Zagreb, October 2, 1998 (IKA) — On October 1, Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb led Solemn Vespers in the Zagreb Cathedral. Prior to the Vespers, the sarcophagus of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac was opened. Through a glass case, it is possible to see the mask of the cardinal#!s body in which his earthly remains were placed. At the beginning of the service, Archbishop Bozanić noted that the cardinal#!s earthly remains have been in the Zagreb Cathedral since his funeral on February 13, 1960, when a great assembly accompanied him to his final resting place. After the reading from the Holy Scripture, Msgr. Juraj Batelja, the postulator of the cause for the beatification and canonization of Cardinal Stepinac, delivered the sermon. Speaking about the life and suffering of Cardinal Stepinac, Msgr. Batelja said that by the act of elevating him to the honor of the altar, we are testifying to his holiness. “This holiness will spread from Zagreb to Rome and throughout the entire world. Today, Stepinac is our shepherd, the source of living water … who has shown us that light shines from the darkness. He was a masterpiece of his creator, Jesus Christ, who passed through the world for all of us, doing good,” said Msgr. Batelja. He added that Stepinac did not seek mercy from his persecutors. He remained with his people, telling them that everything would pass, that God remains forever. At the conclusion of the Solemn Vespers, the archbishop of Zagreb gave his apostolic blessing to all the faithful, appealing “for all of us to be faithful to Christ, our Church, to pray for peace in the homeland and the world, for the persecuted and the disenfranchised, for the entire Church and all of God#!s people.”
In addition to a large number of priests and members of the college of canons, the Vespers were also attended by Cardinal Franjo Kuharić and Military Bishop Juraj Jezerinac.