Zagreb, (IKA) – The great honor of making the chasuble that Pope Benedict XVI wore during the celebration of Mass at the Zagreb Hippodrome on June 5 was given to the company Gerok d.o.o. of Đakovo. Twenty people participated in its manufacture. Credit for the design goes to Dr. Ante Crnčević and Auxiliary Bishop Ivan Šaško of Zagreb, both of the Croatian Institute for Liturgical Pastoral Ministry of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, reports papa.hr. The fabric chosen for the chasuble is undyed wool as, according to Dr. Crnčević, “a fabric that speaks of the dignity of the celebration.” For the chasuble, they sought “a simplicity of form and execution to preserve liturgical decency, while at the same time expressing the solemnity integral to liturgical celebration.” “The central motif on the chasuble is an equal-armed cross, executed over a gold-colored background. The elements that appear in various forms and alternate on the chasuble are crosses and flowers, taken from the balusters and stone sculpture of medieval Croatian liturgical architecture. The cross and flower symbolize suffering and celebration. In Christ, whom the Church celebrates in the liturgy, suffering is transformed into celebration. The cross grows into a flower, as the Mystery of Christ’s Suffering grew into the celebration of the Resurrection and joy. These two motifs are associated with the basic symbol of the Croatian national being, the red square, that repeats discretely in various combinations with the cross and flower,” explained Dr. Crnčević.
In addition to the chasuble for the Pope, chasubles were also made for the cardinals, bishops and priests in the Pope’s entourage, as well as stoles for the concelebrating priests.