Bienheureux Zoltan Ludvik
Meszlènyi, évêque et martyr
Zoltan Ludvik Meszlènyi,
évêque hongrois, fut emprisonné dans une cellule, sous le régime communiste
soviétique, fenêtre ouverte jour et nuit même en hiver et plusieurs fois
torturé, sur les ordres du dictateur stalinien hongrois Matyas Rakosi pour
avoir pris la tête de l'église catholique hongroise après l'emprisonnement de
son prédécesseur, Joseph Mindszenty, un farouche opposant au régime en place.
Il serait mort le 4 mars 1951 ou le 11 janvier 1953 à Kistárcsa. Ses restes
furent enterrés en secret en 1966 dans la cathédrale d'Esztergom.
Bienheureux Zoltan Ludvik
Meszlènyi
Évêque hongrois et
martyr (+ 1951)
Zoltan Ludvik Meszlènyi,
évêque hongrois, tué en haine de la foi à Kistárcsa, sous le régime communiste
soviétique, en 1951, a été béatifié le 31 octobre 2009 en la cathédrale
d'Esztergom (Hongrie).
Emprisonné dans une
cellule, fenêtre ouverte jour et nuit même en hiver et plusieurs fois torturé,
il serait mort le 4 mars 1951 ou le 11 janvier 1953.
"Il est le premier
religieux victime des persécutions staliniennes a être béatifié", a
déclaré le cardinal Peter Erdo dans la cathédrale d'Esztergom, le siège de l'église
catholique hongroise.
Zoltan Meszlenyi avait
été emprisonné et torturé à mort en 1951 sur les ordres du dictateur stalinien
hongrois Matyas Rakosi pour avoir pris la tête de l'église catholique hongroise
après l'emprisonnement de son prédécesseur, Joseph Mindszenty, un farouche
opposant au régime en place. La mort de Zoltan Meszlenyi avait été annoncée
trois ans plus tard, et ses cendres ont été enterrées en secret en 1966 dans la
cathédrale d'Esztergom. Zoltan Meszlenyi, dont la béatification a été approuvée
par le pape Benoît XVI en juillet 2009, est le 28e citoyen hongrois à être
béatifié.
(source: Eglise
orthodoxe russe en France)
Voir aussi: le site de l'Eglise
catholique en Hongrie (en hongrois) et sa biographie (en
anglais)
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/11156/Bienheureux-Zoltan-Ludvik-Meszlenyi.html
Bienheureux Meszlényi
Zoltán Lajos
Évêque hongrois
d’Esztergom
Fête le 4 mars
Hatvan, Heves, Hongrie, 2
janvier 1892 – † Kistarcsa, Gödöllői, Hongrie, 4 mars 1951
Béatifié le 31 octobre
2009 par le pape Benoît XVI
Le martyre d’un évêque
hongrois, le serviteur de Dieu Zoltan Ludvik Meszlènyi, tué en haine de la foi
à Kistárcsa, sous le régime communiste soviétique, en 1951.
SOURCE : http://www.martyretsaint.com/meszlenyi-zoltan-lajos/
Béatification
d'un ancien évêque hongrois victime du communisme
Zoltan Meszlenyi, un
évêque hongrois mort sous la torture du régime communiste en 1951, a été béatifié
samedi, devenant ainsi le premier prêtre hongrois victime du stalinisme à
recevoir cet honneur, a annoncé à Budapest le cardinal Peter Erdo.
"Il est le premier
religieux victime des persécutions staliniennes a être béatifié", a
déclaré le cardinal dans la cathédrale d'Esztergom, le siège de l'église
catholique hongroise.
Zoltan Meszlenyi avait
été emprisonné et torturé à mort en 1951 sur les ordres du dictateur
stalinien hongrois Matyas Rakosi pour avoir pris la tête de l'église
catholique hongroise après l'emprisonnement de son prédécesseur, Joseph
Mindszenty, un farouche opposant au régime en place.
La mort de Zoltan
Meszlenyi avait été annoncée trois ans plus tard, et ses cendres ont été
enterrées en secret en 1966 dans la cathédrale d'Esztergom. Zoltan Meszlenyi,
dont la béatification a été approuvée par le pape Benoit XVI en juillet
dernier, est le 28ème citoyen hongrois à être béatifié.
Le nom de Joseph
Mindszenty figure aussi une une liste de Hongrois qui attendent que leur
béatification soit approuvée par le pape
Huit martyrs des
tragédies du XXe siècle bientôt béatifiés :
Le 7 juillet 2009
Six Espagnols, victimes de la guerre civile, un prêtre allemand, victime du nazisme, et un évêque hongrois, tué sous le régime communiste seront bientôt déclarés « martyrs ».
Le pape Benoît XVI vient d’approuver la publication de quatre décrets de la congrégation pour les causes des saints reconnaissant qu’ils ont été tués en haine de la foi, et sont ainsi morts martyrs.
Ces décrets concernent : le Père José Samsó i Elías, espagnol, victime de la persécution anti-catholique qui a accompagné la guerre civile, tué en 1936. Le Père Teófilo Fernández de Legaria Goñi, dans le siècle Benjamín, tué dans les mêmes circonstances, ainsi que ses quatre compagnons de la Congrégation des Sacrés Coeurs, également tués en haine de la foi en 1936.
Un décret reconnaît le martyre de Georg Häfner, prêtre allemand, mort le 20 août 1942 dans le camp de concentration de Dachau, où il a été tué en haine de la foi. Il avait toujours refusé le salut hitlérien et avait pour cela été repéré par la Gestapo. Mais l’origine de son arrestation est d’avoir apporté les derniers sacrements à un membre du parti nazi et de l’avoir reconduit à Dieu et à l’Eglise catholique, avant sa mort, et d’en avoir raconté l’exemple à ses paroissiens, en chaire, le dimanche suivant.
Le quatrième décret reconnaît le martyre d’un évêque hongrois, Zoltan
Ludvik Meszlènyi, tué en haine de la foi à Kistárcsa, sous le régime communiste
soviétique, en 1951.
SOURCE : http://www.aed-france.org/actualite/huit-martyrs-des-tragedies-du-xxe-siecle-bientot-beatifies/
Bienheureux Zoltán
Meszlényi
Le 4 mars 2023
Tenir dans la foi
Ordonné prêtre en 1915,
Zoltán Ludvik Meszlényi (1892-1951) occupe diverses fonctions pastorales en
Hongrie avant de devenir évêque auxiliaire d’Esztergom. Il prend ensuite la
tête de l’Église catholique hongroise, après l’emprisonnement de l’évêque
József Mindszenty par le régime en place. Zoltán n’échappe pas à ces vagues
d’incarcérations organisées par le dictateur hongrois Mátyás Rákosi, rompu aux
méthodes staliniennes. Peu enclin à coopérer avec le régime, Zoltán est arrêté
le 29 juin 1950. Interné, puis transféré au camp de Kistarcsa, il est isolé des
autres détenus pour être torturé à plusieurs reprises. Il serait mort le 4 mars
1951 ou le 11 janvier 1953. Ses restes sont enterrés en secret en 1966 dans la
cathédrale d’Esztergom. Il est le premier religieux victime des persécutions
staliniennes à avoir été béatifié.
Seigneur, tu as
dit : « Heureux êtes-vous si l’on vous persécute » et le
bienheureux Zoltán a reçu de toi le courage de mourir pour la liberté de la
foi.
Temps de silence
Que sa prière nous
obtienne la grâce de supporter toute adversité.
Ce mois-ci, à l’écoute de
Cyrille de Jérusalem
Les Apôtres ont reçu, non
pas le feu qui brûle, mais celui qui sauve en détruisant les épines du péché et
en rendant l’âme lumineuse ; les mêmes effets sont obtenus par le baptême.
SOURCE : https://francais.magnificat.net/magnificat_content/bienheureux-zoltn-meszlnyi/
Esztergomi
székesegyház, Boldog Meszlényi Zoltán csontereklyéje
Relics
of Zoltán Meszlényi, Esztergom Cathedral
Resti del beato Zoltán Lajos Meszlényi nella Cattedrale di Nostra Signora e di Sant'Adalberto
Esztergomi
székesegyház, Boldog Meszlényi Zoltán csontereklyéje
Relics
of Zoltán Meszlényi, Esztergom Cathedral
Resti del beato Zoltán Lajos Meszlényi nella Cattedrale di Nostra Signora e di Sant'Adalberto
Esztergomi
székesegyház, Boldog Meszlényi Zoltán csontereklyéje
Relics
of Zoltán Meszlényi, Esztergom Cathedral
Resti del beato Zoltán Lajos Meszlényi nella Cattedrale di Nostra Signora e di Sant'Adalberto
Blessed Zoltán Lajos
Meszlényi
Profile
Second of five children in
a devoutly Catholic family;
his father was
a school teacher and principal.
Graduated from a Benedictine high school in Esztergom, Hungary in 1909.
With the support of Cardinal Kolos
Vaszary, Zoltán then a studied in Rome, Italy at
the Collegium Germanico-Hungaricum and Pontifical Gregorian
University where he earned a doctorates in philosophy in 1912, theology in 1913 and
a degree in canon
law. Forced to leave Italy at
the start of World War II, he finished his studies in
Innsbruck, Austria,
and was ordained there
on on 28
October 1915.
Chaplain of
Komárom, Hungary.
Assigned several administrative tasks and positions at the archdiocese office Esztergom from 1917 to 1937. Auxiliary
Bishop of Esztergom, Hungary and Titular
Bishop of Sinope on 22
September 1937.
Worked to keep the see functioning
as the archbishop and
other officers were imprisoned in
the anti–Christian persecutions of
the Hungaian Communists.
On 29
June 1950 it
was Zoltán’s turn; he was imprisoned,
isolated, tortured, starved,
abused, and set to forced labour until his health was
finally destroyed. Martyr.
Born
2
January 1892 in
Hatvan, Heves, Hungary
4
March 1951 in
Kistarcsa, Gödölloi, Hungary
3 July 2009 by Pope Benedict
XVI (decree of martyrdom)
1
November 2009 by Pope Benedict
XVI
recognition Mass celebrated
in the cathedral of
Esztergom, Hungary
Additional
Information
other
sites in english
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siti
in italiani
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nettsteder
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strani v slovenšcini
MLA
Citation
“Blessed Zoltán Lajos
Meszlényi“. CatholicSaints.Info. 10 July 2023. Web. 4 March 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-zoltan-lajos-meszlenyi/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-zoltan-lajos-meszlenyi/
March 4, 2016Catholic Saints GuyBishop, communists, Esztergom, Hungary, Joseph
Mindszenty, martyrdom, martyrs, Meszlényi, Rome, Zoltán4
Comments
Bl. Zoltán Lajos Meszlényi, martyr
Memorial: March 4
The second of five
children, Bl. Zoltán was born January 2, 1892, into a strong Catholic family.
His father was a teacher and a school principal. He attended grammar school in
Rimaszombat and began high school at a Protestant institution before moving to
Esztergom and finishing at a Benedictine high school in 1909. After graduation,
his patron the archbishop of Esztergom, Kolos Cardinal Vaszary, OSB, sent him
to Rome to continue his education. As a pupil at the Collegium
Germanico-Hungaricum, he studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University where
he earned a doctorate in philosophy in 1912 and a degree in theology in 1913.
He also earned a degree in canon law.
As a citizen of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy’s enemy during World War I, he had to leave Rome
during that conflict, which forced him to spend studying some time in
Innsbruck. It was there on October 28, 1915, that he received holy orders at
the hand of His Lordship Franz Egger, the prince bishop of Brixen (then in
Austria, now in Italy).
Upon his return to
Hungary, he was appointed chaplain at Komárom, but a few months János Cardinal
Csernoch called him later to Esztergom, where the primate’s chancellery
entrusted him with more important tasks.
From 1917 to 1937, he
held a variety of progressively important curial posts. Then Pius XI appointed
him coadjutor bishop of Esztergom. All throughout this time, he continued his
studies in canon law and authored a significant book on the subject and taught
it, as well as a member of the Peter Pázmány University theology faculty.
In 1945, Jozsef Cardinal
Mindszenty became the new primate of Hungary, and he confirmed Meszlényi in
every one of his offices.
The communist state
security apparatus arrested Cardinal Mindszenty on December 26, 1948, and
convicted him after an obscene show trial.
After this, the
archdiocesan finance minister and vicar general János Drahos took over. He died
in 1950, however.
Bishop Meszlényi then
became vicar of the archbishop of Esztergom, first because the chapter
recognized his rectitude and firmness, and secondly because they refused to
elect Nicholas Beresztóczy, the candidate promoted by the communist state. In
his inaugural address as vicar, Meszlényi said, “Christ – because He is the
faithful shepherd of the Faith and our Church – out of loyalty, we will
not deny Him ever! So help me God.”
The communist regime
could not forgive him for the chapter electing him vicar over their own
candidate. On June 29, 1950, 12 days after his election, the communists
arrested Bl. Zoltán and put him in the Kistarcsa internment camp, where he was
kept in solitary confinement and tortured.
So began eight months of
cruel captivity, consisting of starvation and lack of heating. Indeed several
witnesses claimed the communists forced him to live during the winter with an
open window day and night. These hardships were exacerbated by forced labor and
violence and unspeakable torture, of which the oppressors were masters of all
time.
All the while no charges
were brought against Bishop Meszlényi. He was detained without trial.
Furthermore the state machinery gave the public no news about the fate of the
arrested bishop. It seems to have also subsequently erased by any documentation
related to the arrest, if ever there was any.
Because of the torture
and lack of medical care, Bishop Meszlényi died sometime between January 11,
1953, and March 4, 1954.
As soon as they learned
the news of his death, those who knew him saw the seal of martyrdom in
his story.
He was buried in an
unmarked grave but exhumed in 1966 and his remains transferred to the cathedral
in Esztergom.
The Christian martyr is
different from those of other faithsHe is killed. He does not kill. He is
killed out of hatred of Jesus and His gospel of life and truth. But his answer
is not to hate but to love, not to seek revenge but forgiveness. It is not a
retribution of resentment but prayer and blessing for one’s persecutors and
tormentors.
This is the great lesson
of life that Bishop Meszlényi leaves us today.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaintsguy.wordpress.com/2016/03/04/meszlenyi-the-magyars-martyred-bishop/
The humble Hungarian
bishop and martyr you should know about
Cerith Gardiner - published
on 09/18/21
Blessed Zoltán
Meszlényi's great-niece gives a little insight into this devout and courageous
bishop, who died in the 1950s.
Blessed Zoltán Lajos
Meszlényi was a Hungarian bishop who took on the dangerous role of vicar to
the archbishop of Esztergom in 1950, defying the Communist regime and its
choice of candidate for the job, ultimately putting his life in peril,
according to Catholic
Saints Guy.
However, he took the job
willingly, declaring in his inaugural speech: “Christ – because He is the
faithful shepherd of the Faith and our Church – out of loyalty, we will not
deny Him ever! So help me God."
The newly-appointed
bishop did not stay in his role for long. In fact, just 12 days after his
inauguration, he was arrested by the Communists and sent to Kistarcsa
internment camp. There the 58-year-old suffered torture, was deprived of food
and heating, and was forced into harsh labor.
Since he refused to
renounce his faith, the vicious torture continued. The Communists made him
endure freezing weather conditions in the winter, forcing him to sleep with his
windows open.
However, as his
great-niece, Nora Meszlényi, shared with us: "The last person who saw
him alive in the prison said that he gave him his winter coat without a second
thought when he saw him shivering as it was super cold in winter." A
selfless act typical of the generous martyr he was known to be.
Inevitably, the Hungarian
succumbed to the harsh treatment he received and died sometime between 1953 and
1954. The Communist government had held him without trial, and kept his fate
hidden from his people.
Like many martyrs,
Meszlényi put his faith before his own life. But, thanks to his great-niece, we
can glean a little more about the man who's now on the road to canonization.
Bishop Meszlényi was very
humble. He was known to turn up to the family home in his "simple black
priest clothes" where he was reported as being "very low key and
friendly." So it came as a shock when Nora's father once accompanied him
to meet the local mayor and "on the short walk he produced all the bishop
regalia from his pockets and arrived all glam."
Having experienced his
uncle in the family home, it was equally strange for Nora's father to witness
everyone rush to kiss the hand of his uncle.
Nora also shared that
although Bishop Meszlényi held such an important post in the Hungarian Church,
his family was never far from his mind. He always sent her grandmother food parcels
and looked after her dad and his brother, even during the war after her
grandfather died.
Perhaps the most touching
story that Nora shared about her great-uncle was about his precious Bible that
was never far from his side. Apparently "at the prison he gave it, his
only possession at that point, to another distressed prisoner because he said
the other person needed it more, and he did not need it anyway because it was
in his heart."
Even though Nora was born
long after her great-uncle died, Blessed Zoltán left a permanent mark on her
and so many others. "I think he was a born priest, he really lived
his life as priests should ... dedicating every moment of his life to the
Church and his people until the very last moment."
Interestingly, with the
Eucharistic Congress closing last weekend in Hungary, it's incredible to think
that just under a century ago, in 1926, Blessed Zoltán made the incredibly long
trip to New York, to then climb aboard The
Cardinal's Train, that would see him and many other clergy make their way
to Chicago for the first-ever Eucharistic Congress to be held in the United
States.
Read more:10
inspiring quotes from Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
SOURCE : https://aleteia.org/2021/09/18/the-humble-hungarian-bishop-and-martyr-you-should-know-about
Szent
Adalbert püspök és vértanú r.k. templom északi oldala rajta a Meszlényi Zoltán
Lajos emléktáblája. A templomot korábbi épület helyén gr. Grassalkovich I.
Antal építtette (építész: Oracsek Ignác; kivitelező: Jung József). Műemléki
azonosító 5734 (törzsszám 2122). - Heves
megye, Hatvan,
Kossuth Lajos tér
Adalbert
of Prague Church NE side, plaque. - Kossuth Square, Hatvan, Heves
County, Hungary.
Blessed Zoltán Meszlényi
Bishop and martyr
Official memorial: 4
March
Zoltán Meszlényi was born
on 2 January 1892 in Hatvan. His parents were both teachers, who moved to
Hungary from Rimavská Sobota. Zoltán went to school in Rimavská Sobota, then in
Budapest. He took his secondary school leaving exam in the minor seminary of
Esztergom in 1909. Cardinal Kolos Vaszary recognized his talents and offered
him a scholarship in Rome. The talented young man graduated from the Pontifical
Gregorian University with a degree in canon law in 1915. In the same year (on
28 October 1915), he was ordained priest with age concession in Innsbruck. He
first served as a curate in Komárom for a short time, then Cardinal János
Csernoch called him to Esztergom.
From 1917 Blessed Zoltán
was keeper of the archiepiscopal archives and master of ceremonies, from 1920
secretary of the archbishop and notary of the Holy See. After the death of
János Csernoch in 1927, he became a reliable and loyal collaborator of Cardinal
Jusztinián Serédi, who appointed him head of the archbishop's office and
prebendary, and when the see of the auxiliary bishop of Esztergom became
vacant, he considered him the most suitable candidate. He was consecrated
bishop on 28 October 1937. His episcopal motto perfectly reflected his character: "Fidenter
ac fideliter", that is, "With confidence and fidelity". Being
an excellent canon lawyer, he also became a professor of the Archiepiscopal
Academy of Law of Eger.
After the death of
Jusztinián Serédi, he continued to serve the diocese with the same dedication.
The new cardinal, József Mindszenty confirmed him in all of his positions and
entrusted him with additional tasks. After Cardinal Mindszenty's arrest, canon
and general vicar János Drahos governed the archdiocese of Esztergom until his
death on 15 June 1950. The chapter summoned after the funeral elected auxiliary
bishop Zoltán Meszlényi to succeed him. On the occasion of his inaugural as
chapter vicar, Bishop Meszlényi wrote a circular letter, in which he expressed
the principle of his actions in the following words: "As a faithful
pastor of Christ, I have never denied the faith and the fidelity to our
Church." This sentence anticipated his destiny: knowing his life and
spirituality, everyone knew that he would never bargain with the atheistic
state.
On 29 June 1950, two
weeks after his election as vicar, he was arrested. There was no legal
proceeding and no judgement. We only know what happened to him afterwards from
the recollections of some of his surviving fellow prisoners. Zoltán Meszlényi
was detained for a short time in the Budapest detention centre, then
transferred to the intern camp in Kistarcsa. There he was separated from the
rest of the prisoners in a room with no windows, where freezing temperatures in
the winter and scorching temperatures in the summer made the prisoner’s life
unbearable. His wards maltreated him and he did not receive his necessary
medications. After long suffering, the dead body of the bishop was taken to the
hospital in Mosony Street on 4 March 1951. He was buried in the new public
cemetery of Rákoskeresztúr on 10 March. His death was registered later. On 22
June 1966 his remains were exhumed and placed in the crypt of the Esztergom
Basilica.
His process of
beatification was promoted by Cardinal Péter Erdő in 2004. On the occasion of
his beatification, the relic of the bishop and martyr was placed in the
side-altar of Saint Adalbert.
CCS protocol
number: 2619
Diocesan inquiry
Competent forum: Esztergom-Budapest
Competent bishop: Cardinal Péter Erdő, primate and archbishop
Postulator: János Szőke SDB
Diocesan inquiry: 18 October 2004 – 23 January 2005
Inquiry of the Holy See (CCS)
Postulator (CCS): Andrea Ambrosi
Decree on validity of diocesan inquiry: 7 December 2007
Promulgation of decree on martyrdom: 3 July 2009
Beatification: 31
October 2009, Esztergom
Let us pray for his canonization!
Official prayer of the Mass (opening prayer)
Almighty God, you
rewarded the apostolic zeal of bishop and martyr Zoltán with the crown of glory.
Grant that we may follow his example and courageously profess your name.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Those who obtain favours through his intercession are asked to notify the
Office of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest
1014 Budapest, Úri u. 62.
More information:
http://www.esztergomi-ersekseg.hu/
SOURCE : http://www.mindszentyalapitvany.hu/products/blessed-zoltan-meszlenyi/
Hungarian bishop who
defied Stalinist persecution beatified
Budapest, Hungary, Nov 4,
2009 / 10:01 pm (CNA).-
On October 31, the Church
beatified Bishop Zoltán Lajos Meszlényi, a victim of the Communist persecution
of the Catholic Church in Hungary. The beatification was scheduled shortly
after Pope Benedict approved a decree verifying the martyrdom of the bishop,
who died in 1951.
Cardinal Péter Erdő,
Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and Primate of Hungary, presided over the Mass
and beatification of Bishop Zoltán Lajos Meszlényi on Saturday at the Basilica
of Esztergom. During the Mass, the cardinal emphasized that the “mission of
Christians is to announce Jesus Christ even if they are persecuted,” adding
that Bishop Meszlényi “is an example of witness by a person fortified by the
Holy Spirit.”
Cardinal Erdő explained
that Bishop Zoltán Meszlényi’s life and death are exemplary for his time, in
which many kept silent for fear of losing their jobs, homes, families, and
lives. Blessed Meszlényi’s teaching is still very timely today when we feel
“trapped by our individual and common selfishness, short-sightedness, thirst
for power, hatred, ’ a trap that we are unable to free ourselves from using our
own strength.”
According to Magyar
Kurír, a Catholic news organization in Central Europe, Bishop Meszlényi was an
exemplary priest who led a life of service to the Church. Having studied in
Rome at the Gregorian University as part of his education at the Pontifical
German-Hungarian Institute, Blessed Meszlényi became fluent in Italian, French,
English, German, Latin and Greek, in addition to his native Hungarian. His
studies led him to a degree in canon law as well as diplomas in philosophy and
theology.
Despite the excellence of
education and his incredible intellect, Blessed Meszlényi was known as a very
down to earth man. He did not mind being alone and was very humble, not even
considering himself to be a candidate to replace Cardinal József Mindszenty who
had been arrested and sentenced to life in prison. He was also known for his
strict but loving treatment of the priests in his diocese, encouraging them to
always become better, more faithful servants of the Church.
However, Blessed
Meszlényi would not back down when confronted by the Communists. The Church in
Hungary faced many difficulties when the country gained its independence from
the Hapsburg empire, as well as when the borders of many Eastern European
countries were re-drawn after WWI, which caused the geographical area of one
diocese to be located in two different countries.
The presence of the
Communists, as well as Russia’s invasion, which put the country behind the Iron
Curtain, also presented the Church with difficulties, as the Communists tried
to seize Hungary's Catholic schools and influence the election of bishops.
Blessed Meszlényi quickly became an enemy of the Communists when it became
known that he was not afraid of the threat of force.
Meszlényi was appointed
bishop, however only two weeks after his episcopal ordination, the communist
authorities took the newly-appointed bishop and he was never heard from again.
Magyar Kurír also
explains that as was the custom, the communists were very secretive about their
persecution of the Church so they wouldn’t create any martyrs whose stories of
standing up for their faith would inspire others. Thus, no one heard from the
bishop after his arrest, and there are no documents to show where he was
detained, how he was tortured, of what he was accused, or how he died.
Nevertheless, based on accounts of other priests who also suffered Stalinist
repression, it was concluded that his martyrdom was preceded by imprisonment
and common tortures which included solitary confinement, physical beatings,
psychological torture, unheated jail cells without windowpanes, and no access
to medical treatment.
Asking for the
intercession of Blessed Zoltán Meszlényi, Cardinal Erdő concluded: “Pray for us
all so the renewal of the hearts may help the world around us become better and
happier and may lead as many people as possible to Christ."
SOURCE : http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/hungarian_bishop_who_defied_stalinist_persecution_beatified/
Meszlényi
Zoltán domborműve Kistarcsán, az egykori internálótábor falán - a KIKE munkája
Meszlényi
sur le mur de l'ancien camp d'internement de Kistarcsa - œuvre de KIKE
Zoltán Meszlényi on relief, Kistarcsa
Meszlényi
Zoltán domborműve Kistarcsán, az egykori internálótábor falán - a KIKE munkája
Meszlényi
sur le mur de l'ancien camp d'internement de Kistarcsa - œuvre de KIKE
Zoltán
Meszlényi on relief, Kistarcsa
Beato Zoltan Lajos
Meszlenyi Vescovo e martire
2 gennaio 1892 - 4 marzo
1951
Zoltán Lajos nacque il 2 gennaio 1892 in una famiglia di solida tradizione cattolica. Chiamato al sacerdozio, conseguì presso la Pontificia Università Gregoriana il dottorato in Filosofia e in Teologia e il baccalaureato in Diritto Canonico. II 28 ottobre 1937 fu ordinato vescovo e nominato ausiliare dell’arcidiocesi di Esztergom in Ungheria. La sua preparazione e il suo zelo pastorale gli permisero una notevole operosità pastorale e culturale. Subito dopo la seconda Guerra Mondiale, il regime comunista ungherese iniziò a infierire contro la Chiesa cattolica, applicando nei suoi confronti forme di intolleranza che sfociarono spesso in momenti di persecuzione violenta e sanguinaria. Evento emblematico di questo periodo di terrore e di vera e propria oppressione fu l’arresto del Primate d’Ungheria, l’arcivescovo Jozsef Mindszenty.
Nel 1950, in contrasto con il volere governativo, i canonici della cattedrale di Esztergom-Budapest elessero il Servo di Dio come nuovo Vicario capitolare, riconoscendone la rettitudine e la fermezza. Mons. Meszlényi, pur consapevole dei rischi, accettò la nomina con prontezza e disponibilità. La repressione del regime non si fece attendere. Dieci giorni dopo, il vescovo venne arrestato e, senza alcun processo, fu internato nello stabilimento penale di Recsk e poi deportato nel campo di concentramento di Kistarcsa, presso Budapest, in isolamento. Iniziarono così otto mesi di crudele prigionia, fatta di mancanza di cibo e riscaldamento, inasprita dal lavoro forzato e da violenze e torture indicibili, di cui sono maestri gli oppressori di ogni tempo. Dinanzi al dilemma ‘fedeltà-tradimento’, il Servo di Dio confermò con fortezza la sua fedeltà al Vangelo, vivendo la perversità degli eventi, fiducioso nella misericordia e nella provvidenza divina. Sopportò tutto con amore. Morì sfinito di stenti il 4 marzo 1951. La prigionia disumana lo aveva letteralmente ucciso. II movente del suo martirio fu l’ “odium fidei”, l’odio dei carnefici nei confronti di Gesù, del Vangelo, della Chiesa. E’ il mistero del male che genera odio, lasciando una scia di morte, distruzione e dolore indicibile.
Appena si seppe la notizia della sua morte, coloro che lo avevano conosciuto videro nella vicenda di mons. Meszlényi il sigillo del martirio. II regime ostacolò in tutti i modi la possibilità di svolgere ricerche e approfondimenti. Ma, come si sa, la menzogna non può vincere a lungo sulla verità. Dopo la caduta del regime la verità si affermò in tutta la sua evidenza per la molteplice testimonianza di documenti e di persone.
Ancora oggi la Chiesa è una Chiesa di martiri, cioè di testimoni forti e coraggiosi del Vangelo. Il martire cristiano ha una ben precisa qualifica. Viene ucciso, non uccide. Viene ucciso per odio nei confronti di Gesù e del suo Vangelo di vita e di verità. Ma la sua risposta non è l’odio ma l’amore, non è la vendetta, ma il perdono, non è il risentimento ma la preghiera per gli stessi persecutori e carnefici. E’ questa la grande lezione di vita che mons. Meszlényi lascia a noi oggi.
Autore: Mons. Angelo Amato
Fonte : Radio
Vaticana
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/95079
Zoltán Ludovico Meszlényi
(1892-1951)
Beatificazione:
- 31 ottobre 2009
- Papa Benedetto
XVI
Ricorrenza:
- 4 marzo
Vescovo titolare di
Sinope e Vescovo Ausiliare di Esztergom in Ungheria, martire, morto nel campo
di concentramento di Kistarcsa, in isolamento, dopo otto mesi di crudele
prigionia, di mancanza di cibo e riscaldamento, inasprita dal lavoro forzato e
da violenze e torture indicibili, di cui sono maestri gli oppressori di ogni
tempo
"Dinanzi al dilemma
‘fedeltà-tradimento’, confermò con fortezza la sua fedeltà al Vangelo"
(card. A. Amato)
Zoltán Lajos nacque
il 2 gennaio 1892 in una famiglia di solida tradizione cattolica.
Chiamato al sacerdozio,
conseguì presso la Pontificia Università Gregoriana il dottorato in Filosofia e
in Teologia e il baccalaureato in Diritto Canonico. II 28 ottobre 1937 fu
ordinato vescovo e nominato ausiliare dell’arcidiocesi di Esztergom in
Ungheria. La sua preparazione e il suo zelo pastorale gli permisero una
notevole operosità pastorale e culturale.
Subito dopo la seconda
Guerra Mondiale, il regime comunista ungherese iniziò a infierire contro la
Chiesa cattolica, applicando nei suoi confronti forme di intolleranza che
sfociarono spesso in momenti di persecuzione violenta e sanguinaria. Evento
emblematico di questo periodo di terrore e di vera e propria oppressione fu
l’arresto del Primate d’Ungheria, l’arcivescovo Jozsef Mindszenty.
Nel 1950, in contrasto
con il volere governativo, i canonici della cattedrale di Esztergom-Budapest
elessero il Servo di Dio come nuovo Vicario capitolare, riconoscendone la
rettitudine e la fermezza. Mons. Meszlényi, pur consapevole dei rischi, accettò
la nomina con prontezza e disponibilità. La repressione del regime non si fece
attendere. Dieci giorni dopo, il vescovo venne arrestato e, senza alcun
processo, fu internato nello stabilimento penale di Recsk e poi deportato nel
campo di concentramento di Kistarcsa, presso Budapest, in isolamento.
Iniziarono così otto mesi di crudele prigionia, fatta di mancanza di cibo e
riscaldamento, inasprita dal lavoro forzato e da violenze e torture indicibili,
di cui sono maestri gli oppressori di ogni tempo.
Dinanzi al dilemma
‘fedeltà-tradimento’, il Servo di Dio confermò con fortezza la sua fedeltà al
Vangelo, vivendo la perversità degli eventi, fiducioso nella misericordia e
nella provvidenza divina. Sopportò tutto con amore. Morì sfinito di stenti il 4
marzo 1951.
SOURCE : https://www.causesanti.va/it/santi-e-beati/zoltan-ludovico-meszlenyi.html
IL MARTIRIO
La prigionia disumana lo
aveva letteralmente ucciso. II movente del suo martirio fu l’ “odium fidei”,
l’odio dei carnefici nei confronti di Gesù, del Vangelo, della Chiesa. E’ il
mistero del male che genera odio, lasciando una scia di morte, distruzione e dolore
indicibile.
Appena si seppe la
notizia della sua morte, coloro che lo avevano conosciuto videro nella vicenda
di mons. Meszlényi il sigillo del martirio. II regime ostacolò in tutti i modi
la possibilità di svolgere ricerche e approfondimenti. Ma, come si sa, la
menzogna non può vincere a lungo sulla verità. Dopo la caduta del regime la
verità si affermò in tutta la sua evidenza per la molteplice testimonianza di
documenti e di persone.
Ancora oggi la Chiesa è
una Chiesa di martiri, cioè di testimoni forti e coraggiosi del Vangelo. Il
martire cristiano ha una ben precisa qualifica. Viene ucciso, non uccide. Viene
ucciso per odio nei confronti di Gesù e del suo Vangelo di vita e di verità. Ma
la sua risposta non è l’odio ma l’amore, non è la vendetta, ma il perdono, non
è il risentimento ma la preghiera per gli stessi persecutori e carnefici. E’
questa la grande lezione di vita che mons. Meszlényi lascia a noi oggi.
SOURCE : https://www.causesanti.va/it/santi-e-beati/zoltan-ludovico-meszlenyi.html
Zoltan Lajos Meszlényi
Scritto da Segreteria
Web. Pubblicato in Santi
Ungherese, nacque nel 1892 in una famiglia cattolica. Per seguire la sua vocazione al sacerdozio frequentò a Roma la Pontificia Università Gregoriana. Tornato in patria, dopo aver svolto il suo ministero in varie località, nel 1937 fu nominato vescovo ausiliare di Esztergom. Passò la tempesta della guerra mondiale, ma per l’Ungheria i guai non erano finiti perché i sovietici vi imposero il comunismo. Il Primate d’Ungheria, cardinale Joszef Minszenty, venne arrestato e la Chiesa cattolica ungherese messa sotto stretto controllo. Ma nel 1950, sfidando il regime che aveva messo il veto sul suo nome, i canonici della cattedrale di Esztergom-Budapest elessero proprio il vescovo Meszlény alla carica di vicario capitolare. La risposta non si fece attendere: dieci giorni dopo il vescovo venne arrestato e, senza alcun processo, internato nella prigione di Recsk. Da lì passò al campo di concentramento di Kistarcsa, dove lo misero in isolamento. Furono otto mesi di lavori forzati, di fame e di freddo, di maltrattamenti e violenze. Il Beato morì là, di stenti, botte e fatica, nel 1951. Il regime non permise indagini sulla sua morte e la verità si poté conoscere solo dopo la caduta del comunismo agli inizi degli anni Novanta.
© Il Giornale - www.rinocammilleri.com
Saint
Anthony of Padua Church in Bosnyák square, Budapest, District XIV.
Páduai
Szent Antal templom, Budapest XIV. kerület, Bosnyák tér
Den salige Zoltán Lajos
Meszlényi (1892-1951)
Minnedag:
4. mars
Den salige Zoltán Lajos
Meszlényi ble født den 2. januar 1892 i Hatvan i fylket Heves i Ungarn. Navnet
Zoltán er muligens avledet av den tyrkiske tittelen sultan. Det var navnet på
en ungarsk hersker på 900-tallet, Zoltán (Zaltas, Zsolt) (ca 907-ca 947), fjerde
sønn av Árpád, stamfar for det ungarske kongehuset. Lajos er den ungarske
formen av navnet Ludvig/Louis.
Zoltán Meszlényi ble
presteviet den 28. oktober 1915. Han ble den 22. september 1937 utnevnt av pave
Pius XI (1922-39) til titularbiskop av Sinope og til hjelpebiskop i Esztergóm
under den ungarske primas, kardinalerkebiskop Jusztinián Serédi av Esztergóm
(1927-45). Etter at kardinal Serédi døde den 29. mars 1945, ble József
Mindszenty den 2. oktober 1945 ny erkebiskop av Esztergóm (1945-73) og dermed
den ungarske Kirkens primas.
Fra september 1944 til
april 1945 trengte den sovjetiske hæren inn i Ungarn og fordrev tyskerne. Helt
fra slutten av 1944 økte innflytelsen til kommunistpartiet kontinuerlig i Den
nasjonale front i Ungarn, noe som endte med at kommunistene etter valget i 1947
endret konstitusjonen slik at landet ble proklamert folkerepublikk. Partiets
generalsekretær Mátyás Rákosi fulgte en radikal stalinistisk kurs, som ble
forlatt først i 1956. Etter den ungarske oppstanden og den sovjetiske
invasjonen senere samme år bedret situasjonen seg, men også under den såkalte
«gulasj-kommunismen» ble det kirkelige arbeidet sterkt hindret.
Det fremste symbolet på
undertrykkelsen ble kardinalprimas József Mindszenty, som med stort mot hadde
stått imot tyske nazister og ungarske fascister under krigen. Han ble arrestert
i desember 1948 og anklaget for forræderi. Etter fem uker i fengsel sa han seg
skyldig i anklagene, trolig på grunn av tortur, og ble dømt til livsvarig
fengsel. Under oppstanden i Ungarn i 1956 ble han løslatt og holdt en radiotale
til støtte for de antikommunistiske opprørerne. Men da sovjetiske styrker
rykket inn i Ungarn 4. november, søkte han på anbefaling av Imre Nagy tilflukt
i den amerikanske ambassaden, etter at USA hadde gitt ham politisk asyl. Han
ble boende i ambassaden i femten år frem til 1971 og nektet i mange år å
etterkomme Vatikanets ønske om at han skulle forlate Ungarn. Det var ikke før
den amerikanske presidenten Richard Nixon oppfordret ham til å reise i 1971 at
han dro til Wien, hvor han tilbrakte sine siste leveår.
I februar 1974
suspenderte pave Paul VI (1963-78) ham som erkebiskop av Esztergom, noe som
delvis møtte skarp kritikk, selv om paven med rette forsvarte sin avgjørelse
med nødvendigheten av en ordnet sjelesorg i Ungarn. Etter suspensjonen i 1974
frasa Mindszenty seg sine embeter. Han døde den 4. mai 1975 i Wien, men først i
mai 1991, etter kommunismens fall, ble hans jordiske levninger ført tilbake til
Ungarn. Den ungarske regjeringen tillot i februar 1972 utnevnelse av fire nye
biskoper, blant dem László Lékai (1910-86) av Veszprém, som i 1976 ble kreert
til kardinal og utnevnt til ny erkebiskop av Esztergom (1976-86). I februar
1989 innførte Ungarn flerpartisystemet igjen.
Etter erkebiskop
Mindszentys arrestasjon i desember 1948 skjønte stalinistene fort at hans
hjelpebiskop heller ikke var innstilt på samarbeid. Zoltán Meszlényi tok over
forvaltningen av erkebispedømmet, selv om han visste at regimet allerede hadde
utsett formannen for «Fredsprestebevegelsen» til denne oppgaven. Hjelpebiskop
Meszlényi forsvarte også standhaftig sin hyrde, og generalsekretæren for det
ungarske kommunistpartiet, Mátyás Rákosi – «Stalins beste elev» – betraktet ham
etter det som «fiende av folkemakten».
Derfor ble han om natten
den 29. juni 1950 arrestert av det ungarske kommunistiske sikkerhetspolitiet
AVO, og den 13. juli ble han brakt til den beryktede interneringsleiren
Kistárcsa i Gödöllői nær Budapest. Der ble han utsatt for tortur, og han døde
som en følge av sine skader den 4. mars 1951. Det var ingen øyenvitner til hans
tortur og død, og han regnes derfor blant «de tause martyrer». Det
stalinistiske regimet holdt hans død hemmelig i tre år, og først tolv år senere
kunne hans jordiske rester bisettes i en ikke-offentlig begravelse.
Zoltán Meszlényi ble en
symbolskikkelse for den ungarske kommunistiske kirkeforfølgelsen. Hans
saligkåringssak ble åpnet på bispedømmenivå den 10. mars 2004 og avsluttet den
10. januar 2006. Den 3. juli 2009 undertegnet pave Benedikt XVI dekretet
fra Helligkåringskongregasjonen som anerkjente biskop Meszlényis død som et
martyrium in odium fidei – «av hat til troen», og han fikk dermed
tittelen Venerabilis, «Ærverdig».
Han ble saligkåret lørdag
den 31. oktober 2009 i katedralen i Esztergóm. Som vanlig under dette
pontifikatet ble seremonien ikke ledet av paven selv, men av hans personlige
utsending, i dette tilfelle erkebiskop Angelo Amato SDB,
pro-prefekt for Helligkåringskongregasjonen i Vatikanet. Messens hovedcelebrant
var kardinal Péter
Erdö, erkebiskop av Esztergom-Budapest og ungarsk primas (den 31. mai 1993
skiftet erkebispedømmet Esztergom navn til Esztergom-Budapest). Biskop
Meszlényis minnedag er dødsdagen 4. mars.
Meszlényi er det første
offeret for den stalinistiske kirkeforfølgelsen i Ungarn som er saligkåret. En
annen sak som er ferdig behandlet på bispedømmenivå og oversendt til Roma,
gjelder den unge presten János Brenner, som ble snikmyrdet i 1957 i en alder av
bare 26 år ved den vestungarske grensebyen Szentgotthárd (St. Gotthard).
Kilder: Patron
Saints SQPN, hu.wikipedia.org, newsaints.faithweb.com, catholic-hierarchy.org,
agensir.it, Kathpress - Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden -
Opprettet: 2009-11-01 00:46 - Sist oppdatert: 2009-11-01 18:23
SOURCE : https://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/zmeszlen
A
Meszlényi Zoltán közösségi ház bejárata
L'entrée
du centre communautaire Zoltán Meszlényi
Meszlényi
Zoltán community house entrance
Meszlényi Zoltán első
emléknapja
2010. március 2., kedd
15:20
Március
4-én ünnepli első alkalommal a magyar katolikus egyház Boldog Meszlényi Zoltán
emléknapját. Az 1951-ben mártírhalált halt segédpüspököt tavaly október 31-én
ünnepi szentmise keretében avatta boldoggá az esztergomi bazilikában Erdő
Péter bíboros, esztergom–budapesti érsek és Angelo Amato érsek, a
Szenttéavatási Ügyek Kongregációjának prefektusa.Erdő Péter bíboros az emléknap
előestéjén, március 3-án 18.30-kor szentmise keretében helyezi el a vértanú
püspök csontereklyéjét a terézvárosi Avilai Nagy Szent Teréz-plébániatemplomban
és áldja meg a Boldog Meszlényi Zoltánról elnevezett oltárt. A főpásztor az
első hivatalos emléknapon, március 4-én 17 órakor az esztergomi bazilikában
mutat be szentmisét a kommunista diktatúra első magyar boldoggáavatott
vértanújának tiszteletére.
Meszlényi Zoltán életrajza
Meszlényi Zoltán Lajos 1892. január 2-án Hatvanban, sokgyermekes családban
született. Kisszeminaristaként az esztergomi bencés gimnáziumban érettségizett,
majd Vaszary Kolos hercegprímás jóvoltából a római Gregoriana Egyetemen
hallgatott teológiát. 1912 júliusában filozófia doktorátust szerzett. Az I.
világháború miatt 1915-ben Innsbruckba kényszerült, ahol a Leopold-Franzens
Egyetemen tanult tovább, ott szentelte pappá október 28-án Franz Egger brixeni
herceg-püspök.
A teológiai doktorátus megszerzése után visszatért az esztergomi egyházmegyébe,
s Komáromba kapott kápláni kinevezést, de Csernoch János bíboros már alig
néhány hónap után, 1916 decemberében a prímási kancellária hivatalába rendelte.
Egyre jelentősebb feladatokat bízott rá, így 1917 tavaszán már érseki
levéltáros és szertartó lett. A fiatal papot 1920-ban az Esztergomi Érseki
Főszentszék jegyzőjévé, majd érseki titkárrá nevezték ki. Főpásztora bizalma
töretlen volt iránta, így 1926. január 30-án hercegprímási és érseki titkár
lett.Tudományos munkássága egész életében fontos szerepet játszott: 1927-ben
jelent meg Házassági köteléki perek című műve. A következő évben a Pázmány
Péter Tudományegyetem Hittudományi Kara bekebelezett hittudorrá választotta.
Székfoglaló értekezését a Szent István Akadémián A kánonjogi tanulmányok
fontossága témában tartotta 1930-ban. 1934-től az Egri Érseki Jogakadémia
egyházjogi magántanáraként működött, 1940-ben a Pázmány Péter Tudományegyetem
Teológiai Karára kapott rendkívüli tanári kinevezést, és ugyanebben az évben a
Hittanárokat Vizsgáztató Bizottság elnöke lett.
A Csernoch Jánost az esztergomi érseki székben követő Serédi Jusztinián mellett
Meszlényi egyre jelentősebb egyházi pozíciókat töltött be: 1931-től kanonokként
a főkáptalan tagja, 1934-től a Prímási Főszentszék zsinati bírója. 1937-ben
szentelte Sinope címzetes püspökévé XI. Piusz pápa kinevezésével Serédi
Jusztinián bíboros hercegprímás, Breyer István győri megyéspüspök és Kriston
Endre püspök. Az újdonsült főpásztor 1938-ban a XXXIV. Eucharisztikus
Világkongresszus aktív résztvevője volt. Több, egyházilag elismert mozgalmat
támogatott, köztük a Magyarországi Katolikus Legényegyletek Országos
Szövetségét, amelynek 1939 júliusától volt elnöke.
Püspöki szolgálatát elkötelezetten végezte, a háború utolsó napjaiban, 1945
januárjában a szeminárium pincéjében papokat szentelt. Serédi Jusztinián
bíboros halálát követően a hercegprímás végrendeletének ő volt a végrehajtója.
Miután Mindszenty József hercegprímást 1948 karácsonyán letartóztatták, majd
koncepciós perben elítélték, Drahos János került a kormányzói posztra. Drahos
azonban nem sokkal később meghalt, így a káptalan döntésének megfelelően
Meszlényi lett az egyházmegye vezetője, noha a kiépülő kommunista diktatúra
mást akart a helyére. „Krisztus hű pásztoraként a hitet és az Egyházunk iránti
hűséget nem tagadom soha! Isten engem úgy segéljen!” – ezekkel a szavakkal
zárta esküjét Meszlényi Zoltán, esztergomi érseki helynök. Már 1946
szeptemberétől kezdve készültek róla ügynöki jelentések. A székeskáptalan
döntését, melyben Meszlényit választották helynöknek, Rákosi Mátyás
pártfőtitkár a kormánnyal szembeni ellenséges cselekedetnek minősítette a
szerzetesek elhurcolásának körülményei miatt panaszt tevő püspököknek.
Meszlényi nem ijedt meg a fenyegetésektől, legfontosabb feladatának a
főpásztori feladatok áttekintését és folytatását tartotta.
1950. június 20-án első és egyetlen alkalommal volt jelen a budapesti Központi
Papnevelő Intézetben, a püspökkari konferencián. Néhány nappal később, június
29-én Esztergomban letartóztatták, majd Kistarcsán tartották fogva. Az érseki
helynöknek éjjel-nappal, télen-nyáron nyitva kellett tartania cellája ablakát,
őrei szadista módon bántalmazták, gyakran rúgták és bottal ütötték. Sem
letartóztatásának tényéről, sem vádemelésről nem jelent meg semmiféle nyilvános
híradás. Egy rabtársa visszaemlékezése szerint, amikor halkan kifejezte
részvétét a püspöknek, Meszlényi ujját az égre emelve csak annyit mondott: „Ő
többet szenvedett.”
Sok szenvedés után 1951. március 4-én a Mosonyi utcai kórházba már a halott
főpásztort szállították, majd 10-én temették el. Halálát utólagosan
anyakönyvezték 1954 júniusában. 1966. június 22-én hamvait exhumálták a
Rákoskeresztúri új köztemetőben, majd az esztergomi bazilikába kerültek földi
maradványai. 2004-ben Erdő Péter bíboros indította el boldoggáavatási
eljárását. XVI. Benedek pápa 2009. július 3-án hagyta jóvá a dokumentumot,
amely Meszlényi Zoltán püspök vértanút kanonizálja a boldogok sorában, és
ugyanabban az évben október 31-én boldoggá avatták az esztergomi bazilikában.
