Zagreb, (IKA) – On Thursday, December 20, Pope Benedict XVI authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate decrees on the miracles, martyrdoms and heroic virtues of a number of Servants of God, including the Istrian priest Miroslav Bulešić (1920-1947).

In a statement for Croatian Catholic Radio on this occasion, Bishop Dražen Kutleša of Poreč-Pula did not conceal his joy and noted that the date for the beatification of Miroslav Bulešić, most likely in September, would be determined in agreement with Cardinal Amato.
Bishop Kutleša stressed that in the martyr Miroslav Bulešić, there is a clear message that should be followed. Namely, suffering persecution is an opportunity to demonstrate fidelity to Jesus Christ. The moment we think that Christianity costs us something is the moment to demonstrate our fidelity to Jesus Christ so that the whole world can see it. A person who suffers for the faith can turn around and say “we’re following the same path that the saints took.” Thus, Fr. Miro gave his life so that he could follow the path that leads to eternity, observed Msgr. Kutleša, noting that to suffer persecution is to know that you have a great goal.

In order for a person to achieve a goal, he must be honest and observe God’s laws. Martyrs are actually God’s favored ones to whom He gives an opportunity that they accept. Fr. Miro had such an opportunity and did not withdraw. He could have avoided death in various ways. He could have assumed that things would happen as they did and withdrawn, since the opportunity to leave the homeland was offered to him, but he wanted to share the fate of his parishioners, said Bishop Kutleša, adding that under the circumstances under which Miroslav Bulešić was martyred, much can also be learned about the role of the Church to which he was faithful, the persecution of which is inevitable.

The Church is connected with the consciousness of the nation and the consciousness of society. Where there is good, the Church will praise it and where there is evil, the Church will condemn it and people will inevitably try to silence the voice of conscience. Christ always needs his witnesses. Christ needs those who are prepared not so much to die for him but to live for him. Christ did not come into the world to make it more beautiful but to make us better. Fr. Miro achieved this and that is why we welcomed this moment when we could venerate him as a Beatus. A simple priest, an ordinary man among us, but one who knew how to take advantage of his moment, said Bishop Kutleša and urged the faithful of the Poreč-Pula Diocese, as well as other dioceses, to learn about the life and work of this young priest who in a very short time achieved martyrdom and, we can say, holiness.

The Postulator for the Cause of the Servant of God Miroslav Bulešić, Rector of the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome in Rome, Msgr Jure Bogdan, emphasized to Croatian Catholic Radio that notwithstanding the interpretations of the priestly activity and death of Fr. Miroslav Bulešić, after 65 years what the local Church in Poreč-Pula and the Catholic Church in Croatia had known from the beginning came to light. This confirms that the Servant of God, the future Beatus who died as a martyr for the faith, was a person of a pure and unblemished priestly life, an ideal figure, an example to follow today.

It had been prohibited to speak about or bear witness to how he ended his earthly life but with the arrival of democracy in Croatia, it was clear that this event should immediately be interpreted and studied, said Msgr. Bogdan, who recalled the contributions made by Bishop Dragutin Nežić, followed by Bishop Anton Bogetić and, finally, Bishop Ivan Milovan who completed the diocesan process.
Mons. Bogdan explained to Croatian Catholic Radio that the cause for the beatification of Miroslav Bulešić did not require a miracle. Specifically, the martyrdom of Christ’s sacrifice in the theology of Christian faith is the greatest sign of love, devotion and a person’s faith in God. Martyrdom washes away all deficiencies: blood is shed for the highest ideals. When this is proven, no miracles are sought for beatification because martyrdom is sufficient and there are no obstacles.

The Vice Postulator in Croatia, Msgr. Vjekoslav Milovan, said that Fr. Miroslav Bulešić was full of enthusiasm and passion, loyal, and open to all, especially the young. Therefore, he hopes that the future Beatus will be a model for young priests.