Blessed Anton Martin Slomšek
Slovenian bishop of Lavant, educator and poet, beatified in 1999
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Bishop
- Life
- 1800 – 1862
- Era
- 19th century
- Feast
- 24 September
- Countries
- Slovenia
Life story
Anton Martin Slomšek was born on 26 November 1800 at Slom, near Ponikva, in Styria in present-day Slovenia. He attended secondary school in Celje, Ljubljana and Senj, then studied theology at Klagenfurt and was ordained a priest in 1824. He served two Slovene parishes in Styria, and in 1829 became spiritual director of the seminary at Klagenfurt, where he also taught Slovene.
He wrote many books and sermons in Slovene. His works include the sermon collection Apostolska hrana (1849) and the educational periodical Drobtinice, begun in 1846. He also compiled a collection of Slovene folk songs in 1833 and wrote didactic poems, some of which are still sung today.
On 30 May 1846 he was appointed bishop of Lavant and was consecrated that July. He pressed for the see to move from Sankt Andrä in Carinthia to Maribor, which happened in 1859. After the 1848 constitution he helped found many schools and taught in some of them; in 1851–1852 he founded the Hermagoras Society to distribute good books cheaply to the public.
He died on 24 September 1862 in Maribor. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 19 September 1999 in Maribor. He has not been canonised; his feast is 24 September.
Works and witness
- Ordained in 1824 and taught Slovene at the Klagenfurt seminary
- Published the educational periodical Drobtinice from 1846
- Bishop of Lavant from 1846 and moved the see to Maribor in 1859
- Founded the Hermagoras Society to distribute books (1851–1852)
- Beatified on 19 September 1999 in Maribor
Saints from the same country
References
- Encyclopedia.com, Slomšek, Anton Martin, Bl.
- Wikipedia, Anton Martin Slomšek (appointment and move dates)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.