Petrinja, (IKA) – The September 24 pilgrimage by the priests of the Zagreb Archdiocese concluded with the celebration of Mass in the parish church of St. Lawrence in Petrinja. “Fifteen years ago in this place where we are now standing, beneath a magnificent vault that reminds us of the beauty and purity of heaven, were charred remains where the furnace of hatred and evil did not leave stone upon stone. What was not destroyed by flame was razed by the hand of ruinous hatred. However, this is only the freshest wound on the body of this ancient church, the faithful of Petrinja and all of Banovina,” said the archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, during his homily, adding that the region had survived the similar destruction of churches and expulsion of the populace from their homes during the Second World War and postwar period, commenting that evil, no matter how long a swath it cuts and how strong it may be, never celebrates the final victory.
Emphasizing that only memory purified by the liberating truth can forgive, begin a new life and build trust and fellowship among people, the cardinal stated that the truth about killings, destruction, hatred, unprovoked expulsion and imposed poverty in abandonment and loneliness represents only one aspect of the reality of life from the Christian point of view. Truth nourished by love shows another Christian face – a face with inextinguishable hope conveying a love that conquers all, he explained.
The cardinal pointed out that to be liberated from the power of evil in situations when it afflicts us with injustice, suffering, persecution and mortal danger means to have the gift of the evangelical “foolishness of the cross” that proclaims the truth of love.
“Today we sense the living and powerful Word of God that has nourished the faithful of Petrinja over the centuries. We sense the strength and confidence of the prayers uttered, the powerful words of the priests and pastors who taught these people love that does not harbor resentment and endures all,” said the cardinal.
He then recalled that on the Feast of St. Lawrence, August 10, 1991, only a month and a half before this city would fall into the hands of those who would destroy it, Cardinal Franjo Kuharić spoke in this place before the frightened populace with prophetic decisiveness about the power of love that does not return evil for evil. “On that occasion, Cardinal Kuharić said: ‘If my adversary sets fire to my house, I will not set fire to his! If he destroys my church, I will not touch his; moreover, I will protect it! If he has abandoned his home, I will not take so much as a needle from that which is his! If he has killed my father, brother and sister, I will not respond in kind but will respect the lives of his father, brother, son and sister!’ … Such an expression of love, providing encouragement to people about to be afflicted by evil and preparing them for the sublime gift of forgiveness and love which manifested its vitality in the force of their recent ascent from the ashes, is the reason for today’s commemoration and our pilgrimage to this holy place,” explained the cardinal.
“The path of our pilgrimage, linking places where suffering was inflicted in Stara Gradiška, Jasenovac and Banovina, is not a commemoration of evil, hatred or injustice. The continuity of evil, which in these historical events is so evident, reveals to us that evil sows and scatters hatred until it is illuminated by the truth. Where evil was concealed and negated, where murderers and tyrants were proclaimed heroes, evil could only flourish. In this paradox of evil, that which was ostensibly hidden erupted with new destructive force during the Homeland War. Nonetheless, the paradox of evil could only be resisted by the paradox of Christ’s love. Love conceals nothing. It reveals everything, not to point out evil but instead to conquer and transform it into a life of conversion and repentance. This is because love is inseparable from the truth. Many innocent people have become precious sacrifices to love and the truth,” said the cardinal.
Addressing the priests, the cardinal said that this pilgrimage was a commemoration in order to prevent the victims from being forgotten. “Here it is important to emphasize that the history of the Homeland War and its victims, the price of our freedom, must not be consigned to oblivion. In a society prone to forgetfulness and concealing the truth, we need to renew remembrance lest we lose our future” said the cardinal.
He also pointed out that faithful priests are commemorated here who endured accusations, violence and persecution for decades, merely for being witnesses to the truth that has its source in God. “Their pledge of suffering and fidelity in forgiveness obligates us under the recent circumstances, when the truth is being overshadowed in a new and ruthless manner, to be courageous and decisive in the proclamation of the liberating truth, the gospel that builds unity in love,” said the cardinal.
“How many times have we felt that recognizing the truth about ourselves brings a liberating peace and joy to the soul? To recognize the truth about oneself in the mirror of the truth that is God brings the grace of forgiveness and inner peace. It is important to be committed to the truth and its witness where evil has accumulated for decades and where the truth has been intentionally concealed by lies and deception. We ask ourselves, who benefits from lying today? Who can protect themselves with lies and who can find peace in lies?” asked the archbishop, adding that to be saved in the name of God means to be liberated from untruth.