{"id":3012,"date":"2026-01-16T12:25:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T11:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bodimariamagdolna.hu\/?p=3012"},"modified":"2026-01-16T11:07:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T10:07:47","slug":"the-beatification-cause-began-fifteen-years-ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bodimariamagdolna.hu\/en\/the-beatification-cause-began-fifteen-years-ago\/","title":{"rendered":"The Beatification Cause Began Fifteen Years Ago"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fifteen years ago, on January 18, 2011, on the feast of Saint Margaret of Hungary, the then Archbishop of Veszpr\u00e9m, Gyula M\u00e1rfi<\/strong>, reopened the cause for the beatification and canonization of B\u00f3di M\u00e1ria Magdolna<\/strong>, who at that time still bore the title Servant of God<\/em>. In a pastoral decree addressed to the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese of Veszpr\u00e9m, the Archbishop made it known that the regular and valid canonical procedure was beginning, and that the first public session of the duly appointed tribunal would take place in 2011, on March 23\u2014the date associated with the news of Magdi\u2019s martyrdom.<\/p>\n

His predecessor, Venerable J\u00f3zsef Mindszenty<\/strong>, as Bishop of Veszpr\u00e9m, had already initiated the cause in 1945, after learning of the circumstances of Magdi\u2019s death, which pointed clearly to a true martyrdom. Bishop Mindszenty regarded Veszpr\u00e9m as a city of saints<\/em>, from which the virtues of the saints of the \u00c1rp\u00e1d dynasty radiate toward the four corners of the world. For his episcopal coat of arms he chose the image of Saint Margaret of Hungary<\/strong> holding a missal adorned with lilies\u2014an image he later retained in his archiepiscopal and cardinalatial coats of arms as well\u2014since he came into contact with his diocese at the time of Margaret\u2019s canonization, and because her person evokes all the Hungarian saints, Veszpr\u00e9m\u2019s holy past, and Holy Pannonia<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Bishop Mindszenty presented Saint Margaret to the faithful as the Hungarian model of a life offered in atonement. On August 20, 1944, in P\u00e1pa, following a penitential procession\u2014at the head of which the diocesan bishop himself carried the cross of atonement\u2014he declared:
\u201cAs the greatest corruption of humanity is sin, so the only path to restoring the so often proclaimed and longed-for human dignity is atonement.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the final week of August 1944, a penitential week was held in Veszpr\u00e9m. Its closing took place on Sunday, September 2, 1944, before the statue of the Holy Trinity, where the bishop delivered a powerful and moving homily:<\/p>\n

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\u201cThroughout this week you have come here to join the ranks of the penitents for the good of your own souls and of our beloved homeland. Now you have come here to gaze upon the face of the great penitent of our ancient history, Saint Margaret of the \u00c1rp\u00e1d dynasty. As we now seek our guiding star, let us look to the ornament of our city: Saint Margaret. \u2026 We people of Veszpr\u00e9m also look to her and ask with Saint Augustine: If they were able to do it, why should we not be able to follow her as well? \u2026
For us penitent Hungarians, Saint Margaret is redemption and promise through atonement. Dear faithful of Veszpr\u00e9m, the path lies before us! Be followers of Saint Margaret in atonement, and then you will be the saviors of the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Archbishop Gyula M\u00e1rfi, P\u00e9ter Szak\u00e1cs<\/strong>, archiepiscopal delegate of the canonization process, and Gergely Kov\u00e1cs<\/strong>, certified postulator and archiepiscopal expert of the cause, jointly and deliberately chose the date for restarting the process and issuing the decree. The year 2011 was also a jubilee year, marking the 90th anniversary of Blessed B\u00f3di M\u00e1ria Magdolna\u2019s birth and the 70th anniversary of her vow of virginity. The date of the pastoral decree proclaimed on January 18, the feast of Saint Margaret of Hungary, thus alludes both to Saint Margaret\u2014who lived her life within the territory of the Diocese of Veszpr\u00e9m\u2014and to the Venerable Servant of God<\/em> J\u00f3zsef Mindszenty, who chose Saint Margaret for his coat of arms and who initiated the canonization cause of Blessed B\u00f3di M\u00e1ria Magdolna.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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