Spain – "We celebrate life": the funeral of Isabel Artime, the mother of the Rector Major

27 June 2023
Spain – "We celebrate life": the funeral of Isabel Artime, the mother of the Rector Major

(ANS – Luanco) – "This Eucharist is a thanksgiving to God for my mother, in whom we celebrate life." This is how Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, began the homily at the Requiem Mass for his mother, Isabel Artime, 87, who died on Saturday, 24 June 2023. The Mass was celebrated on Monday 26 June in the parish church at Luanco, a fishing village in Asturias in northern Spain, the place of origin of the Rector Major's family, where the Isabel lived.

The Rector Major and his family were accompanied by the members of the General Council, who came from Turin, the Provincial Council of Spain's St James the Greater Province (SSM), his Province of origin, and some 80 Salesians, as well as many friends, neighbours, local inhabitants and close relatives.

“I am convinced that our loved ones are with God, and I want to give this testimony of faith. This certainty gives us profound peace, it gives meaning to our life”, said Fr Á.F. Artime in an emotional homily in which he recalled his mother Isabel, “who, together with my father, always sat in this church, near the altar of Our Lady of Carmel”, thus giving “a final touch to a simple life lived in God”.

Among the memories and anecdotes of his mother's life, the Rector Major highlighted the example of a simple and hardworking life of faith he received from his parents. Today we thank God that they passed on a wonderful faith to us, a very deep faith, in a simple way. Their example of life was always the best catechesis”, he testified once more, before concluding with a prayer: “Mother, our prayer and that of so many people who love us, we offer for you. Rest in peace in the Lord. We will meet again in Him.”

During other moments of the Eucharist, the Rector Major thanked the General Council and many Salesians for their presence, in addition to those in the Salesian Family who offered many expressions of affection in various ways.

Gratitude was also emphasised at the end of the Mass by Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major. He also expressed the closeness of the entire Salesian Family to Fr Artime and his family, and pointed out that it is possible to recognise the fruits of this family from the faith of its children; for this reason, he remarked, remembering the Rector Major's mother, "we are celebrating a life well lived to the end", and concluded by asking "Isabel to pray for us".

The religious celebration ended with the sprinkling with holy water in memory of Baptism, and the incensation of the coffin containing the remains of Mrs Isabel Artime.

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