Blessed
Ivan Merz was
born in Banja
Luka, Bosnia, on December 16, 1896. Educated in Banja
Luka, with a brief military academy, and continued to study Philosophy in
Vienna, Austria. He 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 doctorate in
Philosophy. Though he decided to remain a layman in the world, Ivan took a
perpetual vow of chastity, and devoted his free time to the Church. He taught,
spoke, and wrote to evangelize young Croatians. He worked for liturgical
renewal, and helped institute Catholic Action in Croatia. Ivan Merz died
on May 10, 1928 in Zagreb, Croatia. He was 32 years old.
Pope
John Paul II beatified Ivan Merz on
June 22, 2003, and declared him as the Apostle of 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 discipleship for all Catholics.
Blessed
Ivan is a perfect patron saint for young people, youth ministers, military
personnel, dentists, philosophers, philologists, students, educators,
liturgists, theologians, devotees of the Holy Eucharist, and lay faithful
engaged in Christian apostolate.
