Subj : April 2nd - Bl. Vilmos Apor, Bishop
To   : All
From : rich
Date : Mon Apr 01 2019 09:48:00

From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

April 2nd - Bl. Vilmos Apor, Bishop
(Also known as Vilhelm Apor, Gulielmus Apor, William Apor)

(1892-1945)

During World War II, Hungary sided with the Germans. That meant that
as the Nazis were defeated, Russia took control of the country, and a
communist government was set up that lasted until 1989. The Church
suffered much during those years, especially during the initial
Russian invasion of 1944-1945. One of the victims then was the Bishop
of Gyor, Vilmos Apor.

Apor was born in Sevesgar, Transylvania, on February 20, 1892.
Transylvania, then a part of eastern Hungary, was detached from it and
added to Rumania after World War I. Vilmos came from a noble family,
as had many of the Hungarian bishops, for it was customary for the
second son of noble couples to enter the priesthood. Vilmos' brothe=
r,
Baron Gabor Apor, was Hungarian ambassador to the Holy See from 1939
to 1945.

Vilmos' early career as a priest was apparently impressive, for on
January 21, 1941, he was named Bishop of Gyor, a sizable city in
northwest Hungary, with a Catholic population of 500,000. An American
priest of Hungarian background describes Apor as an imposing person,
=E2=80=9CBut very kind and personable=E2=80=9D. Despite his aristocratic ba=
ckground,
he was hardworking and had a strong sense of social justice. =E2=80=9CPasto=
r
of the poor,=E2=80=9D they called him. In 1944 he provided emergency suppli=
es
to Jews being deported through his town.

The Russian invaders of 1945 were noted for their brutality. The
terrorized women in particular, and did not hesitate to kill anybody
who tried to defend them.

One who could not leave Hungarian women undefended was Bishop Apor.

The Bishop had hidden several pursued women from the predatory Russian
soldiery in the cellar of his residence at Gyor. On Good Friday, March
30, 1945, a drunken band of armed Russian soldiers, intent on
abducting them, approached the Bishop's cellar determined to get in=
...
Bishop Apor was standing in front of the door. The soldiers tried to
push him away.

=E2=80=9CNo, you can't go in,=E2=80=9D he said.

Their answer? They shot him, wounding him mortally, and pressed on
with their mad search.

The Bishop of Gyor had laid down his life in defense of the lives and
virtue of a group of helpless women. He had obeyed the command of the
Scriptures: =E2=80=9CDefend the lowly and the fatherless=E2=80=A6 from the =
hand of the
wicked deliver them=E2=80=9D (Ps. 82:3-4). In the twinkling of an eye he ha=
d
become a martyr, a new paschal victim.

Pope John Paul II acknowledge that fact officially when he beatified
Vilmos Apor, Bishop and Martyr, in St. Peter's Basilica on November=
 9,
1997.


Saint Quote:
Be assured that he who shall always walk faithfully in God's presence,
always ready to give Him an account of all his actions, shall never be
separated from Him by consenting to sin.
-- St. Thomas Aquinas

Bible Quote:
=C2 "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You,
through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are
ever with me." [Psalm 119:97-98]


<><><><>
"Heavenly Father, you offer us abundant grace, mercy, and forgiveness
through your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to live a
grace-filled life as Mary did by believing in your promises and by
giving you my unqualified 'yes' to your will and plan for my life."


--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)

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