Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary celebrated in Croatia

Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a national holiday in Croatia, when believers mark the taking of the Virgin Mary's body and soul up to heaven upon the completion of her earthly life. 

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 arch bishop Dražen Kutleša. In his homily he spoke about Mary as a woman who loves personal and national history rooted in God. He said that a man without roots and a past does not know or understand himself.

“Belonging to a certain nation and the community of the Catholic Church, outlines clear rules for life, it creates conscience and the awareness of an individual, it defines the manner and definition of life, it creates solidarity among people, and creates a feeling of connectivity. A healthy feeling of belonging, does not give birth to sick nationalism in relation to the people, or religious fanaticism with exclusivity in relation to membership in the Catholic Church, but rather pride that does not humiliate others and those that are different, and loves and supports its own,” said arch bishop Dražen Kutleša

Many believers also came to the Marian shrine on Trsat - the oldest in Croatia. All masses there are celebrated in the garden outdoors. The morning mass, which was also attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and his colleagues, was led by the provincial minister Fr. Milan Krišto.

“We could say that Mary is simply a mother, and that was always the message of this center here in Trsat, and you learn best from your mother, in order to quickly greet others and serve them; bring them Christ the Lord, precisely as a new hope and perspective for life. Amen,” said Fr. Milan Krišto in his homily.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković conveyed greetings on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption.

“Greetings to all believers and all pilgrims, for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is truly a beautiful atmosphere here today on Trsat, one of most important Marian shrines. There are many people, evidently after the pandemic it can be seen that there was a desire and will of a big number of people to come. I believe it will be the same throughout Croatia and that all together, we will spend this holiday in peace and unity, with our families,” said the Prime Minister.

In Sinj, the biggest Marian shrine in southern Croatia, the feast of the Assumption was celebrated today, with the message of the apostolic administrator of Split-Makarska archdiocese Želimir Puljić, that virtuous mothers are the strength of the family and the future of society. In the last nine days, Sinj was visited by more than 150 thousand believers from Dalmatia and other parts of Croatia and neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, and today's celebration was also attended by many foreigners.

The Sinj celebration began with mass at dawn at the Grad fortress, and then a traditional procession was held through the streets of the city in which Alkar knights, policemen, soldiers, young priests and representatives of various associations carried the image of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, whom the people of Sinj especially worship as their heavenly protector since, it is believed that in 1715, she helped the small number of defenders in Sinj defend against the Turkish enemy in their onslaught.

Source: HRT