With a solemn Holy Mass on the memorial day of St. Jerome, September 30th, in Bosansko Grahovo, in the settlement of Obljaj, the 1600th anniversary of the death of this church teacher was marked and the Year of the Word of God in BiH began.
Holy Mass in front of the parish church of St. Elijah the Prophet was led by the President of the Bishop’s Conference (BK) BiH, the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, cardinal Vinko Puljić together with the Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Franjo Komarica, Auxiliary Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Marko Semren and with the concelebration of 25 priests.
The welcoming speech was given by the host bishop, Msgr. Komarica, who reminded that Bosansko Grahovo and the whole region had experienced many tragic events over many centuries. He said that history does not remember that an earlier jubilee in connection with St. Jerome was celebrated this solemnly, and thanked the faithful and the parish priest, rev. Davor Klečina, for the organization.
In his homily, the cardinal first reminded that St. Jerome was born in Stridon, which was destroyed by the Goths and then he went to the white world, and died in Bethlehem.
“I would say that St. Jerome returned to Stridon today, which was destroyed, but we are returning it with our prayers and efforts to meet the saint and follow him”, said the cardinal, emphasizing that “it is important to know how to preserve memory and your roots”, and added that globalization often wants to erase them.
Speaking of Jerome’s life, he pointed out that the saint was “fierce in nature, sharp in words, but a great penitent.” “There is no nature with which one cannot become a saint. Every nature is suitable for man to become holy”, the archbishop said, adding that St. Jerome is a good example of this. He further explained the need for everyone to “control” their nature (temper) and, like St. Jerome, grow in holiness.
“He was sharp against evil, heresy and all that opposed Jesus Christ, and a mighty penitent”, he pointed out, recalling Jerome’s famous saying, “Forgive me, Lord, for I am a Dalmatian”.
“What we especially want to learn from St. Jerome today is to love the Word of God”, the archbishop added, emphasizing that Jesus Christ is the incarnated Word of God. He then said that St. Jerome translated the word of God and emphasized that the bishops in BiH proclaimed the Year of the Word of God so that the faithful would know, accept, love and live like St. Jerome.
At the end of the Eucharist, rev. Klečina thanked the bishops of the BK BiH for choosing Bosansko Grahovo for the opening of the Year of the Word of God. “Our small parish and the local Croatian Catholics deserved to celebrate the great jubilee of St. Jerome, the 1600th anniversary of his death and the beginning of the Year of the Word of God right here, where Jerome’s native Stridon was believed to be. May respecting of common saint for Catholics and Orthodox Christians be an encouragement to get closer to each other”, said, among other things, parish priest Klečina.
After the Holy Mass, a millennial photograph by Šime Strikoman with the figure of St. Jerome was photographed, and a joint snack was organized for the participants.
KT
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Bosansko Grahovo – September 30, 2020
