A man dies on his knees before the altar in the church

A man dies on his knees: a church in Mexico City was the scene on Sunday of the death of Juan, a man in his sixties. Who knelt to pray at the entrance of the church, went up the main aisle still on his knees, fainted and died in a few minutes in front of the altar.

On the same afternoon the parish priest celebrated Juan's funeral mass accompanied by several parishioners.

The official report states that Juan entered the parish church of Jesus the Priest. Around noon on February 21, he died shortly after on his knees before the altar, about 45 minutes before the start of the afternoon mass.

The sacristan, who witnessed the collapse of the man, promptly informed the parish priest, Fr. Sajid Lozano, who called an ambulance, but "there were several signs that we could no longer do it because he was already dead," said the priest.

Lozano said that “Juan came with his legs to his funeral Mass. His body present there, which is the death of the righteous, a death without suffering ”. "Juan had the strength and the courage to come to God's house to take his last breath," he added.

He dies on his knees in the church

According to Desde la Fe magazine, a publication of the archdiocese of Mexico City, very few people knew Juan. Moved by the way he died, many attended the funeral Mass.

Police and paramedics "told us that the death had occurred due to a sudden heart attack and that there were no signs of violence". The priest told the archdiocesan magazine. The authorities also gave the priest permission to go on with the mass. They suggested he find one of Juan's relatives.

A man dies on his knees: Mexican law states that when a person dies outside a hospital. The body cannot be removed until the coroner and local prosecutor come to examine. The body to verify that there has been no foul play.

Consequently, Juan's body had to be left right where he died. Since Sunday mass was to start shortly at 13:00 pm, Lozano made the sudden decision to hold the funeral mass for the deceased.

A young man who was passing by at the church he was able to identify the body and then accompanied the authorities to the family residence. The deceased's son was at home and, shocked by the news, he went to church to attend the funeral mass.

As a sign of respect, Juan's body was covered with a white sheet. Brought by one of the faithful and a candle was placed at his feet.

The pastor told Desde la Fe that the faithful "were praying for a person they did not know, but who was a member of the community".

The dramatic turn of events "had a great impact on the people", surprised by what had happened. “Together we reflected that death is only the end of our pilgrimage in this world, but the beginning of eternal life”, he concluded.