Stepinac's Day celebrated in Zagreb and Krašić

It was 66 years ago that Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac died. Stepinac's Day is being celebrated in Zagreb, but also in Krašić, where he died in 1960 under house arrest after being sentenced to 16 years in prison. In Krašić, which has been visited by thousands of pilgrims this year, Eucharistic celebrations have been held since morning.

“Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac is among the most beloved Croatian blessed people because throughout his life he witnessed unwavering faith in God, love for ordinary people and the Croatian people,” said journalist Tanja Kuturovac, who reported from Krašić.

In his sermon, Bishop Antun Škvorčević of Požega said that while we wait for Cardinal Stepinac to be canonized, we can be happy that we can celebrate him as a blessed person all the time.

Stepinac's Day was preceded by nine days of spiritual renewal during which more than 10,000 believers and 100 priests from all parts of Croatia passed through Krašić.

“He is our blessed of this entire region, a saint, we pray to him for all our intentions,” said one believer.

“Our saint, our protector, our Croatia,” said a lady who came to the mass celebration.

“A holiday for a person to relax a little, to nourish his soul, to pray to Alojzije Stepinac and to make it easier for us to go through life,” said one lady.

“The message that he tells us "just take it easy" is: just take it easy, let's persevere and everything will be fine in the end because God is the one who always remains. Time will pass, but God is the one who remains,” said Father Ivan Vučak, pastor of the Parish of the Holy Trinity in Krašić.

Source: HRT