István Sándor

In 1936, despite the initial reluctance of his parents, whom he managed to convince, István Sándor was admitted to the Clarisseum, the Salesian house in Rákospalota-Újpest (Budapest). He completed his aspirantate there and trained as a master typographer at the Don Bosco printing house. He began his novitiate on April 1, 1938, in Mezőnyárád, but it was interrupted by his military service. Recalled to the colors several times during the Second World War, he served as a telegrapher corporal and received the War Merit Cross. He pronounced his first vows as a Salesian coadjutor brother (consecrated layman) on September 8, 1940. After the war, he returned to the Clarisseum, where he devoted himself fully to the education of young apprentices and orphans, leading the oratory and directing the Association of Young Catholic Workers (KIOE).

In 1949, the communist regime of Mátyás Rákosi began to confiscate Church property and close Catholic schools. In June 1950, religious orders were officially dissolved. Refusing to flee abroad despite the advice of his superiors, István Sándor chose to remain in Hungary to continue his mission among the youth in a clandestine manner. Under a false name, he worked as a laborer in a detergent factory (Persil) while secretly organizing meetings, excursions, and catechism classes for young people. Among these youths were members of the Party Guard (pártőrség), attached to the ÁVH (the secret police). Closely monitored, he was arrested on July 28, 1952. He endured 184 hours of brutal interrogations and torture, but refused to renounce his faith or betray his companions.

Accused of conspiracy against the State and high treason in the context of the "Party Guard trial," István Sándor was sentenced to death by a military tribunal. He was executed by hanging on June 8, 1953, at the Fő Street prison in Budapest, at the age of 38. His family did not officially learn of his death until 1955. He was rehabilitated by the Hungarian government in 1994. The cause for beatification was opened in Budapest on May 24, 2006. On March 27, 2013, Pope Francis recognized his martyrdom in hatred of the faith (in odium fidei). His beatification was solemnly celebrated on October 19, 2013, in the square of St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest, presided over by Cardinal Angelo Amato on behalf of Pope Francis.

István Sándor's spirituality is deeply rooted in the charism of Don Bosco: love for the Eucharist, devotion to Mary Help of Christians, and absolute dedication to working-class youth. As a Salesian brother, he embodied holiness in daily work and education through kindness. In 2018, after extensive historical and archaeological research conducted by historian Judit Bertáné Varga, his anonymous grave was located in the new public cemetery of Rákoskeresztúr in Budapest (plot 301). His remains were exhumed and formally identified by DNA analysis in March 2019. On June 4, 2022, his relics were solemnly placed in a reliquary at the Clarisseum in Budapest during a Mass presided over by the Rector Major of the Salesians, Father Ángel Fernández Artime.