On December 28, 2025, a solemn Mass was held in the Church of Our Lady in Buda Castle in memory of the coronation of Blessed Charles IV, our last Hungarian apostolic king. With the aim of establishing a tradition, three years ago, Knight Ádám Berniczei-Roykó, deputy captain of the legitimate Order of Vitéz, member of the Hungarian Parliamentary Prayer Group, and his wife, Ágnes, with the aim of creating a tradition.
On this occasion, parish priest László Süllei, archiepiscopal vicar general, celebrated a solemn Mass, in which he commemorated the coronation of Blessed King Charles IV on December 30, 1916, and held up his service to the country, his marriage, and his family life as examples to those present.
Vitéz Josef Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria, Royal Prince of Hungary, gave a speech at the memorial service, which was also attended by the leaders and members of the parliamentary prayer group and its foundation.
In his speech following the Mass, Imre Vejkey, leader of the Hungarian Parliamentary Prayer Group, reflected on how a family can remain on God's path even when life becomes difficult.
He quoted the daily reading, in which the Book of Sirach reminds us that the fear of God begins in the family and is embodied in the respect for parents, responsibility, and fidelity to one another. (Sir 3:3-7, 14-17a) The daily Psalm promises: "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who walks in the way of the Lord." In other words, it does not say that a happy person is one who is successful, but rather that a happy person is one who fears the Lord. This is a big difference.
A napi evangéliumi szakaszban (Kol 3,12-21) In today's Gospel passage (Col 3:12-21), we see the Holy Family fleeing, with Joseph protecting not himself but his family and the life of Jesus. He does all this in obedience to God, accepting the uncertainty that comes with it. This image of Joseph is particularly close to the life of Blessed King Charles IV. Together with Queen Zita, he experienced exile and a harsh fate in a foreign land, but they did not lose what was most important to them: their faith in God, their marriage, and the unity of their family, because the royal couple remained evangelical in spirit despite being dethroned.
Szent Pál apostol azt mondja: bármit tesztek, az Úr Jézus nevében tegyétek. (Kol 3,17) St. Paul the Apostle says: whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Col 3:17) Blessed Charles IV took this seriously as a ruler, husband, and father. He regarded his marriage to Zita not as a political alliance, but as a commitment before God. Queen Zita remained his faithful companion in all circumstances: during his reign and after its loss. It was this loyalty that made them a truly "historic family." It was not their titles, but the testimony of their lives that made them true role models.
Let us not forget that our heritage is reflected not only in the great deeds of the past, but also in our present, when we act responsibly every day for the benefit of our Hungarian nation. Let us also remember that Blessed Charles IV and Zita's lives teach us that a family life lived in faith is the greatest legacy that can be passed on. The world changes, roles transform, but God is eternal. Thus, the family that is built on the peace of Christ will remain.
