(ANS - Budapest) – On Saturday, 19 October, in the picturesque square in front of the Basilica of St. Stephen in Budapest, Stephen Sándor, Salesian Brother, martyr of the faith, was declared blessed.

The liturgy was presided over by Cardinal Peter Erdo, Archbishop of Esztergom -Budapest and Primate of Hungary. He was the one who applied for the Servant of God to be enrolled in the book of the blessed. The Procurator General, Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, gave a brief presentation of the life of Stephen Sándor.  Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and representative of the Pope, read the Apostolic Letter in which Stephen Sándor was declared Blessed.

In the letter the new Blessed is described as an exemplary educator and catechist of young people, following Don Bosco’s method of kindness. When the image of the newly beatified was uncovered, a painting and a few letters of Stephen Sándor were brought to the altar by Bro. Jean Paul Müller, Economer General of the Salesians and Fr Abraham Bela, Salesian Provincial in Hungary.
In his homily, Cardinal Erdo pointed out that the martyrdom of Stephen Sándor was the outcome of a political process that was designed to attack the Church, especially in its educational institutions.

The Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva then expressed his thanks on behalf of the whole Salesian Congregation.

Cardinal Amato also gave a talk in which he pointed out that the new Blessed has a threefold message for the sons of St. John Bosco: the faithful observance of consecrated life in joy, in work, and in the community; the example of a committed educator, who was a highly professional typesetter and at the same time a teacher much loved by his students; martyrdom, as the supreme witness of faith, hope and charity.

"Religious persecution creates a gulf between human beings, but the martyrs with their sacrifice build bridges of brotherhood, forgiveness and acceptance. (...) Consecrated life is truly a white martyrdom, lived from day to day in fidelity to the Gospel and the charism of the congregation. A heroic gesture cannot be improvised," said Cardinal Amato.

The celebration was marked by the presence of more than 8,000 people in the square, among whom there were 3000 young people from Salesian works and 600 from Szolnok, the birthplace of the new Blessed. Also present were the head of state, Hon. Janos Ader, the President of Parliament, several ministers and representatives of the city.

About 40 concelebrating bishops were among the religious authorities present.

Finally, about 300 Salesians were present, among them 5 bishops and 120 Brothers. In addition to the Rector Major, other members of the General Council included Fr Adrian Bregolin, Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Francis Cereda, Councillor for Formation, Bro. Jean Paul Müller, Economer General, and Fr Marek Charzan, Regional Councillor for Northern Europe.
Posted on 21/10/2013

Published 21/10/2013