Throng

Istvan Bakk

Pauline fathers in the Americas missionary work end service in the new world

http://jozsef-kutasi.de/blogger/palospassioen.pdf

Istvan Bakk

István Bakk: Why is it important for the Hungarian nation to have a
Hungarian based Pauline order?

The founder of the Hungarian Pauline Fathers, Özseb, whose name is probably derived from the first Pannonian martyr, Eusebius gained martyrdom under the rule of Valerianus (235-259).
Özséb/Eusebius requested permission from Cardinal Vancsay to form the Pauline Order due to his disappointment of the Andrew II and Béla IV’s leadership after the destruction caused by the Tatars.
A vision of his work confirmed everything for him and the order’s main centre was established and built in 1250. The monastery was built in Szentkereszt (Holy Cross) and Eusebius became the first Father Rector.
Eusebius, under Thomas Aquinas’ support requested permission to adopt the Rule of St. Augustine from Urban IV, which was not received and documented until 13th December 1308.
The Pauline Fathers are the only Hungarian order of monks founded in Hungary itself.
After the death of Eusebius the Hungarian Paulines spread rapidly, and the generosity of King Matthias, who was the most famous Renaissance ruler of the time and possessor of the Holy Crown, supported the order.
The order also obtained Fehéregyház, where Árpad the Magyar Chief, who settled Hungary is buried, thus enabling the order to guard Árpad’s tomb.
At this particular monastery, Mátyás Bakk became the first provost, who also has relatives living in Szekélyland to the present day. In that time there were up to 69 monasteries, although later the number reached 170 in the Hungarian region.
On 15th January 1467 the day when the king defeated Ali Begh St. Paul the Hermit was made a Hungarian patron saint by the king. The name giver to the order, St. Paul the Hermit became defender and protector of the king both internally and the whole region.
Not only were scholars invited to the country by the king, but also church leaders, which explains how Rodrigo Borgia Archbishop of Eger and Abbot of Pétervárád became prelate of Hungary. Incidentally, he also became Pope Alexander VI, and during his time Queen Isabella of Spain, relative of the House of Árpád Kings requested the Paulines to travel to the New World with Columbus.
On October 12th 1492, Columbus landed in America, and according to Alexander IV, we can clearly see that the Hungarian Pauline Order were the first spreaders of the faith, and were also the first bridge builders between Europe and America.
Pauline monasteries could also be found in many European countries such as Austria, Croatia, Portugal, Spain, Poland and many others besides.

The Pauline Fathers from all their monasteries had to meet at a convention, which took place near Buda at a place called Szentlőrinc (now Buda Szentlőrinc). The provost, the superior of and two delegates all the monasteries in each diocese arrived at the meeting every fourth, or rather every eighth year at the main monastery in Hungary.

The Ottoman invasion of Hungary was fatal for the Pauline order later on, as the powerful independent base of the order was lost.
The meeting of the order was moved to the monastery at Máriavölgy due to the destruction of the main Szentlorinc monastery by the Ottomans.
The country split into three and in the eastern region a new king was chosen, John I, who had previously been the voivod (leader) of the same place.
In the western region the younger brother of Charles V was crowned, and became King Ferdinand.
King John, who was struggling with many difficulties, requested the help of provost Brother György, who was made voivod of Transylvania, and who at that time was also cardinal and bishop of Várád, as well as being treasurer and the most well known politician. He negotiated with Bishop Wese, who was the representative of Charles V and Wese tried to convince him to hand over the eastern region.
Brother György, (Bishop of Nagyvárad, Voivod of Transylvania, Cardinal and Archbishop of Esztergom) in virtue of his responsible position was unable to bring about a decision which would have been against the nation’s interests. Neither corruption or bribery, nor treason could change his mind.
György’s ambition to reunite the country did not come true, due to the historical situation of the region. Only Transylvania’s independence could guarantee the avoidance of the Ottoman invasion.
After the unsuccessful negotiation, Charles V and King Ferdinand, members of the Habsburg family murdered Brother György Alvincen Martinuzzi on the night of December 16th, 1551.
The news of the murdered Archbishop of Esztergom shocked Europe.
Along with the murder came the looting of Transylvania’s treasures.
With the invasion of the Ottomans, the Paulines moved to Poland. And due to the increasing strength of the Polish Paulines a split from the Hungarian order took place in 1784. The Polish king Stanislaw August Poniatowski had caused the break away process by his claims. That is why the diocese of the order separated from Hungary, as well as the Father Rector in 1784. The beginning of Pope Pius VI’s breviary “Apostolicae Sedis auctoritas” stated that the Polish diocese of the order is separated from the main Hungarian one.
Franz Joseph II dissolved all religious orders, including the Paulines in 1786.
Although, the dissolution act of 1786 was withdrawn in 1790 it did not include the Paulines.
The order tried to re-establish itself in 1864, 1902, 1918 and in 1934.
Then in 1989 through Fr. Vince Árva of Pilisszántó the order was re-established, and the beatification process of Blessed Eusebius was pushed forward. Not only this, but he also hopes that the Polish order’s rule of the ancient order will cease and a new Hungarian leadership and centre will be established.
On February 8th, 2008 Fr. Vince Árva sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI giving an account the work involved in the beatification process of Blessed Eusebius, and the other necessary documentation required in the process.

Istvan Bakk

Pilis Pauline Passion

In the nineteenth century an entire nation was enthralled by József Katona’s dramatic masterpiece Bánk Bán, an epic tragedy set in the thirteenth century during the reign of King Andrew II of Hungary. A play of similar importance and European ramifications set during the reign of King Matthias of Hungary is under production.
Queen Isabella of Spain turns to King Matthias of Hungary and requests Hungarian Pauline monks to accompany Christopher Columbus in his voyage of exploration and to provide pastoral care to the brave sailors and spread the faith in the Far East, where they thought they were headed but instead find the Americas. Thus the Hungarian “White Fathers” became part of the history of the New World as representatives of European culture and knowledge. Our desire is to present this story in the village of Pilisszántó among the Pilis hills in an open-air theatre as part of a Passion play in the summer of 2008.
It is a play in three parts. The dramatic conflict is between the treasure seeking military conquerors of the New World and the “White Monks”, who bring a treasure with themselves. The treasure is the Christian Faith, the living Christ. It is He they want to introduce to the “pagan savages”, who look upon the arrivals with curiosity and fear, but also childlike wonder. The Fathers would like to present the Great Mystery of the suffering, death and resurrection of the Son of God for the sins of all, through the archaic and universal medium of drama.
The Canon Endre Bakk Founation is responsible for the production of the play together with Jászai award winning director Péter Cseke. Many years of preparatory work have gone into the production in order find the perfect approach and to create a completely Hungarian work, but nonetheless one that will make a mark on any stage in Europe, and using the most modern theatrical techniques. We need your support for this project. Sponsors are needed for the seating, sets and technical backup. As part of the project we plan to create a 2000 seat open-air theatre in Pilisszántó, which will become a permanent cultural institution. We know it is an enormous endeavour, a single seat costing about 25,000 Forints.

Let me invite you to visit and have a conversation about our project and your possible means and modes of support for this exceptional theatrical production.

Web: www.palospassio.hu, www.ujvilagfesztival.hu
Email: palospassio@freemail.hu, bakk.istvan@ujvilagfesztival.hu
Ac****: 14100220-72079749-01000008

01. 01. 2008.

István Bakk

Canon Endre Bakk Foundation
Chairman