Blessed Anton Martin Slomsek

Biography

Blessed Anton Martin Slomsek, also known as Anton Martin Slomshek, was born on 26 November 1800 in Ponikva pri ≈Ωalcu, Savinjska, Slovenia. He came from a humble peasant family in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and dedicated his life to the service of God and the Catholic Church.

Anton Martin Slomsek began his journey towards priesthood as a seminarian at Klagenfurt, Austria, where he received his ordination on 8 September 1824. Following his ordination, he served as a parish priest for five years before being appointed as the spiritual director of the Klagenfurt seminary.

One of Bishop Slomsek's notable contributions was his efforts in preserving the Slovene language and culture. At the time, the German-speaking rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire posed a threat to the Slovenian language, which led to its endangerment. Recognizing the importance of preserving their cultural identity, Bishop Slomsek taught the Slovene language to seminarians and played a significant role in its revival.

On 30 May 1846, Anton Martin Slomsek was appointed as the Prince-bishop of Lavant, Austria, which is now modern-day Maribor, Slovenia. As bishop, he initiated a campaign of patriotic education, making significant strides in the field of education. He built new schools, encouraged the use of the Slovenian language, and promoted Slovenian culture. Furthermore, he authored textbooks, edited various publications, and founded a weekly newspaper to disseminate information and foster national consciousness among the Slovene people.

To support his educational initiatives, Bishop Slomsek established the Saint Hermagoras Society publishing house, a prominent institution that published popular works in Slovenian. Through his relentless efforts, the region witnessed a significant rise in literacy rates, and Slovene culture flourished.

Blessed Anton Martin Slomsek was known for his dedication to the people, his pastoral care, and his commitment to nurturing the Slovene identity within the Catholic Church. His life and work were dedicated to serving God and promoting the well-being of his community.

Anton Martin Slomsek passed away on 24 September 1862 in Maribor, Podravska, Slovenia, due to natural causes. His virtuous life and his contributions to the faith and culture of the Slovene people led to his veneration, which was officially recognized on 31 May 1996 by Pope John Paul II. On 19 September 1999, Pope John Paul II beatified him during a ceremony that took place in Maribor, Slovenia, marking him as the first beatified Slovene. His feast day is celebrated on 24 September.