HAPPY 118TH BIRTHDAY BL. IVAN MERZ! facebook/IvanMerz ivanmerz.blogspot PRAYER God, our Father, Blessed Ivan, faithful to his baptismal call for sanctity, worked hard in the field of bringing up young people in the faith and in Christian life. Strengthened by his advocacy and inspired by his example, grant us the grace that we may faithfully and bravely continue to announce the Gospel and be witnesses of it. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. WHO IS BL. IVAN MERZ? Ivan Merz was born in Banja Luka, Bosnia, on December 16, 1896. Educated in Banja Luka, briefly in a military academy, and in Vienna, Austria. Fought on the Italian front of World War I. After the war he studied again in Vienna and in Paris, and then taught French language and literature at the University of Zagreb, from which he received his Ph.D. in philosophy. Though he decided to remain a layman in the world, Ivan took a vow of celibacy, and devoted his free time to the Church. He taught young Croatians, and spoke and wrote to evangelize all Croats. He worked for liturgical renewal, and helped institute Catholic Action in Croatia. Ivan Merz died on 10 May 1928 in Zagreb. He was 32 years old. Pope John Paul II beatified Ivan Merz on June 22, 2003, declaring him as The Apostle to the Youth. Pope Benedict XVI recognized the life and holiness of Blessed Ivan Merz by mentioning his name in the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation: Sacramentum Caritatis. By this solemn papal act, the Holy Father presents Blessed Ivan Merz as model of Eucharistic life and devotion for all Catholics. Bl. Ivan Merz, apostle to the young people, happy birthday and pray for us!
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 01:45:01 +0000
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