date: 29.07.2023.
On the third day of the 34th Youth Festival, the evening Holy Mass, with the concelebration of 524 priests, was celebrated by the Medjugorje parish priest Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić, who said in his homily that we can read from the Holy Scriptures how much God loves us.
He said that, no matter how far we stray from God, God never gives up on us, and "God's commandments that He gave to Moses teach us this love for God and for our neighbor" and that His commandments do not limit us, but He wants us to use them and protect us from being destroyed.
"Therefore, do not let yourself be seduced by those thoughts: Christ YES, Church NO, God YES, commandments NO. But according to the commandments, according to the teaching of the Church, get to know Christ, get to know the God who loves us and who wants to live with us forever!
Dear young people, you are here for spiritual renewal. Take that renovation seriously. Surrender to the Lord by praying the Rosary; celebrate the Eucharist; decide that you will take the Bible in your hands and read and reflect on it; that you will allow God to guide you, not with the vague words of men, but with his clear word - Jesus Christ! Also, don't be afraid of anything. Whoever lives with Christ, conquers all evil! Live with Christ and at the end of your life be victorious", concluded Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić.
The afternoon program today began with the testimony of Fr. Andrejs Mediņš, a priest from Latvia who first came to Medjugorje 27 years ago.
"I cannot imagine a single year without going to Medjugorje and plunging into the depths of Mary's school of prayer. The first time I came here gave me complete confirmation that I had never been alone in my life and that I had not made a mistake in believing that God exists, and that I completely surrendered to him,'' said Father Medinš, after which the Croatian selector of the football team Zlatko Dalić gave his testimony.
"I have said many times without fear or apprehension that I am a faithful, a Catholic, and that I thank dear God and my family for everything He has done in my life. So don't be afraid to witness your faith, because God is there. Whenever you come in front of an obstacle, in front of a wall, God is there and will not leave us,'' he said to the young people at the beginning of his testimony at the 34th Youth Festival.
He spoke about his upbringing in his native Livno next to the monastery in Gorica, stressing that his first neighbors were Franciscans.
''My mother instilled faith in me and I took it with me from home when I left as a 16-year-old with my ambitions to do something in life. I had a goal to return as a winner and I achieved that in 2018 when I came to Livno as the vice-champion of the world. All this is beautiful and great, but my path was full of challenges, demands, temptations. I managed to achieve something in my life. I honestly did not expect to do such great things, great results, but God gave me the chance to make this success and that is why my message to young people is: Never give up, every obstacle can be solved. You have to believe, you have to have your goal in life and strive for it. Don't give up. There is always hope", said Dalić to the tens of thousands gathered at this spiritual renewal in Medjugorje.
In the morning part of the program, after the prayer, Sr. Matija Pačar held a catechesis, while the married couple Inma Garcia and Josip Sušac gave their testimonies, and on behalf of Mother's Village, Fr. Dragan Ružić and Marijan Tustonja.
In her catechesis, Sr. Matija called everyone to joy.
"Joy that is not a fleeting feeling, joy that does not depend on the comfort of life, joy that is not based on success, joy that does not need financial security, joy that does not expect much and receives everything. This is the joy that the saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary teach us and the joy that we can breathe here in Medjugorje and that always fascinates me in Medjugorje because I met joyful people waiting to be fed from this altar,'' said Sr. Matija Pačar. , and after her catechesis, a testimony was given by the married couple Josip Sušac and Inma Garcia, who spoke about their life, marriage, marital crises that they overcame through joint prayer.
In the morning part of the program, Fr. Dragan Ružić spoke about the origin and history of Mother’s village and the Merciful Father community, and then Marijan Tustonja, a former resident of Mother’s village, told his life story.
After all the problems he faced throughout his life, he said that he was angry with God and didn't talk to Him either, but it lasted only a month and then he started going to Holy Mass again regularly. He pointed out that the residents of Mother’s village are well integrated into the community and that in Medjugorje no distinction was ever made between the children of Medjugorje and the children from Mother’s village.
Today, Marijan Tustonja is an assistant at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Mostar teaching social work, and he is also the head of the Office for Students with Disabilities at the University of Mostar.
This third day ended with meditation with candles and prayer in front of the cross led by Fr. Renato Galić. (PHOTO)
