# Ivan Merz
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{{Short description|Croatian layman and Blessed}}
{{Infobox saint
| honorific_prefix = [Blessed](/source/Beatification)
| name = Ivan Merz
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Bl Ivan Merz u Bazilici Srca Isusova 13 rujna 2008.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption = Blessed Ivan Merz
| titles =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1896|12|16}}
| birth_place = [Banja Luka](/source/Banja_Luka), [Bosnia and Herzegovina](/source/Condominium_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina), [Austria-Hungary](/source/Austria-Hungary)
| home_town =
| residence =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1928|5|10|1896|12|16}}
| death_place = [Zagreb](/source/Zagreb), [Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes](/source/Kingdom_of_Yugoslavia)
| death_cause =
| venerated_in = [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church)
| beatified_date = 22 June 2003
| beatified_place = [Banja Luka](/source/Banja_Luka), Bosnia and Herzegovina
| beatified_by = [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II)
| canonized_date =
| canonized_place =
| canonized_by =
| major_shrine =
| feast_day = [10 May](/source/10_May)
| attributes =
| patronage =
| issues =
| suppressed_date =
| suppressed_by =
| influences = [Ljubomir Maraković](/source/Ljubomir_Marakovi%C4%87)
| influenced = [Marica Stanković](/source/Marica_Stankovi%C4%87),{{sfn|Tuškan|1997|p=316}} Uskrs fest[{{cite web|url=https://ivanmerz.hr/staro/uskrsfest/uvod.htm|title=Uskrsfest|lang=hr|access-date=23 February 2024|website=ivanmerz.hr}}]
| tradition =
| major_works = ''Dnevnik'' (Diary)
''Zlatna knjiga'' (Golden Book)
| module =
}}{{Catholic Church in Croatia sidebar}}
'''Ivan Merz''' (16 December 1896 − 10 May 1928) was a [Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) [layman](/source/laity) from Bosnia and important supporter of the [Catholic Church in Croatia](/source/Catholic_Church_in_Croatia). Merz promoted the [Liturgical Movement](/source/Liturgical_Movement) in Croatia and together with [Ivo Protulipac](/source/Ivo_Protulipac), he established a movement for the young people, ''Hrvatski orlovski savez'' ("The Croatian Union of the Eagles"), inspired by the Eucharistic Crusade, which he had encountered in [France](/source/France). He was beatified by Pope [John Paul II](/source/John_Paul_II) in 2003.
== Life ==
Ivan Merz was born in Banja Luka, Bosnia, on 16 December 1896. Merz entered military service for [Austro-Hungarian Army](/source/Austro-Hungarian_Army) as a young adult, completed it after three months and began studying in [Vienna](/source/Vienna) in 1915. During the [First World War](/source/First_World_War) he was drafted into the army and fought on the [Italian front](/source/Italian_front_(World_War_I)).[[https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20030622_merz_en.html "Ivan Merz (1896-1928)". Vatican News Service]]
After the World War, Merz devoted himself entirely to serving in the Roman Catholic Church and took a vow of [chastity](/source/chastity).
In October 1920, Merz went to [Paris](/source/Paris) and studied at [the Sorbonne](/source/University_of_Paris) and the [Institut Catholique de Paris](/source/Institut_Catholique_de_Paris). In 1923 he received his doctorate from the Faculty of Philosophy of the [University of Zagreb](/source/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.][[https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/2003/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20030622_banja-luka.html "Homily of John Paul II", Banja Luka, 22 June 2003, Dicastero per la Comunicazione]]
He died in 1928; his remains are kept in Zagreb, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.[[https://www.zg-nadbiskupija.hr/blessed-john-ivan-merz/7079 "Blessed John (Ivan) Merz", Archdiocese of Zagreb]]
Merz was beatified on June 23, 2003, by Pope John Paul II during a visit to [Banja Luka](/source/Banja_Luka).[{{Cite web |date=2023-06-22 |title=Prije 20 godina papa Ivan Pavao II. proglasio blaženim Ivana Merza |url=https://hkm.hr/vjera/prije-20-godina-papa-ivan-pavao-ii-proglasio-blazenim-ivana-merza/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=HKM |language=hr}}]
==Canonisation process ==
Dave Ceasar Dela Cruz was chosen as the vice [postulator](/source/postulator) of the cause for the canonization of Blessed Ivan Merz[{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110708124815/http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/1882/ The Official Website of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines News Service (Accessed on March 19, 2009)]}}] on 19 March 2008.
==Patronages==
* Bl. Ivan Merz [Parish](/source/Catholic_parish) in [Slatina](/source/Slatina%2C_Croatia) (established by [Antun Škvorčević](/source/Antun_%C5%A0kvor%C4%8Devi%C4%87) on 22 July 2003)[{{cite web|url=https://www.ivanmerz-slatina.hr/povijest-zupe/povijest-zupe/|title=Povijest župe|lang=hr|trans-title=History of the parish|publisher=Blessed Ivan Merz Parish Slatina|access-date=23 February 2024}}]
* Bl. Ivan Merz Parish in [Špansko](/source/%C5%A0pansko)-Oranice, [Zagreb](/source/Zagreb) (est. 2011)[{{cite web|url=https://www.zupa-ivanmerz.hr/info/o-zupi|title=O župi|trans-title=About parish|publisher=Bl. Ivan Merz Parish Špansko|lang=hr|access-date=23 February 2024}}]
* Catholic School Centre "Bl. Ivan Merz" in Banja Luka[{{cite web|url=https://www.ktabkbih.net/hr/vijesti/krizni-put-na-veliki-petak-kroz-razrusene-zupe-derventskog-dekanatarostruko-duhovno-kulturno-slavlje-u-foi/44261|lang=hr|title=Trostruko duhovno-kulturno slavlje u Foči|date=21 May 2014|publisher=Catholic Press Agency of the Bishops' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina|website=ktabkbih.net|access-date=23 February 2024}}]
* Dr. Ivan Merz Elementary School in Zagreb (est. in 1901, named after Merz in 1 January 1995)[{{cite web|url=http://os-imerz-zg.skole.hr/skola/povijest|lang=hr|title=Povijest|trans-title=History|publisher="Dr. Ivan Merz" Elementary School, Zagreb|access-date=23 February 2024}}]
* Domus Croatia Dr. Ivan Merz, an organization of Croatian pilgrims in Rome[{{cite web|url=http://www.mvpei.hr/hmiu/tekst.asp?q=01hmi-hmi005|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217180359/http://www.mvpei.hr/hmiu/tekst.asp?q=01hmi-hmi005|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 February 2013|title=Hrvatska manjina u Talijanskoj Republici|author=|date=|publisher=[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration](/source/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_and_European_Integration_(Croatia))|accessdate=8 November 2011|lang=hr}}][{{cite web|url=http://www.domuscroata.com/?n=povijest|lang=hr|title=Kratka povijest Doma|trans-title=Domus' short history|publisher=Croatian Pilgrims' Home "Blessed Ivan Merz" Rome|website=domuscroatia.com|access-date=23 February 2024}}]
* Bl. Ivan Merz Croatian Catholic Mission of the [Diocese of Krk](/source/Diocese_of_Krk) in [Astoria, Queens](/source/Astoria%2C_Queens) (under the [Brooklyn Diocese](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Brooklyn)).[{{cite web|url=https://www.croatianradiony.com/predsjednica|lang=hr|title=Predsjednica Republike Hrvatske Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović uručila Povelju Hrvatskom radio klubu New York|publisher=Croatian Radio New York}}]
* Humanitarian association Ivan Merz in [Split](/source/Split%2C_Croatia) (est. on 1 September 2006)[{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430094859/http://www.udrugaivanmerz.hr/|url=http://www.udrugaivanmerz.hr/|title=Pomozimo potrebne i marljive!|website=udrugaivanmerz.hr|publisher=Humanitarna udruga Ivan Merz|lang=hr|archive-date=30 April 2017|access-date=23 February 2024}}]
==Memorials==
* Bl. Ivan Merz Street (Ulica bl. Ivana Merza) in [Split](/source/Split%2C_Croatia)[{{cite web|url=https://karta-hrvatske.com.hr/ulica-bl-ivana-merza-split|title=Ulica bl. Ivana Merza, Split na karti Splita|lang=hr|website=karta-hrvatske.com.hr|access-date=23 February 2024}}]
* Bronze [relief](/source/relief) in the Dr. Ivan Merz Elementary School in Zagreb, work by Ivan Starčević, uncovered on 1 January 1995.[{{cite web|url=https://ika.hkm.hr/vijesti/blagoslov-kipa-bl-ivana-merza-u-preckom/|title=Blagoslov kipa bl. Ivana Merza u Prečkom|date=15 June 2007|publisher=Informative Catholic Agency|lang=hr|website=ika.hkm.hr|access-date=23 February 2024}}]
* Sculpture by Vid Vučak in front of the Bl. Ivan Merz parish of [Špansko](/source/%C5%A0pansko) (Zagreb), uncovered on 16 December 2025[{{cite web|url=https://ika.hkm.hr/novosti/mons-kovac-blagoslovio-kip-bl-ivana-merza-u-zagrebackom-spanskom/|language=hr|title=Mons. Kovač blagoslovio kip bl. Ivana Merza u zagrebačkom Španskom|date=17 December 2025|website=ika.hkm.hr|publisher=Informative Catholic Agency (IKA)}}]
==Popular culture==
* [Documentary](/source/Documentary) "Ivan Merz – život za ideale" by [Jakov Sedlar](/source/Jakov_Sedlar), premiered on 8 May 2013 in Banja Luka.[{{cite web|url=https://www.ktabkbih.net/hr/vijesti/predstavljena-sabrana-djela-ivana-merza-i-premijerno-prikazan-film-o-ivanu-merzu/37657|title=Predstavljena sabrana djela Ivana Merza i premijerno prikazan film o Ivanu Merzu|website=ktabkbih.net|publisher=Catholic Press Agency of the Bishops' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina|date=13 May 2013|access-date=23 February 2024|lang=hr}}]
==References==
{{reflist}}
== Literature ==
* {{cite journal|last=Ceraj|first=Saša|url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/236012|title=Povijesni razvoj i važnost djelovanja hrvatskoga Orlovstva|journal=Obnovljeni Život|trans-title=The Historical Development and Importance of the Activities of Croatian Eagles |language=hr|volume=71|issue=1|year=2016|issn=0351-3947|pages=39–53 }}
* {{cite journal|first=Slavica|last=Tuškan|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/3209|title=Ivan Merz, Marica Stanković i zajednica Suradnica Krista Kralja|journal=Obnovljeni Život|volume=52|issue=3/4|year=1997|language=hr|trans-title=Ivan Merz, Marica Stankovič and the group The Associates of Christ the King|issn=0351-3947|pages=315–324}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Ivan Merz}}
{{wikiquote|Ivan Merz}}
* [https://ivanmerz.hr/english/ Official website of the Postulature] {{inlang|en}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/@blazeniivanmerz7572 YouTube channel dedicated to Bl. Ivan Merz]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2TKKQmYXrI Documentary about bl. Ivan Merz (with English subtitles)]
{{Croatian saints}}
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{{Portalbar|Biography|Bosnia and Herzegovina|Catholicism|Croatia|Literature|Philosophy|Saints}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merz, Ivan}}
Category:1896 births
Category:1928 deaths
Category:People from Banja Luka
Category:Croatian Jews
Category:Jews from Austria-Hungary
Category:Croats in Austria-Hungary
Category:Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Category:Croatian Roman Catholic writers
Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina beatified people
Category:Catholic Church in Croatia
Category:Roman Catholic activists
Category:Roman Catholic Diocese of Banja Luka
Category:Catholic philosophers
Category:20th-century venerated Christians
Category:Croatian people of Bosnia and Herzegovina-Jewish descent
Category:Beatifications by Pope John Paul II
Category:Venerated Catholics by Pope John Paul II
Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina Jews
Category:Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb alumni
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ivan Merz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Merz) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Merz?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.