Praise Jesus and Mary!
Dear and Esteemed Participants at this Mass and Episcopal Ordination,

I expect that you are not excepting grand words. Indeed, by this act the path of my life thus far rent in twain, redirected. However, this is not so important: “None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself” (Rom 14, 7).
I still trust in the words of the Psalmist: “Commit your way to the Lord, trust that God will act” (Ps 37, 5). The message is clearly written: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you” (Jer 1, 5). And my age impels me to add: “Even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me” (Ps 71, 18).

He who is beloved from eternity, and consecrated for eternity, before coming to the light of this day, marvels and asks: “What are humans that you are mindful of them, mere mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them little less than a god, crowned them with glory and honor” (Ps 8, 5–6)

This creature of yours, Lord, in your image, the weakest reed, but who thinks and loves, thanks You and praises You at this moment: that out of eternity you conceived the universe, placed the sun and the earth in it, mapped Our Beautiful Homeland on it, chose Marija Bistrica, the most excellent ornament of the celebrated Kingdom of Croatia, as the shrine of your Mother, and placed his parents Agata and Janko here, who gave him life, with his many brothers and sister, led him to this altar in the city of Zagreb, the heart of Croatia, over the grave of the Blessed Alojzije, his holy order, degree by degree, in fullness bestowed by the hands of His Eminence Archbishop Josip Bozanić and his associates Msgr. Josip Mrzljak and Msgr. Vlado Košić, according to the decision and blessing of His Holiness John Paul II, who is represented here by the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Msgr. Francisco-Javier Lozano, surrounded by the Croatian bishops, priests, religious and all of you — the people of God.

“Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever” (Dan 3, 87) — especially those of the active and contemplative Heart of the Church, candles lit in His Shrine, praying for abundant grace for this new consecration. It is encouraging to be in the focus of life, in the focus of the joy of life. The thoughts of many hearts are revealed here. What is called pluralism is actually dualism: the world of the culture of death as opposed to the world of the culture of life. No one can avoid this choice. “What could one give in exchange for his life?” (Mk 8, 37). Is there an alternative to life — this miraculous gift?

The Church, as the sacrament of salvation and the unity of the human race, knows: “The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus#! message. Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as ‘good news’ to the people of every age and culture” (EV 1).

May the holiness, inviolability and dignity of each human life blossom, from every cradle, Bethlehem, via the Cross and the Resurrection, including all who present themselves before the altar as consecrated lives. Only one who loves and honors his holy and consecrated life, his identity, can give this gift, life and holiness, to those to whom he is sent.

A person is a being of hope and a being of the future — yearning for the future. Without the culture of life, there is no future for the individual, family, nation or the Church.
The future belongs to those who love life. Therefore: Choose life! Choose the future!
Guardian of the Holy Family, St. Joseph, guard our nation entrusted to you, the people of life for life!
Bearer of Life, Mother of the Living, Soul of the Soul of Croatia: Pray to your Son to defend us and the homeland from every evil.
Star of the New World, pray that every day, on the new journey on the new paths, there will be something beautiful for God, and man: All for the greater glory of God. Amen.