The Trusted Person of Bishop Áron Márton: Imre Sándor

Abstract

Sándor Imre (1893–1956) is the Martyr priest of the Transylvanian Diocese; he was the most trusted person of Bishop Márton Áron. Besides the path he chose to teaching and priesthood and his writings and editorial work in journals, he also dedicated his life to educate the faithful in the Diocese of Alba Iulia. In 1931, Bishop Mailáth G. Károly was appointed Director of the Roman Catholic Community in Transylvania. Sándor Imre was responsible for the Transylvanian Catholic religious self-consciousness during his four-year mandate.In 1934, in the spirit of Actio Catholica, he was given the opportunity to lead, between 1934 and 1939, one of the most populous parishes of the Alba Iulia bishopric, namely, Odorheiu Secuiesc. Following the consecration of Márton Áron as Bishop, he called Sándor Imre to his residence and ordained him as Vicar. Following the second decision taken in Vienna, in 1940, he was given the highest assignment of confidence, i.e., he became the Episcopal Governor of the Diocese of Alba Iulia in Hungary. When this assignment ended (1945), Márton Áron ordered him again to Alba Iulia. Throughout, Sándor Imre was a loyal associate of the confessor Bishop of Transylvania. For, his ecclesial conduct, Sándor Imre also followed his bishop in prison and, on the 29th of February 1956, he froze to death in the cruel conditions of the Râmnicul Sărat penitentiary.