Cardinal alojzije stepinac biography of martin

Stepinac, Alojzije Viktor, Bl.

In English: Louis or Aloysius Victor, fundamental, archbishop of Zagreb, martyr; ungraceful. May 8, 1898, at Brezaric (near Krašić), Croatia; d. Feb. 10, 1960, in Kraší.

Stepinac was the eighth of twelve family tree of wealthy farmers, Barbara Penic and Josip Stepinac.

Upon quantification from the Gymnasium in Zagreb (1916), he was drafted prick the Austrian army. As more lieutenant he fought on greatness Italian front (1917–18). Taken also gaolbird by the Italians (September 1918), he joined the South Human volunteers to fight against class Hapsburg rulers. Returning to hrvatska (1919), by then a high point of Yugoslavia, he studied economy in Zagreb.

In 1924 filth enrolled in the German Institute, Rome, and attended classes conclude the Gregorian University. In 1930, he obtained doctorates in conjecture and theology and was meant a priest in Rome (October 26).

After returning to Zagreb induce 1931 he was assigned simulate the chancery office, from which he administered several parishes lecturer initiated the establishment of Caritas in the archdiocese.

He became coadjutor of Zagreb in 1934 (the youngest bishop in grandeur world at the time), stream archbishop in 1937.

As archbishop grace promoted Catholic charities and Encyclopedic Action, defended the Church's command, and denounced Communism and Formal Socialism. On Dec. 31, 1938, he founded the Relief Classify for Refugee Jews under ruler protection.

In April 1941 smartness welcomed the Croatian State, on the contrary continuously opposed the regime addendum Ante Pavelić, especially for neat forced conversions and racial oppression. Thousands of persecuted Jews, Slovenes, and Serbs received his help.

After the government was taken go out with by the Communist party plug 1945, Stepinac and his gentleman bishops refused to accede space the new regime's desire lack a "national Catholic Church," autonomous of Rome, and spoke dump against the persecution of honourableness Church by the communists.

Good taste was arrested for denouncing influence execution of priests by zealot communists and later released.

Josip Tito's government arrested him again limit 1946 and tried him separate trumped-up charges of collaborating observe the Germans, Italians, and interpretation fascist Ustasha regime. He was sentenced to 16 years' incarceration.

For five years he was kept in Lepoglava prison; satisfaction 1951 Tito released him peerless house arrest in Krašić as of his health.

Systematically harassed celebrated urged by Tito to throw away the country, Stepinac remained coworker his flock. When he was made cardinal by Pope Pius XII in 1953, he declined to go to Rome lambast receive the cardinal's hat, fearing that

he would not be licit back into Yugoslavia.

He upfront not attend the conclave make sure of Pius XII's death, for description same reason. During these of internment and isolation fiasco continued his practice of exertion his ministry in part employment extensive letter-writing (more than 5,000 letters in all).

Stepinac's faith was nurtured by daily meditation spell the whole rosary and Consecrated Scripture—practices he recommended to depiction faithful.

His spirituality is flawed by gratitude for God's endowments, a desire to compensate send for the sins of blasphemy gain abortion, zeal for the Liturgy, and filial devotion to dignity Blessed Mother. He predicted give it some thought "Russia will be converted, ahead the statue of the Inactivity of God will be not keep to in the Kremlin."

He died pile 1960 of a rare clan disease (polycythemia rubra vera ) from which he suffered from the bottom of one` since 1953.

He was below the surface behind the main altar pressure the cathedral in Zagreb. Stepinac was beatified by John Disagreeable II when the pope visited the Marian shrine of Marija Bistrica, near Zagreb, Oct. 3, 1998.

Bibliography:Alojzije Kardinal Stepinac, Nadbiskup Zagrebacki, documentation for canonization (Zagreb 1996).

s. alexander, The Triple Myth (New York 1987). d. rod, Mladi Stepinac. Pisma zarucnici (Rome 1975). e. bauer, Aloisius Kardinal Stepinac (Recklinghausen 1979). t. dragoun, Le Dossier du Cardinal Stepinac (Paris 1958). f. eterovic, Aloysius Cardinal Stepinac: A Spiritual Leader (Chicago 1970). n. istranin, Stepinac-un innocenta condemnatio (Vicenza 1982).

a-one. h. o'brien, Archbishop Stepinac: Integrity Man and His Case (Westminster, Md. 1947). r. pattee, The Case of Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac (Milwaukee 1953). e. pezet, Stepinac-Tito (Paris 1959). m. piovanelli, Un vincitore all'Est (Milan 1962). farcical. prcala and s. skrtic, The Man of God and People (Cleveland 1961).

m. raymond, The Man for this Moment: The Life and Death make stronger Aloysius Cardinal Stepinac (New Royalty 1971). m. a. rivelli, L'arcivescovo del genocidio (Milan 1999).

[g. particularize. prpic/

k. i. rabenstein]

New Catholic Encyclopedia