antonia

Tuesday books - Loris S. Musumeci

«Of all the songs in the funeral Mass, the Sanctus is the only one whose words remain unchanged, because it is not about men, their birth and death, but only about the Lord, the God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory- the caress of his fingertips on her eyelids, the pulp of his forefinger. Simon watches the candle flame dance, always on the lookout for Antonia's smile, and closes his eyes. In the mass sung today, as it has been elaborated over the centuries in a tiny village in central Corsica, it's not just the words of the Mass that are important. Sanctus which are unchanging, but also its melody, so that when you listen to it with your eyes closed, it's impossible to know whether the service you're attending is that of the dead or that of the living.»

Corsica, 2003: Antonia is found at the bottom of a ravine. On the Ostriconi road, dazzled by the rays of a mild August sun, her car had let itself fall into the void. The family heard the news and were devastated. Especially his uncle and godfather, who, in addition to the sadness that overwhelms him, has to face the ordeal of celebrating the funeral. He is a priest, in spite of himself. It's too hard to recount the young woman's life. He wants to stick to simple, strict liturgy. Nevertheless, we learn that Antonia was a passionate but bitter photographer. All her life, she dreamed of covering the world's major events, such as wars. She did it, in Yugoslavia. To no avail. For the rest, her photos consisted in telling the story of local life; covering weddings with her lens.