Blessed Anton Maria Schwartz
Blessed Anton Maria Schwartz (born February 28, 1852 AD in Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria; died September 15, 1929 AD in Vienna, Austria) was an Austrian Catholic priest who became the great pioneer of workers' rights and social Catholicism in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Known as the "Apostle of the Apprentices" (Apostel der Lehrlinge), he dedicated his priestly life to improving the legal and spiritual condition of apprentices and working-class youth in Vienna. He founded the Pious Workers congregation (Pii Operarii). He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Vienna on June 21, 1998. His feast day is July 15.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Anton Maria Schwartz
| Blessed Anton Maria Schwartz | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | July 15 |
| Profession | Austrian diocesan priest; social reformer; founder of the Pious Workers (Pii Operarii); pioneer of Catholic social action; Apostle of the Apprentices; labor rights advocate |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Pious Workers (Pii Operarii); Austrian Catholic Church; Catholic Social Movement; Vienna Catholic tradition |
| Patronage | Apprentices; young workers; working-class youth; labor rights advocates; Austria; Vienna; the Pious Workers congregation; Catholic social action |
| Attributes | Priest's vestments; a workman's tool (hammer or wrench, symbol of his apostolate to workers); a book or document (labor reform); Vienna (his city); cross |
| Birthplace | Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria |
| Death Place | Vienna, Austria |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died September 15, 1929, in Vienna, Austria; he was 77 years old; he had spent more than fifty years of his priestly life in Vienna working for the rights of apprentices and working-class youth; his feast falls on July 15, the feast of his patron Saint Bonaventure and near the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; he had devoted his priestly life to labor reform, social advocacy, and the spiritual care of working-class youth; his cause was introduced and he was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Vienna on June 21, 1998 |
| Primary Shrine | Vienna, Austria — Church of the Pious Workers; July 15 feast; Austrian Catholic veneration |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; July 15 feast in Austria and among the Pious Workers |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Anton Maria Schwartz was born February 28, 1852, in Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria. Ordained a priest in 1875, he was assigned to work in the industrial working-class districts of Vienna.
He became acutely aware of the desperate situation of apprentices and young workers in Vienna's factories and workshops, who worked 14-16 hour days, had no Sunday rest, lived in squalid conditions, and had no legal protection. Beginning in the 1870s, he campaigned relentlessly for their rights — writing petitions, appearing before authorities, organizing Catholic workers' associations.
In 1889 he founded the Pious Workers (Pii Operarii), a congregation of priests devoted to apostolic work among the working class, which received papal approval.
He worked for over fifty years in this apostolate. He died September 15, 1929, in Vienna. Pope John Paul II beatified him in Vienna on June 21, 1998.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria
Death location: Vienna, Austria
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Feast day
July 15
Veneration
Blessed Anton Maria Schwartz (1852–1929) was an Austrian priest and pioneer of the Catholic social movement, called the "Apostle of the Apprentices" for his lifelong advocacy of workers' rights in Vienna. Founder of the Pious Workers congregation (1889). Beatified John Paul II, Vienna, 1998. Feast July 15.
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