Joseph Lang

Ordained a priest on September 16, 1883, in Zagreb, Josip Lang began as a vicar in Zlatar. He then became spiritual director and confessor at the Sisters of Charity hospital, also teaching at their normal school. In 1890, he was appointed spiritual director of the major seminary of Zagreb, and later rector in 1908. He also served as parish priest of St. Mary's Cathedral at Dolac, canon, archdeacon of Varaždin, apostolic protonotary, and pro-vicar general. On February 26, 1915, Pope Benedict XV appointed him auxiliary bishop of Zagreb and titular bishop of Alabanda. During the First World War, he displayed immense charitable activity, distributing his entire salary to the poor and visiting the sick daily, which earned him the nickname 'friend of the poor'.

From 1923, the health of Bishop Lang deteriorated severely due to heart problems. He accepted his suffering with patience and passed away on November 1, 1924, in Zagreb, on the day of All Saints, in a reputation of holiness. His funeral gathered a considerable crowd. One year later, his remains were solemnly transferred to the Saint Mary parish church in Dolac in Zagreb before more than 30,000 faithful.

The cause for beatification was opened by his successor, Blessed Alojzije Stepinac. The validity of the diocesan inquiry was confirmed on June 5, 1987. In September 1994, Pope Saint John Paul II paid public tribute to him in Zagreb. On November 25, 2024, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing his heroic virtues, conferring upon him the title of venerable.

Rooted in the love of the Eucharist and Marian devotion, Msgr. Lang promoted daily communion and founded the Society of Adoring Priests. He made numerous pilgrimages to Our Lady of the Scapular in Volavja. In 2002, the Jesuit priest Antun Cvek founded the Bishop Josip Lang Foundation to help the elderly and the sick, notably managing the Lang House in Mala Gorica.