Croatia celebrates the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a national holiday in Croatia, when believers celebrate the taking of the Virgin Mary's body and soul up to heaven upon the completion of her earthly life. Hundreds of thousands of believers throughout the country made pilgrimages to Marian shrines to celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. 

Eucharistic celebrations and processions were held from Marija Bistrica and Trsat to Aljmaš and Sinj. Like every year numerous pilgrims from all parts of Croatia traveled to the biggest Marian shrine in Croatia at Marija Bistrica, where mass was led by Zagreb Archbishop Dražen Kutleša.

“In a world marked by wars, injustice, economic insecurity and growing fear for the future, it is easy to fall into despair. Mary shows us that neither the cross, nor death, have the final say. Her Assumption testifies that God keeps his promises and that it pays to remain faithful to him to the end,” said arch bishop Kutleša.

Mass at the Marian shrine on Trsat was led by Rijeka Archbishop Mate Uzinić.

“We are not fighting against the past, nor are we only waiting for the future. We are called to act now, here on earth. Our world, like our Croatian society needs people that will, like Mary, believe and live their faith, who will not be closed in conceit and self-sufficiency, but rather be humble, who will not be indifferent to the suffering of others, but approach them with empathy and love,” said Archbishop Uzinić.

At the Marian shrine in Aljmaš, Đakovo Osijek Archbishop Đuro Hranić expressed concern for what is going on in the world.

“Today's feast of Mary's Assumption into heavenly glory, tells us not only that war will end in Ukraine and in Gaza, and other parts of the world, but that the right of the stronger will not, and cannot prevail, that something cannot be taken from someone by force, and then negotiate concessions with parts of what was taken, under the tutelage of powerful authorities who want to be the builders of world peace, and that sooner or later a just peace will nevertheless be established and justice served,” said Archbishop Hranjić.

In Sinj mass for the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was led by Split Makarska Archbishop Zdenko Križić.

“It's easy to believe when everything goes the way we want it to, when we have good health, when the family is functioning well, when the financial situation doesn't cause special problems, faith is tested in hardships, in the darkness of life,” said Archbishop Križić.

Pope Leo XIV celebrated the feast of the Assumption of Mary in Castel Gandolfo, where he celebrated Mass and led the midday Angelus prayer. He entrusted the prayer for peace to Mary's intercession and recalled the words of Pope Pius XII, who proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption of Mary in 1950, with the hope that Mary's example would contribute to awareness of the value of human life, and that there would never be war again.

Source: HRT