Ivan Merz

• Honorific Prefix — Blessed • Name — Ivan Merz • Born — 16 December 1896 • Birthplace — Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary • Died — 10 May 1928 • Place of death — Zagreb, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes • Venerated In — Catholic Church • Beatified Date — 22 June 2003 • Beatified Place — Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Beatified By — Pope John Paul II • Feast Day — 10 May • Influences — Ljubomir Maraković • Influenced — Marica Stanković, Uskrs fest • Major Works — Dnevnik (Diary) Zlatna knjiga (Golden Book)

Ivan Merz was born in Banja Luka, Bosnia, on 16 December 1896. Merz entered military service for Austro-Hungarian Army as a young adult, completed it after three months and began studying in Vienna in 1915. During the First World War he was drafted into the army and fought on the Italian front. After the World War, Merz devoted himself entirely to serving in the Roman Catholic Church and took a vow of chastity. In October 1920, Merz went to Paris and studied at the Sorbonne and the Institut Catholique de Paris. In 1923 he received his doctorate from the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zagreb with a dissertation on the influence of liturgical language in the work of French writers, especially the Renouveau catholique. Upon his return to Zagreb, he taught French and German at the Archdiocesan Classical Gymnasium. He started the "League of Young Croatian Catholics" and wrote numerous articles, essays and reflections for various magazines. Merz became one of the principal promoters of the liturgical renewal in his country. He died in 1928; his remains are kept in Zagreb, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Merz was beatified on June 23, 2003, by Pope John Paul II during a visit to Banja Luka.

• Bl. Ivan Merz Parish in Slatina (established by Antun Škvorčević on 22 July 2003) • Bl. Ivan Merz Parish in Špansko-Oranice, Zagreb (est. 2011) • Catholic School Centre "Bl. Ivan Merz" in Banja Luka • Dr. Ivan Merz Elementary School in Zagreb (est. in 1901, named after Merz on 1 January 1995) • Domus Croatia Dr. Ivan Merz, an organization of Croatian pilgrims in Rome • Bl. Ivan Merz Croatian Catholic Mission of the Diocese of Krk in Astoria, Queens (under the Brooklyn Diocese). • Humanitarian association Ivan Merz in Split (est. on 1 September 2006)

• Documentary "Ivan Merz – život za ideale" by Jakov Sedlar, premiered on 8 May 2013 in Banja Luka.

Ivan Merz is recorded as professor, philosopher, soldier and writer.

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