Venerable Ignac Stuchly (1869-1953)

By Fr. Vaclav Klement

Sacro Cuore, Rome, 25 December 2020 -- Czech Salesian Priest, Ignac Stuchly (1869-1953) is considered the founder of the Don Bosco Mission in the Czech Republic, where the Salesians established first community in 1927 (Frystak). His nickname is 'Staricek' (in diminuitive form: fondly called 'old man'- 'anzianotto' - 'nonnino') - since he entered with the first Salesian community to his homeland in 1927 when he was already 58 years old. He connects the Valdocco roots (personally guided by Don Rua for many years) and the Czech roots of the Salesian charism.

On 21 December 2020 in the audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro (Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints) Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree concerning the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Ignac Stuchly, who is now know as 'Venerable'. This is an important milestone in the long process after the death of Fr Stuchly, who died during the most difficult communist regime time (1953). Although many of the personal testimonials about his life and virtues were collected during the totalitarian times (before 1989), the formal diocesan process (Olomouc, Czech Republic, Archbishop Jan Graubner) started only in 1999 and was concluded in 2010. The 'Positio' (red cover on the photo) about his life, historical background, virtues was approved by the historians (2018) and nine theologians (2019).

Now, like all other Venerables in the Catholic Church, is a time to let Fr Ignac Stuchly be better known (600 pages of the Positio and 120 pages of the Theological Review) and pray through his intercession for a necessary miracle to be declared one day, God willing, a Blessed (Beatus). Indeed he shines for his depth and simplicity. His tomb is in the small town called Frystak, the first Salesian house in the Czech Republic - called after his name 'The House of Ignac Stuchly' (Youth Center - Oratory, Parish and Museum of Stuchly).

What is so attractive in this Venerable?

First he was a really hardworking Salesian - even his theological studies completed already as Economer of large community in Slovenia, he was behind the construction of the Mary Help of Christian Shrine (Rakovnik - Ljubljana, Slovenia) and supervising many constructions of the first five houses in Czech Republic under the very difficult situation of the time.

According to obediences received, he moved around many different countries without any special preparation - Italy (Valdocco), Ljubljana and Verzej (Slovenia), Italy (Perosa Argentina with the first group of Czech SDB Aspirants), Czechoslovakia (until 1939 there was just one province, then divided in two - Czech Republic and Slovakia). He was the first provincial of Czechoslovakia Province (until 1939) and then until 1948 the first provincial of the Czech Province.

Gospel-like simplicity, closeness to the young and Salesians in formation - for the first generation of Czech Salesians he is a father. He didn't left many letter (not even 200!), but he remains as a role-model in the Czech provincial community memory. In this way he was able to discern and accompany some 200+ Czech SDBs on their vocation journey over fewer than 25 years , with the huge challenges of both Nazi and communist totalitarianism.

We give thanks for a new Venerable, a gift to the whole Universal Church, for the whole Salesian Family and our hope is that he will better known and through his intercession especially the Salesian charism in his homeland will grow day by day!

Resources:

• Photo Archive: Salesian Saints
• Website on the Venerable Ignac Stuchly (ITA, ENG, CZECH, POL)
• Oficial news ANS - about the Venerable Ignas Stuchly (1869-1953)

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