He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nagyvarad on 24 August 1915. He served as a curate in Gyula and as a military chaplain for a brief time during the war. He worked for a year as the prefect of Nagyvarad's seminary and then returned to Gyula as parish priest. Although young, he worked with profound wisdom and pastoral zeal. He was distinguished for his love of the poor. To further the religious education of the young he established a college and invited religious congregations to the city in order to strengthen the religious life of the faithful. A true priestly community was created in his parish and he strove to maintain good relations with the pastors and faithful of the other denominations.
Pope Pius XII appointed him Bishop of Gyor on 21 January 1941. He was consecrated a Bishop on the following 24 February and took possession of his see on 2 March. He chose as his episcopal motto: "The Cross strengthens the weak and makes gentle the strong". Despite the raging war at the time, he worked with great enthusiasm. He loved his priests, the weak and the needy. He used every occasion to alleviate the distress and suffering of others. He energetically devoted himself to strengthening the moral and religious education of young people.
When racial laws were introduced into Hungary, lie defended the victims of injustice and raised his voice against the political authorities in power. In his various writings and sermons he condemned persecution and brutal actions, thereby risking his own safety. During bombardments lie did not hesitate to come to the immediate aid of the victims.
As the war front drew near, he housed the refugees in his episcopal palace and withdrew to a small room. On hearing the horrible news of the risk to which women were put, he declared that he was ready to defend them even at the cost of his own life. This he was to demonstrate on Good Friday afternoon when some drunken Russian soldiers arrived at the episcopal palace to bring to their barracks 100 women and girls who had taken refuge in the cellar. The Bishop categorically refused the request. After a long altercation, a Russian officer began making threats with his pistol; the Bishop slowly advanced, trying to make him leave the cellar. At that moment the officer turned and fired. The Bishop was shot in the forehead, hand and stomach. The frightened Russian soldiers ran off; the Bishop fell to the ground.
After a preliminary examination he was taken to the hospital and underwent
surgery. Awakening from the operation, he thanked God that none of
the women lodged in the cellar had been violated. He also thanked God for
having accepted his sacrifice. After surgery he spoke his last words as
he prepared for death. He prayed for his priests, the faithful, the Hungarian
people, the State authorities and his country. He died on Easter Monday,
2 April 1945, entrusting his soul to God's mercy.
He was buried in the crypt of the Carmelite church. His confessor, a Carmel- ite priest, immediately wrote to the diocesan authorities to begin the beatification process, because the Bishop was truly a saint and a martyr. He is now buried in the cathedral of Gyor.
(Copied with permission from: L'OsservatoreRomano; November 12, 1997)
Note: Bishop Apor is related to the Swiss Jesuit Peter Henrici (b. 1928), Auxiliary Bishop of Chur, who is a cousin of the late Hans Urs Von Balthasar (1905-88) and an expert on Maurice Blondel.
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