The Saint of the day January 18 is Saint Margaret of Hungary, which name day is celebrated and other saints who are celebrated on this date.
Saint Margaret of Hungary
Margaret of Hungary was the daughter of King Bela IV, belonging to the Arpad dynasty and Queen Maria Lascaris, who was of Byzantine origin.
She is counted among the most relevant female figures of the first Dominican generation.
In the first decades following the death of San Domenico, not only were the preaching friars to reach the most disparate places in Europe, but also the order of the Dominican nuns had spread widely everywhere.
In 1245, Margherita, when she was only three years old, was taken to the Dominican Nuns of the convent of Santa Caterina in Veszprem, founded a few years earlier on the shores of Lake Balaton.
It was her parents who consecrated her to God with their vow, even before she came to light, in a very difficult period in the history of the nation.
In fact, the Tartars, who were a barbaric and cruel population, were proceeding to occupy the whole of Hungary, leaving only destruction and death wherever they passed.
Margaret's future parents, who were the king and queen of Hungary, were forced to flee to Dalmatia.
Having great faith in the mercy of God, they solemnly promised to give him the creature that was about to be born if the Tartars had moved away.
After a few days the barbarians miraculously moved away, making their retreat.
The royal family was thus able to return to their homeland where the birth of Margherita took place, in a family whose dynasty included many Saints and Saints among its descendants.
Recommended readings- January 26: saint of the day, name day
- January 12: saint of the day, name day
- January 4: saint of the day, name day
- January 16: saint of the day, name day
- January 27: saint of the day, name day
Little Margherita was placed in custody at the monastery of the Dominican Sisters, so that she had grown up according to a Christian education.
In that monastery many noble girls were educated, with the aim of preparing them for a life in keeping with their rank.
Everything was organized in such a way that the study, the prayers and the housework alternated with the game and the necessary rest according to the age.
Margaret immediately distinguished herself for having an exceptional soul, thirsty for God in a very profound way and capable of subjecting her tender body to mortification in order to reciprocate the love of Jesus who as Son of God had died crucified to save humanity.
She offered her whole life to the Lord, without turning her back on her hands, following a path marked by perfection and holiness.
She felt very sorry when she realized that, being a princess, she was considered as a privileged towards her companions, especially when her parents came to visit her.
She soon learned the prayers in Latin, in particular the psalms and hymns, also she dedicated herself to prayer in the hours of recreation, while her companions played, whenever it was possible to escape their company.
She wanted to wear the white dress as soon as possible to live as a religious, within the limits of what was possible at her tender age.
He took part in the choir, the night psalms and the Masses, he also indulged in long meditations.
She helped the nuns in all the work concerning the organization of the cult, as well as in the household chores necessary for life in the monastery.
In Veszprem he stayed until the age of ten, until his parents had a monastery built on the Island of Hare on the Danube River, which could welcome it together with the other nuns.
Margherita was twelve when the Hungarian Dominican Province had the honor of hosting the General Chapter of the Order in the convent of St. Nicholas in Buda and in the hands of Master General Umberto of Romans she made her religious profession.
He joyfully embraced a life oriented to poverty, obedience and chastity, he also considered himself a victim of expiation for the sins of his people and rigorously practiced the most heroic corporal penances.
When the king and queen brought precious gifts on the occasion of their visits, she asked that everything be donated to the poor and to help the churches.
Her prayer was incessant, nothing interrupted her union with God, even though she devoted herself to the most humble and exhausting manual work, such as transporting water in heavy buckets, carrying wood and lighting a fire, going down to the cellar, waiting to the kitchen, sweep and wash.
When he received Holy Communion from the eve he fasted, maintaining a rigorous silence
Margherita died at the age of twenty-eight, exhausted by penances and labors, it was January 18, 1270.
After death his body immediately gave off a very sweet perfume, it became luminous and pervaded by a celestial beauty.
She was buried in the convent of the island in front of the altar of the Blessed Virgin and many miraculous events soon took place invoking her protection.
Other saints and celebrations on January 18
- Blessed Andrea Grego from Peschiera
- Blessed Beatrice II d'Este
- Saints Cosconio, Zenone and Melanippo
- Blessed Cristina (Mattia) Ciccarelli from L'Aquila
- San Deicolo
- Blessed Facio (Fazio) of Cremona
- Beate Felicita Pricet, Monica Pichery, Carla Lucas and Vittoria Gusteau
- Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce
- Santa Prisca
- Blessed Regina Protmann
- Saints Success, Paul and Lucius
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