Is Ivan Merz soon going to be a saint?

Blessed Ivan Merz was great apostole of croatian catholic youth. That is the reason why that brand stands on his grave. What Ivan Merz meantfor the youth the best describes the title on coronet what the youth back in 1929. have out on his grave and follows:

THANK YOU EAGLE OF THE CHRIST FOR SHOWING US THE PATH TO THE SUN!

Ivan Merz, by the end of his life, anticipating that he will die young, has put his young life to God as a sign of sacrifice for croatian youth. How that sacrifice was fruitful shown sequel of events in which thousands of youth has taken Ivan as a model for their catholic life.

Even today, many years after his death, Ivan attracts by this example many catholic young people.

Merz and I know each other
Youth are getting to know Ivan Merz

Silk tape from his funeral-coronet mounted on Ivan's grave by the youth from Vinkovci

Merz and I know each other

Truly, Merz and I do know each other. Fact is that we never met each other because he dies many, many years before I was even born, but we still know each other. I read his "Diary" as a high-school student. By the end of the January 1989., I bought the book of D. Kniewald called "Dr. Ivan Merz - Servant of God" in a bookstore in Osijek. I thought I bought a book like any other books I usually buy. But it wasn't the case with this book. I kept returning to this book, read some chapters on and on again. I never found it boring! Later I found manz other books about Ivan Merz written by other authors: p. Josip Vrbanek, Dusan Zanko, p. Bozidar Nagy.

Ivan's Diary can be read even as literate work. Who wouldn't remember after reading his Diary his beautiful childhood in Bosnia, Greta, letters to his mother, Vienna and Paris? While reading about Ivan, I was drawn to attention of catholic organizations about I have never heard before. Later I found out about what organization it was the word.

In my rare visits to Zagreb, I was often visiting Ivan's grave and was searching for his place in benches in the Basilica of Jesus' Heart in Palmoticeva street. I was also looking at the windows of his room on Starcevic dom, like I was remembering my old friend who passed away. That is the way - therefore - Ivan and I know each other!

Ivan scholar Too soon Ivan's death wasn't only winnings for him, but even for us. I use to remember often those moments when he was sick to-death (I was reading only about it, of course), when he was asked does he making a sacrifice for the croatian youth and he then nodded his head. Ivan and youth movement what he was making and developing is the most ideal movement made for croatian catholic youth. The same movement continues to live in persons who continued Ivan's work and the sacrifice of life. With that, his sacrifices became more fruitful and alive - present around us even today. Vinko Juzbasic, student

Youth are getting to know Ivan Merz

Shinny star on earth

I must admit that after reading short biography of Ivan Merz I felt the need for better christian life. I like the most quotation from his diary: "I would like to be humble, sorely humble! All haughtiness received by birth I want to destroy and humbly tend to the truth, only because of that truth..." All Ivan's life was actually a shinny star on earth, reflecting love and warmth. Marinela Radojcic

To live better life

Through descriptions of his life and acts, I felt that I should also need to live better life and do good work as much as possible, serving, helping, praying every and so I could save faith in my God. Sanja Vakanjac

Inner fight inspired by faith

I like the most his sentence: "Does God exist? Don't I pray to phantom of my imagination?" It is clearly seen that he is struggling in his inner fight what he wins later by the faith in God. Ivan Zubac

I missed a lot because I didn't meet him sooner

I admit, I have never heard of Ivan Merz before. Now I see how much I missed. He is one of those who deserve special attention in our Church and our heart. Ana Markovic

My soul is penetrated by light which made me pure

When I read little book, I stopped and felt somehow weird: like my body, my soul is penetrated by a light, like i was purified. "Thank you Eagle of the Christ for showing us path to the sun" truly is the sentence which I will remember very long because it is describing what i felt. I think it was the sun by with Ivan showed us Christ penetrated my soul. Mirna Deri

I finally realize what real believer means

After reading few pages of Ivan's biography, I felt very motivated to carry on reading, but carefully, with understanding. In this book i found out what it means to be real believer. I understand how much my faith is weak. Iva Brezovac

Ivan's diary

In the book I liked the most quotations from his diary where we can see his feelings, thought as he grew up during years. Martina Cangajst

Ivan's questions and searchings are encouraging!

His thought although fully committed to God, contains many questions that are young people asking themselves too. So we search ourselves like Ivan did. THat is why I can recognize myself in Ivan's words "My faith seems that it is getting weak..." It is often that one asks his-self during adolescence "Do I really believe and in what do i believe?" But Ivan offers to us answer on this question, one of his most beautiful thoughts: "The day that person spends for another is not lost day at all, but a great day!" Paula Stojcevic

Guide for youth through the life

I really like book about Ivan Merz because it reveals to us his soul, driven by God's grace. This book could easily become guide for youth through the life because Ivan Merz is the one that shows the path to Jesus Christ - to the light. Katarina Serdarcic

Life profession - spreading the word about the faith

I liked the most his life profession which was spreading the word about catholic faith to youth. Ivan is completely giving to Christ as a layman by making life vow of chastity. Vjekoslav Kovacevic

He lived this life for another one in heaven

What made me impressed about Ivan Merz was his decisions about his life what he has made in Paris. This life he lived for another one in heaven. He realized that person does not make a profession but moral values and relations to his christian brothers and sisters. Suncica Jurisic