Slavko Barbaric

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Slavko Barbarić OFM (born March 11, 1946 in Dragićina near Čitluk , SR Bosnia and Herzegovina , Yugoslavia ; † November 24, 2000 in Međugorje , Bosnia-Herzegovina) was a Croatian Franciscan (OFM) and author .

Life

Slavko Barbaric's grave in Medjugorje

Slavko Barbarić was born in the Herzegovinian village of Dragićina near Čitluk . He attended elementary school in the nearby village of Čerin. His further education took place in Dubrovnik , where he obtained his Abitur at the local grammar school.

On July 14, 1965 he entered the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Franciscan Province of Argentina of the Franciscan Order in the monastery of Humac near Ljubuški . His philosophy and theology studies took place in the Bosnian Franciscan monastery in Visoko , and he also studied in Sarajevo , Graz , Schwaz and Freiburg im Breisgau . On September 17, 1971, he took his religious vows in the monastery of La Verna on Monte Penna . The priestly ordination took place on December 19, 1971 by the bishop emeritus of Cochabamba , Juan Tarsicio Senner OFM in the Tyrolean town of Reutte .

From 1973 to 1978 he worked as a chaplain in Čapljina , Herzegovina . He also studied psychology and religious education in Freiburg and obtained his doctorate . From 1982 he was a student pastor in Mostar . In the Herzegovinian Franciscan monastery of Bijelo Polje, not far from Mostar, he successfully led prayer seminars that were not only popular with young people. The communist rulers of the former Yugoslavia were suspicious of him and his pastoral service. During this time, Father Barbarić received help from the Zagreb Cardinal Franjo Kuharić for his pastoral service as a Roman Catholic priest .

In 1983 he was transferred to the pastoral ministry in Međugorje, where he was initially skeptical of the apparitions of Mary that had supposedly been taking place there since 1981 . In this regard, he literally wanted to “put an end to this ghost” in Medjugorje. This attitude soon changed when, after several extensive studies, he came to the conclusion that the events there appeared to be authentic for him. His personal assessment of Međugorje again brought him into conflict situations with the communist rulers of the former Yugoslavia, as well as with the then local bishop Pavao Žanić , who was skeptical of the alleged apparitions of Međugorje . It is disputed whether the dispute between the local bishops and the Herzegovinian Franciscan Province, which has now lasted for over a century, contributed to this.

Until his death, Father Slavko Barbarić was very committed to the "place of pilgrimage" of Međugorje, which the Roman Catholic Church did not recognize as such. This brought Barbarić forced transfers to various parishes . From 1985 to 1988 he was appointed Parish Vicar of Blagaj . From 1988 to 1991 he worked as an employee of the novice master in the Franciscan monastery of Humac and there at the same time as parish vicar. Father Barbarić was very committed to the increasing number of pilgrims in Međugorje, who came to Međugorje despite the harassment of the local and regional authorities.

His travels took him to Uganda , among other places , where he visited the supposed seers of the movement to restore the Ten Commandments .

Barbarić had the mother village "Majčino Selo" built in the district of Bijakovići in Međugorje. It was used as accommodation for orphans , later for raped women and single mothers during the Bosnian war . He established foundations for children of fallen soldiers in the Bosnian war and for prospective theology students. He also led fasting and prayer seminars. Pastorally he also worked as a house chaplain in the drug center "Campo della vita" in Međugorje. He is considered the initiator of the annual Meugorje youth festival . He was also instrumental in founding the radio station “Radio Mir Međugorje”. He has written numerous books with a circulation of over 20 million, translated into 20 languages, and articles that have appeared in magazines around the world.

On March 19, 1999 and early April 2000, he visited Croatian prisoners at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague . The visits elicited both approving and critical responses within the Catholic Church .

Before his death on November 24, 2000 on the Kreuzberg of Međugorje, probably caused by a heart attack , his pastoral service was restricted by the local bishop Ratko Perić . As a result, Father Slavko Barbarić was not allowed to have confessional talks and to celebrate an official mass in Medjugorje. They also expressed the wish that he should leave Medjugorje.

On November 26th, 2000 Slavko Barbarić was buried in the local cemetery Kovačica in Međugorje. Bishop Ratko Perić led the funeral service. Several initiatives of Medjugorje pilgrims have formed around the world who are hoping for a beatification process by the Roman Catholic Church.

literature

Web links

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  1. ^ Report by Unity Publishing , March 17, 2005
  2. ↑ Article in Eco di Maria, Regina della Pace (PDF; 71 kB), May - June 1999 edition
  3. ^ Homepage of the parish Schröck: What I have already answered , Marburg , May 2000
  4. ^ Father Slavko Barbaric dead , medjugorje.at (undated)
personal data
SURNAME Barbaric, Slavko
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Croatian writer
DATE OF BIRTH March 11, 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH Dragicina
DATE OF DEATH November 24, 2000
Place of death Međugorje