Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also around the world, today, August 15, celebrate the feast of the Assumption, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, into heaven, and thousands of believers make pilgrimages to Marian shrines.
This holiday is especially solemnly celebrated in the sanctuaries: Queen of Peace in Medjugorje and Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Široki Brijeg, and in Posušje, Olovo, Komušina, and Stup, Kreševo, Tolisa, Trebinje, Stup, Uskoplje, Jajce, Sanski Most, Graz, Nevesinje, Prisoj, Seonica, Dračevo and Šćit.
Pilgrims in Medjugorje
Pilgrims from the neighboring parishes of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also from all over the world, took turns especially at night for the festival, near the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Apparition Hill, on Križevac and around the church of St. Jakov in Medjugorje.
Early this morning, on the feast itself, pilgrims continued to arrive, individuals or smaller groups and families, and then groups of pilgrims one after the other. Apart from locals, the most numerous are Italians, Spaniards, Poles, Ukrainians, Slovaks…
Many believers in Široki Brijeg
A large number of pilgrims also gathered in Široki Brijeg at the shrine of the Virgin Mary. During the traditional procession with the statue of Our Lady of Širobroješka through the City, many believers prayed to their trust.
The prayer and song of the faithful from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the region, continued on the holiday itself from the early hours of the morning and at the mass celebration at 11:00 a.m. in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin led by the editor of Veritas, Fr. Vladimir Vidović.
In his sermon, Fr. Vladimir touched on many topics, mainly related to Mary’s role in the life of believers.
As it has already been pointed out, no saint in the Catholic Church is so honored and so many holidays are dedicated to him in one liturgical year as is the case with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a holiday when Catholic believers remember the dogma that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was taken up in glory to heaven, body and soul, and was crowned queen of heaven and earth in the company of her son Jesus Christ.
The doctrine of Mary’s ascension into heaven was proclaimed on November 1, 1950 by Pope Pius XII, and the official proclamation was preceded by a long tradition of celebration, as old as Christianity itself.
In many countries, the feast of the Assumption is also a national holiday: in Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, France, Greece, Guatemala, India, Italy, Cameroon, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Mauritius, Ivory Coast, Poland, Portugal and Spain …, Fena writes.
