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Dr. Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic was born in 1920 in Hardomilije, Ljubuski. In 1939 he entered the Franciscan Order in the province of Herzegovina, and in 1946, he was ordained a priest. He finished his studies in Theology in the University seminary in Zagreb. He completed a doctorate in 1958 and received the habit there. From 1958 until 1988 he lectured in New Testament exegesis on Franciscan theology in Sarajevo, and also in the University seminary in Zagreb. Under the former Yugoslavian Communist regime, he served two prison sentences from 1945 to 1947 and again from 1952 to 1956. For a longer period, (1968 until 1981) he was a member of the theological commission aiding the Episcopal Conferences of former Yugoslavia. He has accomplished a translation of the New Testament from it's origins into the Croatian language, and his translation has had continuous re-publication. His books, studies and articles have been published in Croatian, English, German and Italian, and he has lectured at various conferences and meetings throughout Europe and America.

We thank to the Friends of Medjugorje Association in Milano, Italy, which transcribed sermons and discourses by Fr. Tomislav Vlasic and Fr. Slavko Barbaric during the period 1984-1987. They put them into a 4-volume book collection, and made them available to the public free of charge, asking only that we remember to pray for the most distant souls.

Fr. Svetozar Kraljević, OFM, was born on September 14, 1951 in Kočerin, near Široki Brijeg. He attended primary school in Kočerin, Seminary in Split, and completed his noviciate in Humac and his military service in Zrenjanin and Priština. He studied Theology in Sarajevo, Zagreb and Washington DC (USA). He was ordained a priest in Chicago (USA) in 1977. As priest, he served in USA (Milwaukee, New York), and in Humac, Konjic, Mostar and Široki Brijeg. He has been in Medjugorje since 1997.

Prof Dr. Adalbert Rebic - born 1937 in Hum on Sutla (Croatia). He completed his study of philosophy in Zagreb and in the Graduate School of Philosophy at the Gregorian Papal University in Rome and theology at the Gregorian and the Biblical Institute. Since 1968, he is professor of biblical sciences and oriental languages (Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac-Aramaic) in the Graduate School of Theology at the Catholic University in Zagreb. He was guest professor at the theological institutes of Zadar and Djakovo. At the Graduate School he organized and managed the financial business, and served as editor-in-chief of Theological Review and head of the Graduate School Library. Since 1972, he is President of the Croatian Mariological Institute and organized the Croatian section at international Mariological Congresses in Rome, Malta, Zaragoza, Kevelaer, Huelva and Czestohowa.

He worked in the publishing house "Krscanska Sadasnjost [Christianity Today]" as editor of biblical publications and since 1994 as director of "Christianity Today", and chief editor of the religion lexicon in the Lexicographic Institute "Miroslav Krleza" in Zagreb. From 1991 - 1996, he was Head of the Office of Exiles and Refugees for the Government of the Republic of Croatia. During 1995, he was Minister without Portfolio in the Government of the Republic of Croatia. He has been honoured with the highest decorations by the President of the Republic of Croatia and by the Academy of Science and Art. He has published 15 significant works and edited 11 anthologies on Marian themes. He has collaborated in theological periodicals both at home and abroad with about 430 titles. He has translated 26 books from various languages. Since 1970, he is a member of the Prebendary College of the Zagreb Metropolitan See. Since 1966 he has organized and guided about 50 pilgrimages to the Holy Land. He is a member of the Society of Croatian literary translators, a member of the Arts Academy of Croatia, a regular member of the Papal International Marian Academy in Rome, a member of the Jewish cultural society "Shalom Freiberger" in Zagreb, and an editorial member of the international theological periodical "Communio".

"The Meaning and Purpose of Life - The meaning of life is in the inspired words of Jesus: Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day and follow in my steps - Luke 9:23. The purpose of life is to remain faithful and dedicated to the calling of God."

Lavinia Tai

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