Regnum Marianum Community - History of The Regnum Marianum Community

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 Budapest 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 institutes 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.