A Millennium of Catholicism in Hungary The Catholic faith has a
deep and lasting legacy in the history of the Hungarian people.
Not too many nations can boast of the canonization of one of
their former monarchs as Hungary can of its beloved King St.
Stephen. The Catholic faith that was established in this western
European nation – although challenged by Islam, Protestantism,
and Communism – is still solid today. In fact, the new Hungarian
constitution that will take effect in January 2012 has strongly
reaffirmed the nation’s dedication to its Catholic foundations.
(Read my Catholic Gene article Hungary’s New Constitution
Reestablishes its Foundation on the Catholic Faith of its
Forefathers.) Today, November 17, we remember another beloved
Hungarian saint, although unlike King St. Stephen, she never
actually lived in what is now considered present-day Hungary.
This 13th century queen-turned-Franciscan-tertiary is remembered
as St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Szent Erzsébet in Hungarian)
although she was born in the