L'Eglise Aristotelicienne Romaine The Roman and Aristotelic Church

[Adelene]

Le Cardinal de Kermabon reprit la parole après l’émouvant témoignage de l’évêque de Montélimar. Il se tourna alors lentement vers l’assemblée, les yeux humides mais la voix ferme.

Avant de quitter ce lieu de recueillement, il est temps de dire un dernier adieu à notre frère Urbain Mastiggia.

Un profond silence s’abattit sur la basilique. Il était temps de définitivement dire adieu à ce Cardinal d’une exceptionnelle valeur. Il poursuivit.

Avec respect, tendresse et fidélité, nous le confions aux mains du Père. Puisse-t-il trouver la paix éternelle dans la lumière divine. Nous espérons tous le retrouver un jour, au-delà des brumes de ce monde, dans la claire présence de Dieu.

Il marqua une pause, la dernière, puis dressant les mains devant lui, en signe de supplique, il termina :

Aux côtés de ceux qui nous ont précédés, dans cette grande communion des saints, que son âme trouve le repos et la sérénité. Que nos prières l’accompagnent, comme un souffle de paix, sur le chemin de l’éternité.

Contre les murs de la basilique résonnaient, assourdis, quelques sanglots, qui bientôt seraient recouverts par le son du glas tonitruant.


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Cardinal de Kermabon took the floor again after the moving testimony of the Bishop of Montélimar. He then turned slowly to the congregation, his eyes moist but his voice firm.

Before leaving this place of recollection, it is time to say a final farewell to our brother Urbain Mastiggia.

A deep silence fell over the basilica. It was time to bid a final farewell to this Cardinal of exceptional worth. He continued.

With respect, tenderness and fidelity, we entrust him to the hands of the Father. May he find eternal peace in the divine light. We all hope to find him one day, beyond the mists of this world, in the clear presence of God.

He paused for a moment, then holding his hands out in supplication, he finished.

Alongside those who have gone before us, in this great communion of saints, may her soul find rest and serenity. May our prayers accompany him, like a breath of peace, on the path to eternity.

A few muffled sobs echoed against the walls of the basilica, soon to be covered by the sound of the thundering knell.
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Son Éminence Adelène de Kermabon - Cardinal de Saint Nicomaque de l'Esquilin - Archevêque de Bordeaux

[Kalixtus]

Now it was time for the final blessing and the last prayer, before Cardinal Urbain’s final journey into the crypt would begin.

The presiding Cardinal raised his voice, and the concelebrants were invited to join him in reciting the final prayer and blessing:

“Let us pray together:


Almighty, eternal God,
into your hands we commend Cardinal Urbain,
your faithful servant, who throughout his life
sought your light, proclaimed your truth,
and led your people with a shepherd’s courage.

As he lived under the sign of the Cross,
so now call him home into your eternal kingdom,
where there is no more death, no more sorrow, no more pain,
but life in abundance, light without shadow,
and peace without end.

He was a watchman in the night,
a bearer of your Word,
a guardian of the Church.
Reward him, O Lord, for his labors,
forgive him his shortcomings,
and receive him into the communion of saints.

Through Almighty God.

Amen.”


What followed was the blessing — and for this, Kalixtus always prepared himself inwardly, for it was a special and layered moment, closely bound to the very substance of the aether:
that substance which links the mortal world to the Eternal.


“The Lord be with you.”
Assembly: And with your spirit.

“Bow your heads for the blessing.”


In silence, the Cardinal raised his hands in the sign of blessing.


“The God of all grace,
who has called our brother Cardinal Urbain
from this world,
now be to him an eternal Father.

May He let him behold what he believed.
May He comfort us who mourn,
and make our sorrow fruitful
in the hope of the resurrection.

May the blessing of Almighty God,
the Father ✠,
come down upon you
and remain with you forever.”

Assembly: Amen.


Then the lid was laid over the mortal remains of Cardinal Urbain, and the crypt was opened. Cardinal Kalixtus sprinkled the sarcophagus one final time with holy water, and the bearers lifted the resting place — the coffin itself — to carry it under the solemn tones of the Te Deum sung by the Schola of Saint Titus into the crypt, where a final and definitive farewell was to be given.

The niche reserved for Cardinal Urbain was lit with candles and adorned with flowers. The sarcophagus was placed, the bearers bowed, and Cardinal Adelene and Cardinal Kalixtus, as the celebrants, were now to perform the final rituals of this requiem.

“At this place we now entrust Urbain’s body to the earth,
where so many of the departed of our families already rest.
For Urbain, the time has come to say, ‘I go to GOD.’
This is a moment of sorrow,
but it is necessary that hope remain strong within us,
for we hope to see Urbain again
when the LORD shall reunite us in His Kingdom.
Let us pause in remembrance of all we experienced with Urbain,
and let our love for him be as it is with the LORD.”

One final time, the coffin and resting place were sprinkled with holy water, and Cardinal Kalixtus spoke:

“This water, remembrance of your baptism,
reminds us that God made you His child.
May He now receive you in His peace.”

Kalixtus remained silent for a moment, then bowed once more before his brother, before opening the space for a 48-hour period of private farewells in silent mourning.

After that, the crypt would be sealed, and the departed would find his final rest.

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