‘You can pass through here only over my dead body!’
Miroslav was born on May 13, 1920, in Čabrunići, Istria, which at that time was in the Kingdom of Italy, now part of Croatia, to Miha Bulesic and Lucija Butkovic, with 4 siblings.
In his childhood, he first learned the truths of the faith from a small book written by Bishop Juraj Dobrila, which focused on the spiritual needs of the faithful. At the age of 10, he decided to enter the seminary at Capodistria.
He was known to be a wise, frank, pious, and good seminarian and was sent to Rome for further study.
He returned to Istria, to be ordained, celebrating his 1st Mass in his native parish. He took the invocation of the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Thy kingdom come! Thy will be done!’ as his motto.
He was appointed as the parish priest in Baderna at the beginning of World War II, providing pastoral care, while selflessly standing up for them and those left most vulnerable from the conflict. With 3 armies present, he kept Catholic principles at hand and searched for God’s image underneath the military uniform.
Because of his fearless and bold behavior, he was threatened from all sides including constant charges and slander. In his diary he addressed God, giving all of himself to Him. To his opponents and persecutors, he said, ‘My revenge is forgiveness.’
He remained in Baderna until the end of the war and was relocated to the parish in Kafanar. In the large and demanding parish, he brought back church events and singing, encouraged the rosary, and sacraments while introducing adorations.
Communists began their takeover of the country and he witnessed their abuse of the clergy. He began to speak out, advocating for justice, and with his unwavering faith, emerged as a strong opponent.
He again faced great opposition and hostility, but refused to be intimidated. The communists knew that the people loved him and wouldn’t follow them while he was still alive. They used his relatives to try and convince him to leave to Rome but he refused. They told him he was being publicly threatened with his life and to not speak so openly, but again he refused and embraced martyrdom.
He was transferred to the diocesan seminary in Pazin for the following school year and tried to protect the young priests from the manipulations of the communists. He faced even stronger pressure than before. The bishop was openly threatened and the archbishop was detained.
On August 23, 1947, communists came to the church to stop the Holy Confirmation and Miroslav defended the Tabernacle. After declaring his willing to die, the communists left.
The next day, they celebrated the Holy Confirmation in Lanišće, and afterwards, after Miroslav’s return to the parish house, rebels entered the home and stabbed him to death in the throat. Monsignor Ukmar came into the house afterwards and they brutally beat him, to the point they thought he was dead and left.
For God’s Glory.
