IVAN MERZ

Ivan  Merz
1896. - 1928.

The eminent layman living according to the Gospel

The short biography prepared by: o. Božidar Nagy, DI

Eminent layman living according to the Gospel '- those words were ones that Pope John Paul II attributed to Ivan Merz in Zagreb Cathedral on September 10th 1994, on the first day of his visit to Croatia, mentioning in his speech Croatian saints and the candidates for the altar in our nation. These words of Pope give us great incentive to become more acquainted with the figure of Ivan Merz and his life testimony given to Jesus Christ. The procedure for proclaiming Ivan Merz a saint started in Zagreb in 1958.; and since 1986. it has been continued in Rome by the Vatican congregation dealing with the causes of saints. At the very beginning of this concise survey of his biography I want to emphasize a very important fact: being aware that he was to die young, on his deathbed, he sacrificed his life to the God for the Croatian youth. The following years showed how glad and pleased the God was about the sacrifice. Ivan Merz became a shining example and an ideal of Christian life to thousands of young people. His name has meant the programme of life and work to many young Christians. Perhaps the young people themselves expressed in the best way what Ivan Merz meant to them when they bought him the wreath with a white silk ribbon on which it was written:

THE CHRIST'S EAGLE,
THANK YOU FOR HAVING SHOWN US THE WAY TO THE 'SUN' !

 

Ivan Merz more:

http://www.ivanmerz.hr

The publisher:
 Zvonimir Matijević, parish administrator