(ANS
– Budapest – March 25) – The Hungarian Salesian Province announced with
great joy and emotion that at the end of a long process of study and research,
it has succeeded in identifying and bringing to light the remains of Blessed
Stephen Sandor, Salesian martyr (1914-1953).
The beatification Mass of Blessed Stephen Sandor in St. Stephen Square
in front of St. Stephen
Cathedral in Budapest, Oct. 19, 2013.
|
Preparation
work began over a year ago under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Eva Susa, a
legal expert. Based on the documents of the era that were consulted,
professional experience, and the hypotheses held, there was a conviction, or at
least the strong hope, that the martyr’s body was buried with companions who
shared the same tragic death, in the New Public Cemetery of Budapest, and more
precisely in the 37th place, in the second row, in burial niche 301.
The
Hungarian Communist government sentenced Salesian Brother Stephen Sandor to
death on the basis of false charges; he was buried in an unmarked tomb. Before
his beatification in 2013, the Salesian Congregation had tried to recover his
body. The historical-archival study of Dr. B. Varga Judit, although not having
achieved a definitive result, largely contributed to the current work.
On
November 12, 2018, in the presence of scholars and experienced professionals,
the tomb was opened, and bones belonging to six complete skeletons were
extracted.
The
anthropological study performed on the bones took place in the NSZKK
Anthropology Laboratory of the National Research Center. Genetic material
belonging to the martyr was extracted from an envelope that Blessed Sandor had personally
sealed and from a stamp used by his brother. DNA analysis was performed by Dr.
Eszter Dudas.
“At
the end of these exams, carried out under strict specialist supervision, we are
pleased to announce that, from both a legal and a forensic point of view, among
the remains of the six subjects we found we were able to identify those of Blessed
Stephen Sandor, Salesian martyr,” Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, postulator general of
the causes of saints of the Salesian Family, stated with satisfaction.
Subsequently,
based on instructions from the Holy See, news will be provided regarding
authentication, preservation of the relics, and religious celebrations.
The
Salesian Family thanks all those who participated, collaborated, and made the
process of recovery and identification possible.
Press Conference on Discovery of Blessed Sandor’s Remains
(ANS –
Budapest – March 28) – During
a crowded press conference held at the provincial house of the Hungarian
Salesians in Budapest on March 27, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni (photo, 2d from left) commented: “This year
the whole Salesian Family worldwide is developing the theme of holiness. I
think the finding of the remains of Blessed Stephen Sandor is a great gift for
the Salesian Family and for the Hungarian Church and society.”
The Salesian
provincial on Hungary, Fr. Abraham Bela, and several scientific and forensic
specialists involved in the work of finding and identifying the remains also
took part in the press conference. Fr. Cameroni opened the session by recalling
that Pope Francis had declared Stephen Sandor a martyr exactly six years
earlier, on March 27, 2013. “There is therefore this happy correspondence
between his martyrdom and the finding of his remains,” he noted.
He then
explained how the recent discovery “is not in itself a novelty in the history
of the Church: in ancient times the remains of the martyrs were found, even
after decades and centuries. We are taking part in a story that continues.”
After
thanking the Salesians of Hungary and all the authorities – civil, medical, and
scientific – “who accompanied this process with great care and professionalism,”
the postulator general invited public authorities and the National Research Center
to support further research on the remains.
“On this
basis, we – as a Congregation and with the Holy See – can proceed from the
canonical-juridical-ecclesial point of view,” continued Fr. Cameroni, who
subsequently illustrated the entire process to which the remains will now be
subjected.
Fr.
Cameroni also announced that requests to receive small portions of the relics
of Blessed Sandor have already come in from different parts of the world, and
that soon a special reliquary will have to be made to allow the public
veneration of the relics.
Blessed Stephen's memorial is observed on June 8, the date of his execution and his entrance to eternal life.
Blessed Stephen's memorial is observed on June 8, the date of his execution and his entrance to eternal life.
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