Zagreb (IKA) – On Monday, October 4, the start of the academic year and the beginning of classes at the Croatian Catholic University in Zagreb were commemorated with prayer and a university day (dies academicus). The Invocation of the Holy Spirit and the Ministry of the Word were led by the Archbishop of Zagreb and Chancellor of the CCU, Cardinal Josip Bozanić. “We are at the beginning of a new academic year that is also the first year here. There is beauty in these two beginnings, which we receive gratefully and humbly as a gift We are gathered here by the same love and friendship. In the center of the work that we are beginning, we see not only our goals and aspirations but also far wider horizons,” said Cardinal Bozanić in his homily and added: “With the adjective “Catholic” in its name, this university is called to be distinguished by such an approach, not only in the pleasant moments of university life but also in trials and difficulties. We are committed to each other and to the creation of a community, a reflection of the true light in mutual charity, kindness but also in the assumption of responsibility, building trust and efforts for everything to advance in a good way. This light will seek to remove all the evil that wants to take hold in a person, giving birth to selfishness and lack of respect for the truth.”

In a later talk, the archbishop compared eight major biblical themes with eight characteristics of the study of history: “Regardless of whether a historian is a believer or not, Christian or not, I believe that these eight characteristics apply to all: reliance on genuine sources, readiness to make advances and dispense with ideology, fidelity, humility, perseverance, lack of acceptance of established assumptions, openness to new inspirations and the search for ultimate meaning.” Cardinal Bozanić also commented on the work of Catholic universities in general: “The role of a Catholic university in higher education on the path of Christological principles and eschatological meaning is commitment to people and to all that is human. For this reason, the Church throughout its history has established and supported institutions of higher education, as it continues to do so today. It did not seek its own truth but the Truth that can be approached in a variety of ways, the Truth in which there is a reflection of human dignity and freedom, justice and social sensitivity to the weak, in mutual respect.”

The Rector of the CCU, Auxiliary Bishop Ivan Šaško of Zagreb, in addition to greeting the dignitaries present, recalled the days “when a fair amount imagination was necessary in order to envision a classroom with students here. … I remember the questions that frequently went through my thoughts: Who will the first professors and students at this university be? What will the faces, names and attitudes of those who will take their first academic steps here be like? We find ourselves here today in the atmosphere of a beginning that rejoices, attracts, opens horizons, and calls us to assume responsibility and commitment,” said Msgr. Šaško.

The Head of History Studies, Dr. Jure Krišto, explained the meaning of the study of history. “Croatian history at the Croatian university will be recognizably Croatian, in that there will be no presentations from the perspective of someone else’s history, from external concepts and ideals, or even from the ideal of European integration, but only from its own purposes. I strongly hope that your professors will help you in this. They will help you the most if they present people and events with love and respect, albeit critically and without passing over anything in silence. From such a history, other events will emerge as well as different views of them, those legions of events that were passed over in silence and scorned, which are an integral part, perhaps even a more important part, of that history.”
Those present were also addressed by the Rector of the University of Zagreb, Dr. Aleksa Bjeliš, and State Secretary Dr. Ivana Mrkonjić of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports,.
This solemn event was also attended by the Dean of the Catholic Theological Faculty in Zagreb, Dr. Josip Oslić; Dr. Anto Mišić of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Society of Jesus; the head of the Croatian Institute of History, Dr. Stjepan Matković, and numerous scholars, professors and students. The start of the academic work of the CCU was recorded by a group photograph taken in front of the university building at Ilica 242, Zagreb, the site of a former military college.