On the day of the 78^th anniversary of the murder of the Franciscans in Široki Brijeg, February 7^th, the traditional program of the Day of the Murdered Franciscans of Herzegovina began with a prayer near the war shelter where 12 friars were killed and burned, followed by a procession to the grave in the church with the remains of the 24 found murdered Franciscans where the Provincial of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina, OFM Jozo Grbeš, prayed the prayer for the dead.

Then followed the Holy Mass, led by the provincial OFM Jozo with the concelebration of the vicar general of the Herzegovina dioceses OFM Nikola Menal, the vice postulator of the martyrdom procedure OFM Leo Petrović and 65 brothers OFM Miljenko Stojić, all the monastery guardians and about 40 priests.

In his sermon, the provincial emphasized the importance of searching for the truth, especially in today's world when we are always told "about the right and wrong side of history". "In every nation there are days and events that are engraved in the memory of the journey. Thus February 7^th remains the starting point of the memory of suffering and the search for truth in this land of ours of suffering and suppression of truth. The so-called winners, arising from hatred towards Christians and Croats, created false history", said OFM Jozo, pointing out that the Province has been asking where the missing brothers are for more than half a century.

"There are so many Croats in Herzegovina killed, missing... their families don't know where they are! Why? I'm just a 'postman' who asks on their behalf, on behalf of those who aren't there, on behalf of those who don't know (...) Selective memories offered to us by a system based on the ideology of evil knows that memories of the truth are dangerous memories, in that system that flows into this system. Croats found themselves in a politically directed interpretation of history that developed a culture of selective memory, which resulted in the thesis that they 'remember' only 'our victims' and 'their criminals'. In this way, 'their criminals' means 'our brothers'! Thus the culture of oblivion gave birth to the culture of crossed, forgotten, and forbidden souls. The machine of oblivion, in turn, created mass monuments of warning to those who created a system of lies", concluded the provincial, emphasizing that in the waiting room of history, the truth is its greatest victim.

Vicar General rev. Nikola conveyed the greetings and blessings of the Bishop of Mostar-Duvno and the Apostolic Administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan, Msgr. Petar Palić, in which, among other things, it is written: "Today we remember the people who were victims of a manifesto that 'paralyzed' the gospel and the heralds of the Good News. However, the sacrifice of murdered priests and monks in our nation shows us that the law of love for one's neighbour will always be in front of the manifesto of self-management. May their sacrifice be an encouragement for today's generations to fearlessly testify of love for God and people".

Vice-postulator OFM Miljenko then briefly presented the work of the institution he heads in the past year and highlighted his visits to various parishes and shrines in BiH and Croatia for the purpose of promoting the truth about the murdered Franciscans and the people of Herzegovina. He invited everyone who knows anything to come forward and to report testimonies about graces granted through the intercession of the martyrs of Široki Brijeg or even miracles.

At the end of the Eucharist, OFM Ivan Marić, the guardian of monastery in Široki Brijeg, spoke and emphasized the importance of February 7^th for that region and the search for the truth.

The liturgy was animated by the Great Parish Choir.

By the way, for four days, the prayer program was transmitted via the Internet and radio waves by Radio Station Široki Brijeg. Prizes were also awarded in the competition for children, youth and adults with a theme the martyred Franciscans of Herzegovina.

The memorial program for the murdered Franciscans began on February 3^rd with a prayer at the Square of victims of Široki Brijeg, when wreaths were laid and candles were lit. On the next two days, Holy Masses were celebrated, the rosary was prayed and deliberations were held.

Let us remind you that 78 years ago the Communists committed an unprecedented crime against the priests and Franciscans in the monastery in Široki Brijeg. Twelve of them, who were found in the monastery, were taken to a war shelter, killed, doused with gasoline and then set on fire. This was the introduction for all future events, for other unjustly killed Franciscans in Mostar, Čitluk, Ljubuški and many other places, 66 of them in total, as well as for the murdered members of the Order of God. In the few days it took the Yugoslav communists to overrun Široki Brijeg, they made 330 large and small execution sites and burial grounds.