croatia. She was the ninth of ten children born to the king and queen. Her parents were staying there because the Mongols had invaded Hungary (1241–1242). Her father also ruled this land.

A Royal Promise

During the Mongol invasion, Margaret's parents made a special promise. They vowed that if Hungary was freed from the Mongols, they would dedicate their new child to God. This child was Margaret.

Life as a Nun

When Margaret was just three years old, her parents sent her to a Dominican monastery in Veszprém in 1245. Six years later, she moved to a new monastery. This one was called the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin. Her parents had built it on Nyulak Szigete (Rabbit Island) near Buda. Today, this island is called Margaret Island in her honor. You can still see the ruins of the monastery there.

Margaret spent the rest of her life on this island. She dedicated herself to her religious life. Her father tried many times to arrange a political marriage for her. He wanted her to marry King Ottokar II of Bohemia. But Margaret always refused.

Her Vows and Devotion

Margaret took her final vows to become a nun when she was eighteen. She also received a special ceremony called the Consecration of Virgins. This was unusual for her order. It helped prevent her father from trying to cancel her vows so she could marry.

Many details about her life come from the Legend of Saint Margaret. This story was likely written in the 14th century. It was later translated from Latin to Hungarian. The only remaining copy of this legend is in the Margaret Codex. A Dominican nun named Lea Ráskay copied it around 1510.

According to the legend, Margaret was very strict with herself. She wore an iron girdle and hairshirts. She even wore shoes with nails in them. She also did the hardest jobs in the convent. Some believe that these very strict practices may have made her life shorter. She died on January 18, 1270.

Becoming a Saint

People began to honor Margaret as a saint very soon after she died. For example, a church dedicated to her in Bocfolde, Zala County, is mentioned in documents from 1426.

Efforts to Canonize Her

Steps were taken to make her an official saint shortly after her death. Her brother, King Stephen V, asked for this to happen. Investigations were carried out between 1270 and 1276. However, the process was not successful at that time. Even though 74 miracles were said to have happened because of her prayers, she was not canonized. Most of these miracles involved curing illnesses, and one even mentioned someone coming back from the dead. Among those who gave witness were 27 people who had experienced these miracles.

Later attempts to make her a saint in 1640 and 1770 also failed. She was finally made an official saint by Pope Pius XII on November 19, 1943. This date was already the feast day of her aunt, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.

Her Feast Day and Legacy

The Dominican Order celebrates her feast day on January 18. This is the day she died. Pope Pius VII later made it a special double feast day.

Her monastery was closed in 1782. This was part of a larger closing of all monastic orders by Emperor Joseph II. At that time, her remains were given to the Poor Clares. They were kept in Pozsony (now Bratislava) and Buda. Some of her relics were destroyed in 1789. However, some parts were saved. They are now kept in Esztergom, Győr, and Pannonhalma.

In art, Saint Margaret is usually shown wearing a Dominican nun's religious habit. She is often holding a white lily and a book.

See also

In Spanish: Margarita de Hungría para niños

• Saint Margaret of Hungary, patron saint archive
• Isten, hazánkért térdelünk