Our Lord called up Father Milan Badal

On Sunday March 24 His Grace Mgr. Milan Badal, ECLJ, priest, publicist and teacher, parish administrator in Hostivice, Director of outer relations of Archbishopric of Prague, personal chaplain and long-time friend of Cardinal Dominik Duka, passed away.

During Communist regime Milan Badal became secret member of Dominican Order, took part in samizdat editions of Christian literature, after 1989 he helped with founding the publishing house “Petrov“. For eight years he has been editor-in-chief of “Katolický týdeník“ (Catholic weekly), later on he has been a member of both Council of Czech television and Council of Czech Radio.

He has been admitted to the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem in 2011 in the rank of Ecclesiastical Commander. Milan Badal was a very vigorous member of the Order and in 2016 he was decorated with the merit cross “Pro Fide et Merite“ of the Grand Priory of Bohemia. In 2018 he led the main programme of spritual re-establishment for the Order’s members in Hejnice.

Milan Badal liked to name the things by their right names, he was an astute commentator of topical events, author of straightforward sermons and, last but not least, excellent cook, host and gourmet. For many years until the last days he has devotedly taken care of his now ninety-six years old mother.

In December 2018 Milan Badal was installed as non-residential canon of Collegiate Chapter Of Assumption if Virgin Mary at the castle Karlštejn. Recently he had to go to the hospital. The Prague archbishop Dominik Cardinal Duka visited him in the hospital and presented him with the canon’s biret. The same day in the afternoon, after the last sacrament was administered to him, Father Milan passed away.

The Order’s requiem mass takes place on Tuesday March 26 at 5 PM in the Order’s church of  St. Cajetan in Nerudova street in Prague. Requiescat in pace!

Photographs by Martina Řehořová and Lucie Horníková, Člověk a víra