The pilgrimage Mass of the City of Rijeka to Our Lady of Trsat concluded this year's pilgrimage season at Trsat. The final Mass was presided over by General Vicar Mario Tomljanović.
In his homily, Tomljanović emphasised that pilgrimage means setting aside time, leaving behind daily duties and coming before God with what one lives with — with joys and laughter, but also tears, weaknesses and insecurities. He reminded the congregation of the most important commandment, to love God with all one's mind, heart and soul, as well as the one that follows immediately after it — to love one's neighbour as oneself.
He also warned of the possibility that prayers for mercy and external signs of piety are not accompanied by deeds. "We can pray for mercy, yet not forgive ourselves," he said, "and light a candle before Our Lady, yet fail to notice someone's loneliness." He called on the gathered faithful to pray for a heart that is capable of receiving God's love and giving it away.
Trsat Guardian Father Dragan Grizelj highlighted the large number of pilgrims who had come throughout the year from all over Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy and Austria, as well as from overseas countries, particularly South Korea. He thanked God and Our Lady of Trsat for the graces, as well as everyone who had helped during the pilgrimage year, including Rijeka Archbishop Mate Uzinić, who often came to Trsat as a pilgrim.
The next pilgrimage year begins in May, with the pilgrimage of seafarers to Our Lady of Trsat.
