Marija Bistrica

In 1545 a local priest hid the wonder working statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus, which
previously stood in a wooden chapel on the Vinski Vrh (Hill) nearby, within the church to save it from the
Turks and took the secret of its hiding place to his grave. The statue was discovered in 1588, when
according to the records bright light shone from the place where it was buried. In 1650 the statue had to
be once again hidden to be rediscovered in 1684.
In 1710 the Croatian parliament vowed to fund a new altar in the church, which was done in 1715. In 1731
the church was expanded and reconsecrated to Our Lady of the Snows. In 1750 Pope Benedict XIV granted
plenary indulgence to pilgrims who confess and accept the Eucharist in Bistrica. From 1879 to 1882 a new
church was built in its place, designed in the style of Neo-Renaissance by Hermann Bollé. Arcades were
constructed around the church decorated with 22 paintings of the miracles granted by the Blessed Virgin.
During the construction a fire destroyed all of the church except the statue and the main altar. In 1923
Pope Pius XI granted the church the status of a minor basilica and in 1935 the archbishop of Zagreb Ante
Bauer crowned the statue as Our Lady Queen of Croatia. As archbishop, Aloysius Stepinac paid special
attention to the site and made annual pilgrimages. On 8 July 1945 he led his last pilgrimage to Marija
Bistrica which drew 40,000-50,000 people.
Povijest
Najpoznatije i najposjećenije svetište Majke Božje u nas Hrvata je Nacionalno svetište Majke Božje
Bistričke, smješteno među pitomim brežuljcima Hrvatskog zagorja.
Svetište Majke Božje Bistričke imalo je i ima vidno mjesto u marijanskoj geografiji hrvatskoga naroda. U
Mariju Bistricu već se stoljećima slijevaju vjernička mnoštva iz svih hrvatskih krajeva i inozemstva; ali i
pojedinci koji ovamo dolaze u tišini osobnoga hodočašća, tražeći i nalazeći svoj duhovni mir.
U hrvatskom Marijinu svetištu i prošteništu štuje se čudotvorni kip Majke Božje s Djetetom u naručju,
najveća svetinja našega hrvatskog naroda. Pred njim su tijekom a milijuni pobožnih hodočasnika klečali i
molili i od nebeske Majke dobivali pomoć i uslišanje.
Kako je kip kroz svoju povijest nekoliko puta bio skrivan od opasnosti koje su mu prijetile, posljednji je puta
pronađen i postavljen na oltar u srpnju godine 1684., od kada i počinju hodočašća u ovo svetište.
Zapisana su i mnoga milosna uslišanja kroz povijest Svetišta već od 1688. godine pa sve do danas, a to
dokazuje veliku ljubav i vjernost naroda prema Majci Božjoj.
Svetište u Mariji Bistrici postalo je nacionalno svetište još 1715. godine, kada je Hrvatski sabor podigao
veliki zavjetni oltar.
Porastom marijanske pobožnosti i zbog mnogih milosnih uslišanja po zagovoru Majke Božje Bistričke
postala je svetišna crkva tijesna i premalena. Stoga bistrički župnik dr. Juraj žerjavić (1875-1911), prema
nacrtima arhitekta Friedricha von Schmidta i njegova učenika Hermanna Bolléa, dade proširiti i preurediti
crkvu, župni dvor s arkadama, te iz stare crkve načini crkvu u stilu neorenesanse. Papa Pio XI. (1922-1939)
podijelio je 4. prosinca 1923. godine svetištu Majke Božje Bistričke naslov Manje Bazilike.
Svoje prvo najveće slavlje doživjela je Marija Bistrica 15. kolovoza 1971. godine kada je u njoj održan XIII.
međunarodni marijanski kongres. Biskupi su te godine svetište proglasili Hrvatskim nacionalnim svetištem
Majke Božje Bistričke. No, Crkva u Hrvata doživjela je svoj najveći povijesni, crkveni i svenarodni događaj
posjetom pape Ivana Pavla II. i proglašenjem blaženim zagrebačkoga nadbiskupa Alojzija kardinala Stepinca
3. listopada 1998. godine. Sveti Otac Ivan Pavao II. to potvrđuje ovim riječima: „Odavno sam želio poći u
poznato svetište Majke Božje Bistričke. Providnost je htjela da se ta želja ostvari prigodom proglašenja
blaženim Alojzija kardinala Stepinca.“
Kip
Zavjetni kip Majke Božje Bistričke datira se na kraj 15. stoljeća, a pripada nizu crnih Madona, premda je pri
restauraciji otkriveno da njezina tamna boja nije izvorna. Kasnogotički drveni kip bistričke Bogorodice rad
je pučkog majstora. Izražajna moć kipa nije toliko u umjetničkome oblikovanju, koliko u samome vjerskom i
nacionalnom značenju. Kip je najprije bio smješten u prasvetištu na Vinskom vrhu, a onda 1545. godine
zakopan u župnoj crkvi u Mariji Bistrici i otkriven 1588. godine; ponovo zaboravljen i zazidan, pronaden je
drugi puta 1684. godine. U jubilejskom slavlju 250. obljetnice svetišta Majke Božje Bistričke i u svečanosti
krunjenja kipa Majke Božje Bistričke, koje se odvijalo prigodom zagrebačkog hodočašća 7. srpnja 1935.
godine, sudjelovalo je oko 30.000 hodočasnika. Osobito ganutljiv prizor za vjernike bio je kada se
nadbiskup Antun Bauer približio kipu Majke Božje Bistričke, kruneći ga zlatnom krunom i govoreći:
Selidba kipa, njegovo skrivanje i dva našašca budila su vjeru u njegovu čudotvornu moć. Bistrička Gospa
bila je tješiteljica kršćana za vrijeme turskih opasnosti, pomoćnica u Prvom i Drugom svjetskom ratu i u
domovinskom ratu.
Križni put
Uređenje križnoga puta u Mariji Bistrici zamislili su nadbiskup Antun Bauer i njegov koadjutor blaženi
Alojzija Stepinca. Zamisao se rodila gledajući križni put na Jasnoj Gori za vrijeme Euharistijskog kongresa
1935. godine u Čenstohovi. 1943. godine postavljene su prve četiri postaje od kararskoga mramora u
naravnoj veličini, a isklesane su u Italiji.
Godine 1972. zagrebački nadbiskup Franjo Kuharić ustanovio je nadbiskupski odbor za uređenje
proštenišnoga prostora.
U godinama koje su slijedile podignute su nove postaje križnog puta, djelo naših poznatih akademskih
kipara: Krune Bošnjaka (V. postaja), Ante Orlića u suradnji s Marijom Ujević ( XIII.), Stanka Jančića (VII, IX,
XI, XV.), Ante Orlića (X., XII., XIV.), Josipa Poljana (VI.) i Ante Starčevića (VIII. postaja).
Karmel
Ove su riječi uklesane na spomen ploči koja je postavljena ispred samostanske crkve.
Bosonoge sestre karmelićanke došle su u Hrvatsku 1939. godine na poziv zagrebačkog nadbiskupa Alojzija
Stepinca. Temeljni kamen za ovaj Karmel Majke Božje Bistričke i blaženog Alojzija Stepinca blagoslovio je
11. rujna 1994. papa Ivan Pavao II. Iste godine kardinal Franjo Kuharić započeo je s izgradnjom samostana.
Kada je 3. listopada 1998. papa Ivan Pavao II. svečano proglasio blaženim Alojzija Stepinca u Mariji Bistrici,
sestre karmelićanke uselile su u samostan. Zagrebački nadbiskup Josip Bozanić posvetio je crkvu i
blagoslovio Karmel 12. veljače 2000., a sestre karmelićanke istoga dana zatvorile su se u klauzuru.
tel. 049 468 673

Pitanja za intervju:
Kratko se predstavite?
Možete li izdvojiti neke najvažnije povijesne događaje iz svetišta?
Opišite nam kip Majke Božje Bistričke?
Kojim blagdanima dolazi najviše hodočasnika?
Što privlači hodočasnike u Mariju Bistricu?
Questions for Reflection
• What is important or special to you about this particular pilgrimage site?
• Why have you made this journey?
• What are your intentions for this pilgrimage?
• Do you have any hopes motivating you to go on this journey?
• What kinds of sacrifices have you made to be on pilgrimage?
• Are there habits, idols, or other areas of your life that you can offer to the Lord as you make this
pilgrimage?

• How do you feel as you journey from your home or starting point to the destination?
• Are you excited, tired, uncertain, prayerful, indifferent, or anxious?
• Upon entering the pilgrimage site, what things do you initially notice?
• Is your heart drawn to a particular area, icon, or statue?
• Be still in silence and consider four of the five senses as you enter the space: What sights do you
see? What sounds do you hear? What do you smell? How does the space feel to the touch?
• Allow the Lord to enter the silence in your heart. What religious experience in your past does this
space remind you of?
• What imagery do you notice in this space?
• What Scripture passages are you reminded of in this space?
• What Catholic traditions, sacramentals, or prayers are you reminded of in this space?
• How will you remember this space? Is there a particular image, prayer, message, or person that you
will use to commemorate this experience?
•
Prayer as you end your pilgrimage
Lord Jesus Christ, As this pilgrimage comes to an end, help me to walk in newness of life.
By your Spirit, transform me into your likeness.
Give me your… (patience, humility, compassion, etc.) Jesus, fill me with your life and love. I ask this in your
Most Holy Name. Amen.

Majko Božja Bistrička, ti si u svojoj Majčinoj dobroti

Majko Božja Bistrička, ti si u svojoj Majčinoj dobroti odabrala u našem Hrvatskom zagorju mjesto koje se po
tebi zove Marija Bistrica. Tu se časti tvoj čudotvorni lik. Tu je tvoje svetište u kojem svoju djecu obasipaš
svojim milostima. Tu liječiš duhovne i tjelesne rane zemaljskih patnika i ispunjaš želje onih koji se pouzdano
k tebi utječu. Ti poznaješ sve moje duševne i tjelesne potrebe. K tebi kao Božjoj i svojoj Majci, odlučio sam
doći, da ti otvorim svoje srce i izrazim svoje želje. Ti me, Isusova i moja Majko, koja u svojoj dobroti nikada
nikoga nisi od sebe odbila, milostivo saslušaj i usliši. Amen.

First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation

"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin
betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary" (Lk
1:26-27).
Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
"In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the
house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe
leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry,
'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"' (Lk 1:39-42).
Third Joyful Mystery: The Birth of Our Lord
"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the
first enrolment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his
betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she
gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because
there was no place for them in the inn" (Lk 2:1-7).
Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
"And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the law
of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the
Lord, 'Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord') and to offer a sacrifice according
to what is said in the law of the Lord, 'a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons"' (Lk 2:21-24).
Fifth Joyful Mystery: The finding of Jesus in the temple
"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years
old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy
Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it ...
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking
them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers" (Lk 2:41-47).