Zagreb, (IKA) – On March 30, Archbishop Josip Cardinal Bozanić of Zagreb sent a letter to priests and religious on the coming of the body of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić to Zagreb:
Dear fellow priests, religious, brothers and sisters,
I am pleased to inform you with this letter that the body of our beloved Croatian saint, Saint Leopold Bogdan Mandić, whom, together with St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, Pope Francis wanted to bear witness to the Extraordinary Year of Mercy, is coming to us in Zagreb. His life and testimony are important for experiencing the mystery of Divine Mercy, both for us priests and for every believer.
For priests, his office as a confessor is of particular importance, whereby he is a sign and patron in our serving God’s love that forgives and saves. For every believer, he is a manifestation of the Father who goes out to meet, rejoices in and pardons repentant sinners (cf. Misericordiae Vultus, 17).
There are numerous reasons why we gather here as believers in prayer and celebration. We especially rejoice that a humble monk, Capuchin and son of the Croatian nation is a prominent symbol for the whole Church that is experiencing the grace of the Jubilee. Visiting a church in which the mortal remains of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić are exhibited, together with the customary prayers, is associated with the obtaining of a jubilee indulgence.
Therefore, I invite all priests, religious, seminarians, religious candidates, members of associations and movements, all the faithful, especially the faithful in the city of Zagreb, to participate in this joyful encounter with sanctity that is powerfully radiating God’s mercy today. I invite the venerable deans to organize pilgrimages in their deaneries.
According to the schedule below, there will be several opportunities for communal and individual encounters in prayer, and it is particularly important for us to come together in celebration on Thursday, April 14, at 7 p.m.in our cathedral. In the spirit of our encounter with a saint who was a zealous confessor, I note that in the church in which his mortal remains will be exhibited, there will also be the opportunity for holy confession, so that the faithful can encounter Divine Mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The program for the celebration will take place according to the following schedule:
On Wednesday, April 13, at 5 p.m., there will be the formal reception of the mortal remains of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić in front of the Zagreb cathedral (the formal reception rites and Vespers will be conducted by the Cardinal); at 7 p.m. the Eucharistic celebration will be led by Bishop Vlado Košić of Sisak. From 5:30 p.m. to midnight, there will be the opportunity for confession.
On Thursday, April 14, at 7 a.m., the Eucharistic celebration will be led by Auxiliary Bishop Mijo Gorski of Zagreb, at 8 a.m. the Eucharistic celebration will be led by Auxiliary Bishop Ivan Šaško of Zagreb, and at 9 a.m. the Eucharistic celebration will be led by Auxiliary Bishop Valentin Pozaić of Zagreb. At 7 p.m., the main Eucharistic celebration will be led by Archbishop Josip Cardinal Bozanić of Zagreb. After the Mass, the saint’s body will be taken to the Church of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić in the Dubrava section of Zagreb.
For three full days, the body of St. Leopold will remain in the church named after him in Dubrava. The main Eucharistic celebration will be held every day at 7 p.m. On Friday, it will be led by Bishop Mate Uzinić of Dubrovnik and on Saturday by Bishop Ivica Petanjak of Krk. On Sunday, there will be a Solemn Mass at 11 a.m., led by Bishop llija Janjić of Kotor, and at 7 p.m. led by Archbishop Vinko Cardinal Puljić of Sarajevo (Vrhbosna).
On Monday, April 18, after the Mass beginning at 7:30 a.m., there will be a farewell ceremony and the mortal remains of St. Leopold Bogan Mandić will be transported from Zagreb to Ljubljana. Praying for the intercession of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić for our Church and Homeland, I greet you in the Lord.
Letter from Cardinal Bozanić on the Coming of the Body of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić to Zagreb
We especially rejoice that a humble monk, Capuchin and son of the Croatian nation is a prominent symbol for the whole Church, which is experiencing the grace of the Jubilee. Visiting a church in which the mortal remains of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić are exhibited, together with the customary prayers, is associated with the obtaining of a jubilee indulgence.
Zagreb, (IKA) – On March 30, Archbishop Josip Cardinal Bozanić of Zagreb sent a letter to priests and religious on the coming of the body of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić to Zagreb:
Dear fellow priests, religious, brothers and sisters,
I am pleased to inform you with this letter that the body of our beloved Croatian saint, Saint Leopold Bogdan Mandić, whom, together with St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, Pope Francis wanted to bear witness to the Extraordinary Year of Mercy, is coming to us in Zagreb. His life and testimony are important for experiencing the mystery of Divine Mercy, both for us priests and for every believer.
For priests, his office as a confessor is of particular importance, whereby he is a sign and patron in our serving God’s love that forgives and saves. For every believer, he is a manifestation of the Father who goes out to meet, rejoices in and pardons repentant sinners (cf. Misericordiae Vultus, 17).
There are numerous reasons why we gather here as believers in prayer and celebration. We especially rejoice that a humble monk, Capuchin and son of the Croatian nation is a prominent symbol for the whole Church that is experiencing the grace of the Jubilee. Visiting a church in which the mortal remains of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić are exhibited, together with the customary prayers, is associated with the obtaining of a jubilee indulgence.
Therefore, I invite all priests, religious, seminarians, religious candidates, members of associations and movements, all the faithful, especially the faithful in the city of Zagreb, to participate in this joyful encounter with sanctity that is powerfully radiating God’s mercy today. I invite the venerable deans to organize pilgrimages in their deaneries.
According to the schedule below, there will be several opportunities for communal and individual encounters in prayer, and it is particularly important for us to come together in celebration on Thursday, April 14, at 7 p.m.in our cathedral. In the spirit of our encounter with a saint who was a zealous confessor, I note that in the church in which his mortal remains will be exhibited, there will also be the opportunity for holy confession, so that the faithful can encounter Divine Mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The program for the celebration will take place according to the following schedule:
On Wednesday, April 13, at 5 p.m., there will be the formal reception of the mortal remains of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić in front of the Zagreb cathedral (the formal reception rites and Vespers will be conducted by the Cardinal); at 7 p.m. the Eucharistic celebration will be led by Bishop Vlado Košić of Sisak. From 5:30 p.m. to midnight, there will be the opportunity for confession.
On Thursday, April 14, at 7 a.m., the Eucharistic celebration will be led by Auxiliary Bishop Mijo Gorski of Zagreb, at 8 a.m. the Eucharistic celebration will be led by Auxiliary Bishop Ivan Šaško of Zagreb, and at 9 a.m. the Eucharistic celebration will be led by Auxiliary Bishop Valentin Pozaić of Zagreb. At 7 p.m., the main Eucharistic celebration will be led by Archbishop Josip Cardinal Bozanić of Zagreb. After the Mass, the saint’s body will be taken to the Church of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić in the Dubrava section of Zagreb.
For three full days, the body of St. Leopold will remain in the church named after him in Dubrava. The main Eucharistic celebration will be held every day at 7 p.m. On Friday, it will be led by Bishop Mate Uzinić of Dubrovnik and on Saturday by Bishop Ivica Petanjak of Krk. On Sunday, there will be a Solemn Mass at 11 a.m., led by Bishop llija Janjić of Kotor, and at 7 p.m. led by Archbishop Vinko Cardinal Puljić of Sarajevo (Vrhbosna).
On Monday, April 18, after the Mass beginning at 7:30 a.m., there will be a farewell ceremony and the mortal remains of St. Leopold Bogan Mandić will be transported from Zagreb to Ljubljana. Praying for the intercession of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić for our Church and Homeland, I greet you in the Lord.