Blessed János Brenner: The “Hungarian Tarcisius” | Young Priest & Martyr for the Eucharist
Blessed János Brenner (1931–1957) was a young Hungarian Cistercian priest and martyr whose short life shone with extraordinary love for Jesus and the Eucharist. Ordained at just 24, he became known for his joyful youth ministry, drawing many young people back to the faith during a time of harsh communist persecution in Hungary. Because his ministry threatened the authorities, János was targeted. In 1957, he was deceived by a false request to bring Holy Communion to a sick person. On his way through the woods, he was ambushed and stabbed 32 times. He was found the next day, dead — still clutching the Eucharist he had been carrying to the supposed dying person. For this reason, he is lovingly called the “Hungarian Tarcisius,” after the early Christian martyr who died protecting the Blessed Sacrament. Beatified by Pope Francis in 2018, Blessed János is a powerful witness to courage, purity of …More