White roses, faces of adults and children streaked with tears, and a silence at times surreal: thus, among the wings of a moved and still almost incredulous crowd, the coffin of little Mattia , 8 years old, overwhelmed and killed by the flood of Nevola la on the evening of 15 September in Castelleone di Suasa, in the Ancona area, he arrived in the church of Santa Maria Assunta di Barbara .
Accompanying the white coffin , covered with wreaths of white flowers , which were also placed in quantity in front of the church altar, crowded with people, were the father Tiziano Luconi and the mother Silvia Mereu , originally from Urzulei .
Also waiting for the mayors of Barbara, San Lorenzo in Campo and Castelleone di Suasa, with the banners of Barbara and San Lorenzo, where Mattia lived with his mother, supported by local police agents and firefighters on "picket" in front of the entrance to the church.
City mourning today in the municipalities of Ancona, where the activities were also asked to observe some closing hours in correspondence with the funeral.
THE CEREMONY - "We would not have wanted to be here and experience these dramas that are part of man's existence ". Thus Fr Paolo Montesi opening the celebration. "We ask the Lord to live this liturgy, which we celebrate together, so that the Lord helps us to continue living our earthly existence intensely," said the parish priest, " with one heart and one soul around the family . the life of Mattia who is here among us ".
"Mattia teach us to live with joy, welcome, amazement and love ", continued the parish priest, who then retraced the memories of the serene and happy child in the village, as an example of life. "Mattia teach us to live the joy that you lived when dad took you in the Lambretta to the village and you felt the breeze that caressed your cheeks - he recalled - Help us to experience hospitality without distinction because everyone in front of you , when you stopped with the scooter and dad would tell you to say hello, you would say hello with your hand , without distinction to everyone ". "Help us to live life without distinction with love , as we do, between able and disabled, good and bad, all that will remain is love , the rest will all fall". "Help us to experience the amazement with which you looked at the candles lit in the church , which enchants the eyes of children. - continued Don Paolo - Forgive me if the first few times I looked at you a little frowning, you lit some of them, sometimes you threw them at earth. I felt disturbed in the silence of the church, I beg your pardon , so that we could recover the amazement of life and not take everything for granted ". So the hope for everyone to be among " the great ones in heaven , because on earth we made ourselves small, just like this child".
Then the last farewell from the mayor of Barbara, Riccardo Pasqualini . "Mattia is your last trick , you hid from father, mother from everyone, from the country ... it's just a goodbye", he said with a voice broken by tears. And the emotion of the teacher for that " darling with black eyes ", whose " smile was worth a thousand words . You made us discover a world made of emotions and silences, we liked this world and made us know your pure soul and innocent. You were the mascot of the school, loved by everyone. You liked running and being with your mates, you were crazy for chocolate cookies, a joy to be with you. It made you feel good, to feel your tender little hand. Miss you, hello Matti, hello little one ... ".
Upon leaving the church, the schoolmates , who had entered the church each with a long white rose in their hand, released white heart-shaped balloons into the air to remember that child they loved so much and will miss him so much. The launch of balloons was accompanied by prayers in the churchyard and in the crowded square, and by applause.
(Unioneonline / vl)