"We celebrate Virgin Mary's assumption also as a promise for our future," Zore said.

He added that to receive salvation "we must first attend Virgin Mary's school", but expressed fear that "we as individuals and as society" were not "consistent protectors of life from its conception to the natural death".

Unborn child also has human rights and the fundamental among them is the right to life. "To take this fundamental right from the unborn is the first snowflake in the avalanche in which the human life stops being a value and becomes, for individuals or certain groups, nothing but a means to an end".

Zore further noted that because of this lack of respect for life at its beginning, "we also have problems with life at its end" and do not know how to truly pay respect every dead person.

"It is also one of the reasons we have such trouble interring the victims buried in trenches and pits across our homeland," he added in reference to post-WWII summary killings.

However, things have started to change: "If we continue to walk patiently and persistently on the path to respecting all the dead, I am certain we will in the end get an inkling about the dignity surrounding every human regardless of whether they are still on the path to seeing the light of the day or they have closed their eyes to the light."

Several other bishops also said masses today, including Archbishop of Maribor Alojzij Cvikl and Bishop of Novo mesto Andrej Glavan, who spoke about the waning of faith among people.

"Today's holiday invites us to direct our gaze towards God. Virgin Mary and her life teach us that we were not created for scraping by until our deaths but for life and happiness. The path to this life and happiness is illuminated by the light of faith and fulfilling His will," Cvikl stressed.

Meanwhile, Glavan asked believers to "pray for youths to discover that God is the only rock for a beautiful and happy life". He also called for reconciliation among Slovenians, "for a more peaceful and respectful life in our otherwise beautiful homeland marked by disputes and hatred that disables cooperation for the common good".

On Assumption Day, one of the biggest Christian holidays believers traditionally flock to churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This year's celebrations also marked the 25th anniversary of Slovenian bishops entrusting the Slovenian nation into Virgin Mary's hands in 1992.

The Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Brezje in the north-east of the country has been Slovenia's main pilgrimage site for a century and a half.

It is visited by more than 300,000 people from around the world each year and more than 7,000 people are expected there on Assumption Day this year, which also marks the 110th anniversary of the crowning of the images of Mary Help of Christians.