CHILE, Alejandro Reid/mkf. Father Horacio Rivas departed at dawn for his encounter with God the Father. “The Blessed Mother chose a beautiful day to take him by the hand to the Father. We unite in prayer for him in gratitude for everything that he gave us through his human, close, generous, joyful priestly being,” Mariangeles Acosta, wrote on Facebook.
He was be at the Fathers’ House Chapel in Bellavista, beginning at 12:00 p.m.; a Mass was celebrated in the Bellavista church at 8:00 p.m., and the funeral is being held today (December 27th) at 6:00 p.m.
Letter written by Father Horacio Rivas after receiving the diagnosis
The letter he wrote to the Family just three months ago clearly speaks of his spirit, his heroic giving of self, and of his holiness.
Santiago, September 29, 2010
To all my friends and acquaintances,
To all my Covenant Schoenstatt Family brothers and sisters,
And in general, to all those who I carry profoundly in my heart.
A very affectionate and grateful greeting for the many prayers and remembrances that have been constantly made for me. I think that it is already time to share with you, what I have experienced during these long weeks of absence.
You have already heard that everything began with a severe stomach illness possibly caused by the antibiotics I received to overcome an infection. I noticed that my stomach did not respond well to any nourishment. The examinations detected an indirect intestinal obstruction (that did not require surgery), but it would be a slow and ongoing recuperation. This stage was extended because there were improvements and relapses as the days passed.
The Catholic University medical team has performed with great professionalism, dedication and affection. Everything has been examined. Above all they have had the patience of “saints”. What is clear is that my stomach is going to have less capacity to receive nourishment in the future. What is being studied is: what amount and of what quality, are they only polyps? Could it be something else? Etc., etc.,
As a result of the repeated examinations that I have undergone during these days (2 scans) a metastasis appears for the first time. In all the previous examinations (since the surgery in April of last year before these scans) everything had come out perfectly, without any negative signs. Now the ganglions that can be seen clearly in this area of the body have been infiltrated by cancer and slowly this will advance. Chemotherapy and radiation are not recommended, because this could be very negative. So I can only wait for its development or its advancement. According to medical knowledge and to God’s Plan and His will, it will be a few months.
I can imagine your reactions, when you learn about this. There will be all kinds of reactions because of the unexpectedness of the news (it was for me also), and because of the number of opinions that are going emerge about possible solutions, for the number of offers, and other types of solutions based on known cases, etc, etc. But I can tell you that here we have discussed this broadly in depth with an excellent group of doctors who have knowledge about these subjects.
I am at peace; I have already assumed the first blow. I have already given everything to the Lord, the Blessed Mother, and our Father. These days and hours have helped me very much to see this new stage of my life, which is already final, to call to mind to what I was called for by God, and that I have tried to live in the strength of the Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother in the Shrine; that the spirit of Inscription has accompanied me on this final road and to live it in all the wonder of being a priest.
Beloved friends and brothers and sisters, I wanted to share all this with you. I have tried to do it with as much tranquility, objectivity, and simplicity as possible. It is my most sincere desire to present it to you with all the confidence in the world.
Finally, I want to propose some things for duration of this new stage:
1. That we work together and with the joy of always knowing that we are one for the other, as a single family in prayer and in the capital of grace. In this prayer, we ask that I will always be able to be in peace and deeply prepared for my final encounter with God.
2. That together we will never lose the joy of living and of knowing ourselves as pampered children of the Blessed Mother and of the Lord.
3. For those who wish to ask God for a “miracle”, implore it through the intercession of our Founding Father, for his canonization.
4. I hope to continue with my normal priestly activities that evidently will be subject to the development of the illness and of the stages that I must experience.
With an affectionate embrace and always united in prayer and the capital of grace, I am grateful to you and I bless you,
Your Father Horacio
