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Blessed Mezlényi, martyr of the Hungarian communist regime |
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05/11/2009 (2:06)
Bishop Zoltán Lajos Meszlényi was a brave pastor and a martyr of the Hungarian communist regime, who died after being tortured in the Kistarcsa concentration camp on March 4th, 1951. Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of Esztergom from 1937 to 1950, Meszlényi sacrificed his life for the Church during the dictatorial persecutions.
He was beatified on October 31st at the Esztergom Basilica during a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Péter Erdö, the Primate of Hungary.
“Blessed Zoltán Meszlényi invites us to be faithful to the Gospel of life and truth. This is his message for today: to live in communion, in liberty, and in charity and to build, promote, and give testimony of a civilization of love, life, and universal fraternity.” Thus read the message from Archbishop Angelo Amato, the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, who, as the Pope’s representative, read the beatification formula at the ceremony.
In his homily, Cardinal Péter Erdö, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, called the Servant of God Meszlényi an example of a Christian man who is strengthened by the Holy Sprit, a testimony fully relevant for our time: “Today we also perceive how our individual and collective egoism, our myopia, our desire for power, and our hatred make us fall into a trap from which we cannot free ourselves with our own strength. It is only the merciful love of God that can save us from this infernal circle.” In conclusion, the Cardinal said that “the martyrs’ fidelity is a source of hope for us”.
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