(source: TASR)
As many as 30,000 believers participated in the national pilgrimage of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows held in Šaštín-Stráže on September 15.
The pilgrimage culminated with a holy mass held at the Šaštín Basilica, officiated by Milan Lach, Bishop of the Eparchy of Parma in the Byzantine Catholic Church, and co-officiated by 150 priests, including Slovak and foreign bishops.
“The Current world is unbelievably fast-paced, we don’t have time for relaxation, for anything,” Lach said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “We need to stop, slow down, enjoy the moments. We have stopped being astonished, everything is normal for us. Let’s find time to be with our family.”
President Andrej Kiska, who also attended the mass, stressed the role of Church and family in our lives and society. PM Peter Pellegrini emphasised the message of Lach’s homily, devoted to our way of life, as reported by the SITA newswire.
The national pilgrimage hailing the Feast of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, the patron saint of Slovakia, has been held annually since 1732, when the local sculpture was declared merciful.
“We came because we are Catholics and we worship the Virgin Mary,” said Marcela Antálková from Brodské (Trnava Region), as quoted by TASR, adding that she has been visiting the place since she was a young girl.
This year, about 60 volunteers took care of the pilgrims, TASR reported.
