Zagreb (IKA) — On the 46th anniversary of the death of the Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, Friday, February 10, the central celebration of the Mass in the overflowing Zagreb cathedral was led by the archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and concelebrated by the apostolic nuncio in Croatia, Archbishop Francisco Javier Lozano, retired Archbishop Ante Jurić of Split-Makarska, Military Bishop Juraj Jezerinac, Auxiliary Bishops Josip Mrzljak, Valentin Pozaić and Vlado Košić of Zagreb, and approximately a hundred priests. Speaking about the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, Cardinal Bozanić pointed out in his sermon that he made a public testimony of the faith that is deeply woven into the being of the Croatian believer and remained calm and patient while being falsely accused. Cardinal Bozanić recalled that this year marks the sixtieth anniversary of “the most sorrowful and shameful process by the communist authorities.” Despite how much some try to revise history, the communist period was nevertheless full of false testimony, executions without trials and indictments without evidence, commented the cardinal.

Turning to the present, the cardinal said that we are witnesses today that nearly every attempt by the Church is being interpreted and measured by political standards. They quickly try to transform each voice of the Church that is directed toward unity into divisiveness. The search and efforts of the faithful leading to the general good are represented as a stumbling block between the so-called left and right political options. Well-intentioned statements by Church representatives and the faithful are distorted or harnessed for political interests, cautioned the cardinal, noting: “therefore, dear believers, we ourselves are called to do everything as Christians, and to consider and examine everything in the light of Christ.”

The cardinal pointed out that the life and testimony of the Blessed Alojzije help us to correct the superficiality that has crept into our Christian feelings and thoughts; help us to recognize anew that human life is a drama in which life and death coexist and that applause, popularity, facile approval and successes do not completely explain what we are as people. The cardinal also stated that we shall successfully build something new in our Croatian society, introduce new challenges, change established rules and open unimagined vistas only if we are prepared to sacrifice what is vitally important to us, only if the model of the Blessed Alojzije becomes possible, feasible and perhaps even essential.

Today, we yearn for a Christianity that bears witness to its faith, said the cardinal, cautioning that there are deep doubts among the nation that politics can bring joy into human life. Promises of benefit, without deeper foundation, lead quickly to disappointment. Superficial emphasis upon scientific advances is tempting but without ethical determinants they can devour purpose and hope and sometimes threaten the preservation of human life and its complete development.

In the homily, the cardinal also pointed out that the Blessed Alojzije urges us to be the Church, sincere and unwavering, and to make God’s presence felt in families and public life through love. This attitude takes the feelings of others into account, all those who believe differently and seek the truth. This attitude also condemns failure to respect what is holy to others. We are witnesses that godlessness, and not piety, lead to conflict and division, concluded Cardinal Bozanić.
Throughout the day, the faithful streamed to the cathedral to pray at the grave of the Blessed Alojzije Cardinal Stepinac.