Ludbreg, (IKA) – The Fifth Croatian-Slovenian gathering of pilgrims from the two neighboring countries was held in Ludbreg on Saturday, September 6, in the Shrine of the Most Precious Blood of Christ. This year’s Croatian-Slovenian pilgrimage was held as part of the main annual celebration in honor of the Most Precious Blood, which has been venerated in Ludbreg in a special way for over 600 years. The Mass was concelebrated by the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, together with the Apostolic Nuncio in Croatia, Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico, approximately ten Croatian and Slovenian bishops and 200 priests from over 160 parishes throughout Croatia and Slovenia, assembling over 20,000 pilgrims around the votive chapel.
The pilgrims were welcomed and greeted by the Bishop of Varaždin, Msgr. Josip Mrzljak; the Pastor of Ludbreg and Director of the Shrine, Msgr. Josip Đurkan; and the Mayor of Ludbreg, Dubravko Bilić. The homily was delivered by the Bishop of Celje and Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Maribor, Msgr. Stanislav Lipovšek, and gratitude to the hosts and organizers was expressed by the President of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop of Novo Mesto and Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Ljubljana, Msgr. Andrej Glavan. At the end of the Mass, which was celebrated in the Croatian and Slovenian languages, a dedicatory prayer was addressed to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which had been addressed on previous pilgrimages to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The celebration of the Eucharist was preceded by a program that pilgrims had prepared for the central event of the encounter. A solemn procession, in which a monstrance containing the Most Holy Blood was carried from the Parish Church of the Most Holy Trinity to the Votive Chapel, passed through the main city streets, leading many pilgrims to the celebration area.
In welcoming remarks, Bishop Mrzljak recalled that the previous four gatherings had been held in Marija Bistrica, Brezje, Trsat and Ptujska gora, adding that they had come to the Shrine of the Blood of Christ through four Marian shrines, thereby confirming the old saying: “Through Mary to Jesus.” Mary, the first believer, truly brings us to the greatest mystery of our faith—the cross of Jesus Christ and the blood he shed for mankind, said the bishop. Bishop Mrzljak greeted Cardinal Bozanić, Nuncio D’Errico, Slovenian Bishops Andrej Glavan of Novo Mesto, Stanislav Lipovšek of Celje, Peter Štumpf of Murska Sobota, Jurij Bizjak of Koper and Bishop Emeritus Metod Pirih; the Croatian Archbishop Emeritus Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, Auxiliary Bishops Ivan Šaško and Mijo Gorski of Zagreb, Vladika Nikola Kekić of Križevci, Bishop Vlado Košić of Sisak, Bishop Vjekoslav Huzjak of Bjelovar-Križevci and all the priests who had invited and brought the faithful to this gathering.
During the introduction to the Mass, Cardinal Bozanić told those assembled that they had gathered in Ludbreg, where the Blood of Christ spoke powerfully in a miraculous way. “We have been left not only with a material sign, which has been preserved here for centuries, but in the first place a sign of the living faith that has lived in people, in our blood, in our bodies and in our nations—Croatian and Slovenian. In this religious fellowship, which binds us together as members of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, on this pilgrimage we strongly feel how our geographical proximity, related historical destiny and Catholic culture continue today to foster mutual cooperation and respect. We are transformed by the Blood of Christ to live as new creatures. We humans are subject to sin but are also saved by the Blood of Christ Crucified. Hence, we need God’s proximity, mercy and clemency. The power of Christian life is in the Eucharist, in the sacrament in which we encounter Jesus Christ, alive and present. This encounter changes us and helps us regain the confidence, hope and strength for life. We entrust ourselves, therefore, in this Eucharist to God’s mercy,” said the cardinal. The liturgical singing was enhanced by the local parish choir, conducted by Antun Kranjčec. Both Croatian and Slovenian pilgrims participated in the Mass readings. The Prayers of the Faithful were read in the Croatian, Slovenian and Romany languages.
In the homily, Bishop Lipovšek recalled that these meetings originated from the desire of the Croatian and Slovenian bishops for the two neighboring nations to encounter each other on joint pilgrimages, every other year if possible, in order to strengthen their faith, mutual bonds and fraternal cooperation. He noted that after Marija Bistrica (2003), Brezje (2005), Trsat (2007) and Ptujska gora (2011), they had gathered together in Ludbreg in order to confess their love and faith in the mystery of the Blood of Christ, which has been celebrated here in a special way for centuries. He told the pilgrims that their joint pilgrimage was an opportunity to ask themselves how to fulfill God’s will in the light of Jesus’ gospel, as individuals but also as members of two neighboring nations strongly bound by faith, but also deep connections of Slavic culture and spiritual values. He also spoke about several facts that show the depth and vitality of this spiritual connection. There were two Slovenes among the Drina martyrs and the Servants of God Fra Vendelin Vošnjak and Bishop Antun Mahnič of Krk, as well as Bishop Josip Srebrnič of Krk, were born in Slovenia. Biskup Lipovšek pointed out that the people of Slovenia, particularly the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Maribor, will never forget the exceptional brotherly bonds, compassion and goodness received by 350 of their priests and religious expelled in 1941 by the Germans from their parishes and brought to Zagreb and Požega, where Archbishop Alojzije Stepinac of Zagreb, later a cardinal, together with his associates, made sure that the exiled priests were received in a brotherly manner, supplied with their needs and relocated among the parishes of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, where they assisted in pastoral ministry until they could return to their parishes after the war. Bishop Lipovšek mentioned that they had expressed their gratitude in 2002 through a pilgrimage of thanks by the priests of the Archdiocese of Maribor to the Zagreb cathedral, and added that the Church in Slovenia, especially the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Maribor, will always be grateful to the Church in Croatia, which has assisted in the formation and education of Slovenian seminarians and theology students. He noted that they are also joined by the Croatian Dominican Province, which in the Diocese of Celje has two parishes, a monastery and shrine with a spiritual center that also gathers pilgrims from Croatia. At the end of the homily, he invited those assembled to express the joy and hope of this pilgrimage by singing the pilgrim hymn “Majko Božja Bistrička” (Our Lady of Bistrica).
At the end of the celebration, following the devotional prayer and the singing of “Tebe Boga hvalimo” (Holy God, We Praise Thy Name), Bishop Glavan, on behalf of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference, thanked all the hosts and organizers for the magnificent celebration and hospitality, and invited the pilgrims to the next encounter, which will be held in 2016 in the Slovenian Marian shrine of Stična. Representatives of the Slovenian and Croatian pilgrims then offered symbolic gifts in commemoration of and gratitude for the Ludbreg encounter. Bishop Mrzljak also joined in inviting the pilgrims to the next encounter. In concluding remarks before invoking God’s blessing, Cardinal Bozanić said that God’s blessing is needed by all, especially children and young people.
During the day, many pilgrims also participated in other spiritual events, including adoration before the Precious Blood of Christ, which was exposed for veneration.