Emiliano Sala loved the Virgin Mary

Fans of the Nantes Soccer Club (France) are mourning the death of Emiliano Sala, a former Argentinian soccer player from their club, who died in a plane crash in January 2019, two days after his transfer to Cardiff City (Wales).

While his funeral took place on February 16, 2019, in his home country, a Mass in his memory was also celebrated in the church of Carquefou, located a dozen kilometers from Nantes, that Emiliano sometimes attended. "His death has upset a lot of people here," the priest said. He had met the player twice: "The first time was in the church. He was praying. I learned from parishioners that he prayed before every game. He prayed with great fervor on his knees before a beautiful statue of the Virgin, Our Lady the White. He loved the Virgin Mary."

Ranked among the top Ligue 1 scorers, Emiliano Sala "was highly esteemed because he played hard and gave the best of himself," said the priest, who explained that the professional soccer player, who played forward, also went to pray in a very small chapel in Gétigné (near Nantes). "I remember him as a humble man who led a very ordinary life, which is not always the case in that environment. He gave me an impression of purity and candor. His eyes were the reflection of his soul."

Aleteia