čet, 17. kolovoza 2023. 14:25
The parish and sanctuary of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Komušina near Teslić celebrated the Feast of the Assumption with a solemn Mass on Mount Kondžilo on Tuesday, August 15th.
The gathering of the faithful began early in the morning, and priests were available for confession from 7:30 am. Opening rituals and prayers with the miraculous image of Our Lady of Kondžilo near the parish church were held at 9 am, followed by a procession to Mount Kondžilo.
The Holy Mass was led by Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Vrhbosna msgr. Pero Sudar, with the concelebration of around 10 priests, including the parish priest of Komušina, rev. Boris Salapić, and the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna, Msgr. Slađan Ćosić.
At the beginning, rev. Salapić greeted those gathered and offered words of welcome, especially to the pilgrims who came to seek the intercession of Our Lady of Komušina.
After the scripture readings, msgr. Sudar delivered a suitable sermon, stating that they were once again present on the "sacred and dear Mount Kondžilo." He emphasized the significance of signs and symbols in which deeper meanings are to be found. Looking at the wonderful assembly before him, he expressed: "Here we have a sign, here we have a symbol, especially when, during the act of repentance, we struck our chests and said: my sin, my sin, my great sin. If it were only that, if we had gathered here only today, to ascend this holy mountain, that in itself would be magnificent", said the retired bishop.

He continued to explain that Mary magnifies God because she places everything in its proper place and ensures that good, life, and humanity triumph – triumph in the end. "This woman who is a sign in Heaven and a sign that God will never close Heaven to mankind again. She is the woman who endures the pain of childbirth, and that is a sign (...) because the dragon seeks to devour her child as soon as she gives birth to him (...) Mary is both an advocate and a protector, a testimony: God fulfills his promises. Therefore, our repentance from the beginning, our readiness to admit – God, we know how small we are, how sinful we are, how fragile we are. But we, on one hand – these are the two signs – my sinfulness, my weakness, the weakness of the whole world, the weakness of the community in which we live; on the other hand, faith and the desire to belong to God. That is why we are children of Mary, that is why we are brothers and sisters of Jesus, that is why there must be room for hope and confidence within us. God will not abandon us; God cannot abandon those he loves", the preacher encouraged.
"Let us transform this pilgrimage even deeper into a pilgrimage of faith – God, I believe in you; God, I believe that you have assumed Mary body and soul into Heaven; I believe that Heaven exists; I believe that I am your child despite all my sins. You are a merciful God, a God who fulfils promises, a God who walks with us, you are our incarnate Emmanuel, our new Adam who will not go to paradise without us. This is our faith. From this faith, we draw the strength for life, we draw the strength to endure like Mary in all trials, especially in the trial of our own sinfulness", said Bishop Emeritus Sudar among other things, conveying the message, "how beautiful it is to believe that God's love is greater than my hatred; that God's mercy is greater and stronger than my sins."
At the end of the Holy Mass, the parish priest expressed gratitude to all who participated in organizing the Feast of the Assumption, for which this parish community prepared through a three-day novena.