Marija Bistrica: 302nd votive pilgrimage of the youth of Zagreb Archdiocese

Numerous believers gathered in Marija Bistrica on the occasion of the 302nd votive pilgrimage of the youth of Zagreb Archdiocese.

This year, under the motto "Hear us, Mother, our hope", a Eucharistic celebration was held in the open-air area of the church of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, led by Zagreb Archbishop Dražen Kutleša.

Croatian Television reporter Lucija Judnić Rašljanin was in Marija Bistrica, who appeared on news at noon and said that the archbishop first reminded of the special connection between the Croatian people and the Mother of God, then mentioned that throughout history, Croats have enjoyed gathering not only here in Marija Bistrica but also in other Marian shrines, and that they have always prayed and thanked the Mother of God the most.

“He also referred to the unification of peoples, saying that it is not politics that unites, but that it should be faith. He spoke mostly about hope, saying that hope is not gullible optimism, but the strength of the heart, and in the end, he addressed all the pilgrims who came here, saying that this pilgrimage is not the end but the beginning. He told the youth that they should not be afraid of the future, he told the elderly that life was not in vain, and he told all those who came here today that they should never tire of doing good in their lives,” she concluded.

Archbishop Kutleša reminded the multitude of believers in his sermon that pilgrimage is deeply rooted in history.

“Since ancient times, in times of war and hardship, trials and crosses, the people of Zagreb have come to the Mother of Bistrica. They came to give thanks, but even more - to pray and cry out,” said the archbishop, recalling the event from 1935 when Zagreb Archbishop Antun Bauer, together with the youth coadjutor archbishop Alojzije Stepinac, crowned the statue of Our Lady of Bistrica and proclaimed her the Queen of the Croats.

“It was a time of political tension and uncertainty, but the people knew: if they stay with Mary, they will stay with Christ. On that occasion, Blessed Alojzije Stepinac compared the Croatian people to a traveler who has been sailing the ocean of life in the homeland that God has given them since its beginnings,” the archbishop said in his sermon.

“Coming on pilgrimage,” he added, “is not only an expression of a pious custom, but also of a firm belief that in front of the image of Mary, new strength can be found, meaning in dark moments, and that Mary can help transform anxiety into trust, and human weakness into a journey towards Christ.”

The world offers us false hopes that disappoint

“We often find ourselves burdened by our own crosses. These are the crosses of illness, poverty, misunderstanding, and an uncertain future. The world offers us false hopes that everything will be better if we earn more, if we secure ourselves with human plans, if we escape from pain into superficial pleasures. However, experience shows us that these are hopes that disappoint,” Archbishop Kutleša emphasized, with the message that Christian hope never disappoints.

The Archbishop emphasized, among other things, that we live in a time in which it is easy to lose confidence, in which many experience anxiety due to insecurity, division, and fear.

“Wars and armed conflicts have once again gripped Europe and the world. Before our eyes are images of violence, destroyed families, exiles, and disenfranchised people. Societies that swore to lasting peace are rediscovering that human contracts are fragile if they are not rooted in truth and justice,” he emphasized, adding that these trials are not only global, they are also felt in Croatian homes.

“Many families are experiencing crises: parents struggle with job insecurity, children with the temptations of superficial entertainment and the virtual world, the elderly with loneliness and the feeling of being forgotten. There are more and more people who wonder whether it makes sense to live honestly, to fight for marriage and family, to remain faithful to God when the world offers easier and faster paths,” the archbishop emphasized.

In Bistrica, we see how hope turns into unity

“Mary teaches us not to trust in temporary security, but in God who never abandons his children. She encourages us to believe that, despite all divisions, love and forgiveness have the last word,” said Archbishop Kutleša, and in the end he said that Marija Bistrica is a refuge for all who seek hope and comfort.

“The history of our people's hope is written here,” the archbishop added, “people came here in the most difficult times - when trials broke families, when threats came from outside and inside, when it was difficult to remain faithful to Christ.”

“Here in Bistrica we see how hope is transformed into unity,” said the archbishop and said that the Shrine of Our Lady of Bistrica is becoming a sign of what the Church is - a community of hope that does not only look to the past, but courageously builds the future.

The first pilgrims arrived in Marija Bistrica on Saturday, when a solemn procession to the Shrine led by auxiliary bishops Ivan Šaško and Mijo Gorski followed.

The pilgrimage program on the first day ended with the Service of Light in the open-air Church of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac and the Bistrica Calvary.

Source: HRT