Ivan Merz - Example to the lay faithful and those consecrated to God

Približavanje beatifikacije časnog Sluge Božjega Ivana Merza, što je veliki dar Crkve i Pape našem narodu, zahtijeva duhovnu pripremu u koju spada upoznavanje lika Ivana Merza i poruke koju nam preko njega Bog upućuje. Merz, koji je kao laik ostvario svetost života, jest dokaz postojanja Boga i nadnaravnog svijeta vjere. Bio je katolički intelektualac koji je spojio znanost, kulturu i vjeru te isticao primat duhovnog života u odnosu na akciju. Kao čovjek Crkve i papinstva bio je neumorni i revni apostol i napose odgojitelj katoličke mladeži te kao takav postaje uzor svim Bogu posvećenim osobama, ali i svakom vjerniku laiku. Kršćanski prihvaćajući križ i trpljenje, umire na glasu svetosti pun pouzdanja u milosrđe Božje. Dekret o njegovim herojskim krepostima objavljen u Vatikanu 5. srpnja 2002. naglašava kako je Merz mnoge ideje i smjernice Drugog vatikanskog sabora provodio u život davno prije samoga Koncila te je njegov svetački primjer veoma aktualan i u današnjem vremenu.The upcoming beatification of the Servant of God Ivan Merz is in itself a great gift from the Church and the Holy Father to our people and demands spiritual preparation. This involves acquainting ourselves with the person of Ivan Merz and also with the message which God imparts to us through him. Ivan Merz, a layman who lived an exemplary saintly life, is living testimony to God\u27s existence and to the supernatural realm of faith. He was a Catholic intellectual who integrated science, culture and faith and emphasized the primacy of the spiritual life over action. As a man of the Church and the papacy he was a tireless and devout apostle and educator of Catholic youth in particular, and as such serves as an example to all persons consecrated to God but also to the lay faithful. Having taken up his cross and endured suffering in a Christian manner, he died reputed for his holiness and an unwavering trust in God\u27s mercy. The decree on his heroic virtues, announced in the Vatican on July 5, 200