Translated by: Ksenija Ninić

The Mass was led by the Archbishop of Vrhbosna Vinko cardinal Puljić with the concelebration of the apostolic nuncio msgr. Luigi Pezzuto, the Provincial of the Franciscan province Bosna Srebrena OFM Jozo Marinčić and about 30 more priests.

At the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration, Cardinal blessed the candles after which followed a procession around the Cathedral with lit candles.

Greeting the priests, monks and nuns with their superiors, seminarians and candidates, the Archbishop congratulated them Day of Consecrated life. Then he pointed out that the candles that are carried in the procession symbolise the image of life path and the light that the persons of consecrated life need to follow.

At the beginning of appropriate sermon he remembered his beginnings in the priest life when he first made the ancient ritual of bringing a mother after birth in to the church. He said that it was a beautiful and dear experience that vanished with liturgical changes.

“At the christening a candle was lit that symbolises the light of faith that is lit and planted in to the human heart. We then became a temple of the Holy Spirit and Christ’s”, Cardinal said and emphasised that spiritual calling is a special way of meeting the Lord that entered in the life of every person devoted to God.

Further on, he said that the Day for Consecrated life was introduced so that the general and local Church, could realise what a gift it has in the form of monks and nuns.     

“That is why we as Archdiocese of Vrhbosna, on Candlemas mark the Day for Consecrated life by praying for monks and nuns, so that this candle that is lit in Christening, and renewed by vows, sparks and burns with joy and commitment”, said the Cardinal and remarked that secular logic imposes consumerism, hedonism and other “isms” that disrupts spiritual life and leave existential emptiness, so he encouraged the present to discover again the joys of living and sources of their faith testimonials.

He specifically talked about the need of cherishing community, avoiding careerism, gossiping, and jealousy, and pointed out that prayer that does not build a community, is not real prayer.

At the end of the Mass celebration, monks and nuns prayed a prayer with which they renewed their religious promises.

Besides monks and nuns, at the Mass, were communities from Vrhbosna seminary, Franciscan theology and Archdiocese international seminary Redemptoris mater. The liturgical singing was animated by Franciscan seminary choir Fra Nenad Dujić under the direction of  OFM Emanuel Josić.

The mass readings and the prayer of the believer was red by nuns and the novices of various religious communities, who brought appropriate gifts as well. The Mass was directly broadcasted by Radio Marija BiH.

After the mass celebration, a get together was arranged in the premises of Vrhbosna seminary.    

KT