On the memorial day of Bl. Ivan Merz, from Banja Luka, on May 10th, a solemn Holy Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of St. Bonaventura in which the relics of this Blessed are honored.
The Eucharist was led by the Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Franjo Komarica in the concelebration, among others, with the rector of the cathedral, venerable Pero Ivan Grgić and the parish priest of the Blessed’s native parish and the dean of Banja Luka, venerable Vladislav Žarko Ošap.
In his homily, Bishop Franjo recalled the historic day of the visit of Pope John Paul II. to Banja Luka, June 22nd 2003., and the “ascension to the altar” of Ivan Merz, the most proud member of the Catholic Church from the area of the Banja Luka diocese. He then explained the reasons why the Church honours saints and the blessed, and briefly referred to the life of Bl. Merz.
The Eucharist was animated by nuns from the monastery Nazaret.
After the Holy Mass, the bishop prayed before the image and relics of the Blessed, an appropriate devotion in his honour and the daily prayer to Our Lady for an end to the pandemic.
Then there was a gathering in the courtyard of the cathedral.
KT
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Banja Luka – May 10, 2021
