Professional paper
Analysis and Messages of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac’s “Collection of Sermons According to the Litanies of St Joseph”
Juraj Batelja
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb
Abstract
As a convict serving time in the prison of Lepoglava, the
Zagreb archbishop Alojzije Stepinac wrote a collection of Sermons
according to the Litanies of St Joseph. These are a real challenge for
studies as they were composed in prison, with limited theological
sources, where death was very frequent, and there was no shortage
of provocations and humiliation. In these sermons, acceptance
of coexistence with St Joseph’s life realities and reliance on God
reveal a remarkable goodness of God which he makes use of when
performing the great deeds of his love through weak, unknown
people. For archbishop Stepinac, brightness, optimism and joyful
exercise of God’s will, recognized in the holiness of St Joseph,
are able to overcome the fear of life and death, and to convert
the circumstances of family life to an atmosphere of happiness,
prosperity and God’s blessing, while the devotions in his honour
can help in the pastoral of the youth and family.
Keywords
St Joseph; Incarnation of God’s Son; virginity; paternity; chastity of faith; obedience to God; fidelity; honesty; patience; happy death; litanies and devotions in the honour of St. Joseph
Hrčak ID:
41915
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2009.
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