Six miles from, and 1,000 feet above, my home, there is a monastery of cloistered nuns. In the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph reside 26 canonesses of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also know as the Premonstratensians, but more commonly and informally called "Norbertines," since the order was founded by St. Norbert. This monastery had it's beginnings under St. Michael's Abbey, a community of Norbertine men in California that began with a group of seven priests from the Abbey of St. Michael in Csorna, Hungary. These men had fled from Hungary to escape Communist oppression and the suppression of their religious community.
That there were religious houses in Hungary can be attributed to today's saint -- St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary. Most Hungarians are descended from Magyars, a barbarian tribe that rode out of the steppes of Asia into Eastern Europe in the 9th century. "The Magyars were highly skilled horsemen and fierce warriors. They took control of the Danube plain and raided all the way into the northern fields of Italy. For over 50 years the Germans and Italians suffered from surprise attacks by these wild horsemen. They resisted all attempts at evangelization and remained pagans. They settled in the Hungarian plan along the Danube and cut off travel and trade on the river for 100 years." (Light to the Nations I, pg 222)
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| The Arrival of the Hungarians |
Eventually, Duke Geza, chief of the Magyars and the sole ruler of Hungary, saw the political necessity of Christianity. Hungary was a pagan country surrounded by Catholic countries. Continuing to shut out Christianity was a threat to Hungary's security, and so Geza formed an alliance with the Christian nation of Poland by marrying Adelaide, sister of the Duke of Poland. Under Adelaide's influence, Geza converted and was baptized by St. Adalbert of Prague. Many followed their chieftain's example, but as usual some of the conversions were nominal with many converts still privately worshiping their old gods and practicing pagan customs. However, despite the insincerity of many, the Faith did spread among the Magyar people.
One person whose conversion was sincere was Geza's son, Vaik -- baptised Istvan (Stephen). He was ten at the time, and his mother took great care that he not adopt pagan habits but fully assimilate the Christian faith. In 995, when he was 20, he married Gisela, sister of Henry, Duke of Bavaria (later known as Emperor St. Henry II), and two years later he succeeded Geza as ruler of Hungary. In his zeal to root out pagan superstition and idolatry, Stephen's conversions were often made at the point of a sword. However, through his wife's family ties, many priests and religious came from Germany to peacefully preach, instruct and water the seed of faith. On their heels and Stephen's patronage, monasteries and schools were established throughout Hungary. |
| Holy Crown of Hungary or St. Stephen's Crown |
Now the growing Church needed ecclesiastical organization in Stephen's realm. In order to accomplish this with more authority, Stephen petitioned Pope Sylvester II to confer upon him the title of king. The Pope granted his request and sent him a royal crown with which he was crowned the first kind of Hungary in 1001. ("St. Stephen's Crown" has been used to crown every King of Hungary since and is a national treasure of the Hungarian people.) The Pope also confirmed Stephen's plans for regulating and organizing the Church in Hungary.
Stephen, as befitted his Magyar blood, was a strong leader and not hesitant to go to battle to quell rebellion and protect the welfare of his people. However, he was also merciful and just:
He was of easy access to people of all ranks, and listened to everyone's complaints without distinction of preference, but was most willing to hear the poor, knowing them to be more easily oppressed and considering that in them we honor Christ who, being no longer among men on earth in His mortal state, has recommended to us the poor in His place and right. The good King provided for their subsistence throughout his kingdom, and took them, especially helpless orphans and widows, under his special protection. Not content with his general charities and care for the indigent, he frequently went about privately to discover the necessities of any that might be overlooked by his officers. (Butler's Lives of the Saints)Stephen prepared his only son Emeric to take over the reigns of government as a pious Christian king:
...dearest son, even now in our kingdom the Church is proclaimed as young and newly planted, and for that reason she needs more prudent and trustworthy guardians lest a benefit which the divine mercy bestowed on us undeservedly should be destroyed and annihilated through your idleness, indolence or neglect.
Beloved son, delight of my heart, hope of your posterity, I pray, I command, that at every time and in everything, strengthened by your devotion to me, you may show favor not only to relations and kin, or to the more eminent, be they leaders or rich men or neighbors or fellow countrymen, but also to foreigners and to all who come to you... Be merciful to all who are suffering violence, keeping always in your heart the example of the Lord who said: I desire mercy not sacrifice. Be patient with everyone, not only with the powerful, but also with the weak.
| St. Stephen' s right hand |
Unfortunately, in the autumn of 1031 Emeric was killed while hunting boar. In grief, heirless, and suffering physical illness, Stephen's last years were embittered with family disputes about who would succeed him to the throne. Some of these disputes ripened into cloak and dagger plots and assassination attempts. St. Stephen died at the age of 63 on the feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1038, and was buried beside his son at Stuhlweissenburg. His right hand remains incorrupt and is treasured at the Basilica of St. Stephen in Budapest as the most sacred relic of Hungary.
Additional Reading:
For a taste of Hungarian life and culture, read these books by Kate Seredy:
The Good Master
The Singing Tree
The White Stag
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