MERZ, IVAN. — A distinguished promoter of Catholic Action in Croatia, born in Banjaluka (Bosnia) on 16 December 1896 and died in Zagreb on 10 May 1928; he studied in Vienna and Paris, earned a degree in philosophy at Zagreb, where he later became a professor at the archiepiscopal lycée.
His contribution to the formation and growth of the «Orlovi» (Eagles) Association was notable; it soon became the most flourishing and promising youth organization. He led an intense spiritual life and deepened his study of the papal encyclicals, disseminated knowledge of them, and saw to their application; in this way he instilled in Croatian Catholic youth the stamp of a genuine Roman spirit.