Honoring the Great Lady Virgin Mary of Hungary on Assumption Day

Assumption Day is one of the major Christian feast days celebrated in the year of August, 15. It is commemorated in the Catholic Church- as the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary that we assume she was taken body and soul into Heaven when she completed her life on earth. Whereas Assumption Day will be celebrated on a global scale, its history and traditions, however, are eternal as they are deeply embedded both in religious piety and national histories.

It is a public holiday in most of the countries that have majorities of Catholics such as France, Italy, Austria, and Belgium. In France, processions, Mass and community celebration accompany Assumption Day, which is one of the highest Marian feasts in the liturgical calendar. Though not recognized as a working day in Hungary, the day has a special meaning in Hungarian history as well as spiritual life.

What is Assumption Day?

Assumption Day refers to the commemoration of when Virgin Mary ascended into Heaven. The term is used in Catholic teaching to imply that she is pure, that she is the Mother of God and that she stands on a level above other saints. It is a day of obligation which is accorded as being a holy day, as it is on this day Catholics are supposed to attend Mass unless they have a serious excuse.

The early roots of the celebration can be traced back to the earlier centuries of the Church however Pope Pius XII made it one of the official dogmas in 1950. The doctrine states that the Assumption of Mary is a unique gift ordained to Mary by God and it points at the close relationship that Mary had in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Assumption Day in Hungary

In Hungary, the Virgin Mary is known as Boldogasszony or Nagyboldogasszony, meaning “The Great Blessed Lady.” This title describes the fact that she is the patron saint of the Hungarian nation. Hungary has a long history of strong Marian devotion going back at least to St Stephen I (9971038), the first king of Hungary and founder of the Christian state.

Tradition says that St Stephen devoted Hungary to the Virgin Mary at the end of his life, committing the country into her hands. The relevance Assumption Day experienced until today is not only due to the formerly mentioned religious significance but due to the fact that this day is more of a festival celebrating faith, history, and national identity. In Hungary, it is a reminder of having such a long Marian heritage and having a lasting faith in the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Uniting people all over the globe in mutual piety, it unites generations and cultures.

Before Assumption Day, the message remains the same as it was the first time it was performed: to celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary, meditate about the message  of resurrection and the traditions that conserve the faith in all venues of globetrotting.The preserved right hand of the king can be found now in the Basilica of Saint Stephen in Budapest, a sacred relic, which is still carried in the procession every year on 20 August, linking even more of the country with Marian devotion.

Regnum Marianum-The Realm of Mary

Throughout history, Hungary was often referred to as Regnum Marianum, or “Mary’s Realm.” The title is a sign of a thought that the spiritual defense of the Virgin Mary over the land and its citizens was established. 

With the patronage of Mary, Leo XII designated the Hungarian Catholics to commemorate the Hungarian Catholics at the year 1896 on the event of Hungarian Millennium which was commemorated in Hungary in that 1400 year- anniversary duration in the year 1896. the feast of Boldogasszony with extraordinary solemnity.

The picture of Mary has been depicted frequently with national symbols that include the Crown of St Stephen, which signified a unity, as well as protection and the moral authority of the nation.