Regnum Marianum Community
Encyclopedia
The Regnum Marianum Community is one of the Catholic
movements in Hungary
. Its name comes from the old Hungarian tradition of Regnum Marianum. The organization itself is mostly referred to as Regnum Marianum.
in the last decade of the 19th century. These priests gave mostly religious instruction in the neighbouring schools and they took special care of the poor children. Regnum Marianum was formally founded in 1902 and is registered as "congregation of Mary" in Rome
.
Shortly after the introduction of the boy scouting
movement into Hungary, Regnum was among its first propagators, and became one of the founders of the Hungarian Scout Association in 1912. However, the formal connection between scouting and Regnum Marianum has ended at the end of the 1940s. The Regnum Marianum Community exerted its influence through religious instruction, boy scout activities and publishing the monthly "Zászlónk" (Our Flag, circulation about 10-20 thousands), where they presented a very attractive model of Catholic youth in the age group from 10 years to 18. The Regnum continued its usual work, until the end of the World War II
, when Soviet troops occupied Hungary.
In 1951, when the Soviet-backed Communists finished the takeover of Hungary, the activity of Regnum Marianum had been banned. (Just like almost all religious order
s and communities related to the church.)
The Regnum Marianum Community was the only Catholic youth care group in Hungary, which, despite constant harassment, continuously worked under the Communist regime, secretly organizing groups, meetings, summer camps and other events. Some of the priests and the lay group-leaders were sentenced in three separate conceptional trials (in 1961, 1965 and 1971) to a sum of 72 years, most of it served. Other forms of persecutions (firing from jobs, non-acceptance to universities, moving priests to faraway, run-down parishes) were abundant, too.
. Originally Regnum was a community of diocesian
priests, teaching and raising 10-18 year old boys, following the model of Saint Philip Neri and Don Bosco. After 1951 girls also joined the groups, and the age of members was growing. Now the Regnum is a community of priests and lay people, taking care of everybody from the youngest to the elderly. Some say, that Regnum is a parish
without a geographical area.
Regnum is a special Hungarian community, with very few links to international movements, but their activities resemble those of the Communione e Liberazione in Italy.
of Hungary. In 2005 the Regnum Marianum has approximately 2500 members.
The members of Regnum Marianum Community takes part in the everyday life of the Church, and are active in other Christian movements as well.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
movements in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Its name comes from the old Hungarian tradition of Regnum Marianum. The organization itself is mostly referred to as Regnum Marianum.
History of the Regnum Marianum Community
Regnum Marianum was started by a group of diocesian Catholic priests, who gathered, educated and raised youth in one of the impoverished suburbs of BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in the last decade of the 19th century. These priests gave mostly religious instruction in the neighbouring schools and they took special care of the poor children. Regnum Marianum was formally founded in 1902 and is registered as "congregation of Mary" in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Shortly after the introduction of the boy scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
movement into Hungary, Regnum was among its first propagators, and became one of the founders of the Hungarian Scout Association in 1912. However, the formal connection between scouting and Regnum Marianum has ended at the end of the 1940s. The Regnum Marianum Community exerted its influence through religious instruction, boy scout activities and publishing the monthly "Zászlónk" (Our Flag, circulation about 10-20 thousands), where they presented a very attractive model of Catholic youth in the age group from 10 years to 18. The Regnum continued its usual work, until the end of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when Soviet troops occupied Hungary.
In 1951, when the Soviet-backed Communists finished the takeover of Hungary, the activity of Regnum Marianum had been banned. (Just like almost all religious order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
s and communities related to the church.)
The Regnum Marianum Community was the only Catholic youth care group in Hungary, which, despite constant harassment, continuously worked under the Communist regime, secretly organizing groups, meetings, summer camps and other events. Some of the priests and the lay group-leaders were sentenced in three separate conceptional trials (in 1961, 1965 and 1971) to a sum of 72 years, most of it served. Other forms of persecutions (firing from jobs, non-acceptance to universities, moving priests to faraway, run-down parishes) were abundant, too.
Spirituality of the Regnum Marianum Community
Regnum Marianum is a Catholic community, without any innovative theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. Originally Regnum was a community of diocesian
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
priests, teaching and raising 10-18 year old boys, following the model of Saint Philip Neri and Don Bosco. After 1951 girls also joined the groups, and the age of members was growing. Now the Regnum is a community of priests and lay people, taking care of everybody from the youngest to the elderly. Some say, that Regnum is a parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
without a geographical area.
Regnum is a special Hungarian community, with very few links to international movements, but their activities resemble those of the Communione e Liberazione in Italy.
The Regnum Marianum Community nowadays
Since the fall of the Communism in Hungary in 1989 Regnum could appear openly in the public life, and using its tradition and potential takes part in reevangelizationEvangelization
Evangelization is that process in the Christian religion which seeks to spread the Gospel and the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world. It can be defined as so:-The birth of Christian evangelization:...
of Hungary. In 2005 the Regnum Marianum has approximately 2500 members.
The members of Regnum Marianum Community takes part in the everyday life of the Church, and are active in other Christian movements as well.