Minister Anušić in Lourdes on the 30th pilgrimage of Croatian military, police and veterans

Defense Minister Anušić participated on Thursday with the Croatian military, the police and veterans in the 30th military pilgrimage to Lourdes, where he pointed out that the pilgrimage is a visible proof of the sacrifice of Croats and Croatian veterans who fought for Croatia's independence and freedom with a rosary around their necks.

More than 14 thousand pilgrims from more than 40 countries of the world participate in the military pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Celebration of may in front of the Cave of Apparitions, devotion to the Stations of the Cross, lighting of votive candles and penitential worship marked the first day of the 30th pilgrimage of the Croatian military, police and veterans to Lourdes, which was joined as a pilgrim by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić, announced the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia.

About a thousand members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian police, military invalids and Croatian veterans, firefighters, and representatives of the ministries of defense, interior affairs and Croatian veterans are participating in the pilgrimage. Members of the Croatian component of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina traditionally joined the pilgrimage.

“The military pilgrimage to Lourdes is a visible and tangible proof of the sacrifice of the Croatian man and every Croatian veteran who won Croatian independence and freedom with a rosary around his neck,” said Anušić.

Speaking about the inseparability of the Catholic Church and religion with the Croatian people and the Croatian army, the Minister of Defense recalled the Homeland War.

“This is an opportunity for the whole world to see how the Croatian army developed. Formed in the Homeland War, it became the victorious Croatian army that defended Croatia in the early 1990s, and in 1995 it defended and liberated Croatia. Few armies in the world have a history and a story like ours,” pointed out Anušić, who himself participated in the Homeland War.

Military Bishop Bogdan: This is a holy place of special consolation

In front of the Cave of Apparitions in Lourdes, military bishop Jure Bogdan said that human life is exposed to many challenges and difficulties and that life is not an idyll, but resembles an arena. However, we are not alone in this struggle. We are never abandoned, the Lord is with us! Moreover, not only is He with us, but He is in us,” Bishop Bogdan pointed out.

After Holy Mass in front of the Cave of Apparitions, the Stations of the Cross devotion followed, together with police and military chaplains, cadets, police trainees and officials from the ministries of defense of the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Croatian Veterans, led by the military bishop in the Republic of Croatia, Jure Bogdan, and the archbishop Vrhbosna and apostolic administrator of the Military Ordinariate in Bosnia and Herzegovina Msgr. Tomo Vukšić.

At the end of the Stations of the Cross, Archbishop Vukšić warned that this devotion should not become just a memory. "Regardless of the fact that our entire faith is a memory, we need to actualize it, to look for answers for our life on the basis of memory. The purpose of his testimony is not suffering, but faithfulness, even in spite of everything!" he said.

The votive candle of the 30th pilgrimage of the Croatian army, police and veterans to Lourdes was lit by the commander of the 30th Croatian military pilgrimage, Brigadier General Željko Ljubas.

“It is an exceptional honor and pleasure for us to be in this holy place today with all Croatian veterans, Croatian war invalids, the Croatian army and all pilgrims. You really feel a wonderful peace here, we bring all our prayers and thanks to Our Lady and ask her to ask for a blessing from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for our family and for our homeland,” said Croatian Army officer, Josip Miljković.

Source: HRT