The labyrinthine streets of flowered niches of San Rafael Cemetery This November 1, they looked like busy avenues in which people memory and the dedication of some, with the joviality and the relaxed tone of others. The obligatory visit to the dead on All Saints’ Day filled, once again, the largest cemetery in the city, which very early on began to receive the first Cordobans.
All those who crossed the thresholds of the different entrances to the necropolis on Libia Avenue did so with a bouquet. And many also took rags and other cleaning supplies to maintain the kennels. “Ladders and paint!” »», shouted, as in the markets, the workers on every street corner, among the visitors who were searching, some of them, helpless, for the location of their deceased.
On the bottom step of a portable ladder, María José cleaned her father’s tombstone, while Antonia, her mother, gave her instructions from below. “We don’t miss any years. here I have buried my husband and to my parents, who in a short time we will go to see them”, indicated the woman, with five daisies in her hands.
“We don’t miss any years; “I buried my husband and my parents here.”
In every street, the groups in front of the tombs, they recalled past anecdotes of the deceased or simply served to catch up of the lives of those who found each other, like Manuel and José Carlos, two friends met at the cemetery and who had not seen each other for “a long time”. “It seems incredible that we have to agree here,” they said to each other, laughing.
Alongside them, their wives congratulated each other on their chosen flowers for their respective deceased loved ones: “You did very well not to buy them in plastic, because the green leaves turn blue, very blue, when the sun hits them,” one says to the other.
Indeed, the stars of the cemetery were, once again, the natural flowers. At the entrance to the Virgen de la Milagrosa, several stands served visitors who came to ask questions, such as Juan Guillermo, from Vivieros Santa Barbara: “This year things are weaker, it seems like sales are decreasing. Fortunately or unfortunately, this tradition is being lost,” he commented, adding that prices “have barely increased; “A few weeks ago, daisies cost around 4 euros and now, 5 (a pack of five stems).” The bellis perennis, as well as chrysanthemums, roses and especially the “Colombian carnation”, were the most in demand.
By your side, Manuel Bozflorist from a warehouse on Avenue de l’Aéroport, deplored the “bad weather” of the previous days, which “severely slowed down sales”. At the moment there is little atmosphere, although we hope that things will liven up.” Last year we sold absolutely everythingthe post was empty. Let’s see if we repeat this one. »
Mass at the cemetery
Shortly before 12:00 p.m., when the sky was already completely clear and the sun had set, the chairs placed to attend the traditional mass were all occupied. Dozens of faithful, under umbrellas (now to protect themselves from the unusual heat) awaited the intervention of the vicar of the diocese, Jesus Daniel Alonsowho replaced the bishop, Mgr. Demetrio Fernández.
“This cemetery is full of saints, since many of them will already be enjoy God“, of his infinite love”, said the prelate to those present.
Alonso defended the existence of Jesus. “God cannot be seen, but there are many other things that we cannot see and we believe in them, they exist. AND the existence of God is easy to prove“Just look at the sky, these cypresses, so much nature and so much perfection…”
In his homily, the vicar emphasized that “God also shows us that he loves us. So, as many people wonder, Why do you allow suffering? Why do you let our loved ones die or allow disasters like the one in Valencia to happen? You find proof that he loves us throughout the cemetery: it is that this God who exists does not look at us from afar; “He doesn’t believe us and ignores us, but he passed through one of us, was born in a manger, sacrificed himself, suffered for all of us.”
Meanwhile, the transfer continued to the San Rafael cemetery. Many of those who found themselves in its niche streets took advantage of the day to eat together and end the day as a family, for everyone. those who can no longer be.
