Urda Sets Funeral Mass as Archbishop Consoles the Grieving
The Christ of La Mancha will process to San Juan Bautista tonight; Archbishop Cerro and his auxiliary will preside at Saturday’s Mass for at least 69 dead.
On Saturday, October 31, at noon, the parish church of San Juan Bautista in Urda will host a funeral Mass for the victims of the high-speed train collision that struck the Toledo countryside on Wednesday, October 28. Archbishop Francisco Cerro of Toledo will preside, joined by auxiliary Bishop Francisco-César García Magán. The parishes of Urda and Los Yébenes announced the liturgy as families continue to mourn at least 69 dead.
Pastoral presence at the scene
In remarks given October 30, Archbishop Cerro said he reached the crash site the morning of the accident and led a prayer for the dead. He later stayed with survivors and relatives, visited the injured in the Urda pavilion and in the intensive care unit of the Toledo hospital, and spent much of Thursday at the family-assistance center set up at the Casa de Ejercicios.
The archdiocese opened its churches to those in need, with priests available at all hours. Many of the injured and their families asked for confession and the anointing of the sick. “We have found a desire to live these moments of pain from God,” Cerro said. He added: “With God there are things that sometimes are not understood, but without God nothing is understood.”
The Holy Father, he reported, was deeply moved and expressly requested a telegram of condolence, sent through the apostolic nunciature. Bishops in Spain and abroad also telephoned to express their sympathy.
Absolution amid the wreckage
At the disaster site, Father Fernando Fernández de Bobadilla, pastor of Los Yébenes, gave general sacramental absolution in danger of death, as provided in canon 961 of the Code of Canon Law, speaking aloud among the wreckage. He then moved among the dying and injured saying, “I am the priest, I have come to pray for you,” and described offering their suffering to God in union with the Passion of Christ.
Christ of La Mancha for the funeral
On Friday evening, October 30, at 10 p.m., the image of the Most Holy Christ of the True Cross—known as the Christ of La Mancha—will be carried in procession from its basilica to the parish church of San Juan Bautista. It will remain there through Saturday night, accompanying the faithful as they commend the dead to the mercy of God and seek strength for the living.