Sometimes life works in ironic and inscrutable ways that are very hard to fathom. Things happen randomly that suddenly change people's lives. One such terrifying incident tragically left a good man dead. Per The New York Post, Father Patricio Alfredo Sanchez Molinari, 53, was killed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Saturday. A huge crucifix let go from the church wall it was attached to and fatally struck the priest. He had his back to the cross when it detached. It evidently hit him in the head.
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Sanchez Was Preaching About Using Our Time on Earth Fruitfully
In an instant, Sanchez's life was extinguished because of an awful, bizarre occurrence. It happened at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. No one could have foreseen or prevented it. Ironically, the priest was preaching at the moment about the fragility of life and how we should be spending our time. Sanchez said this. "One day, all of us here will also die, and sometimes the time we've spent on things doesn't have as much meaning as the time we spend with God." He continued the thought. "The quality time we give to God, to our brothers and sisters, to our husbands, wives, children, and family— that time is the best spent."
There Was Reportedly a Frantic Attempt To Aid the Stricken Priest
When the enormous cross toppled onto Sanchez, there was reportedly alarm, horror, and an urgent attempt to help him. According to The Post, "The shocking incident was caught on a livestream of the sermon, in which panicked members of the congregation could be heard screaming...." Sadly, he was not able to be saved.
The church subsequently issued a statement marking Sanchez's untimely passing. It said, "We announce that our beloved Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, who served as parish priest of the Perpetual Help church in the Central Vicariate, has departed to the Father's House to enjoy His presence and His glory."
To date, the reason that the large cross came down from the wall is not clear. Per The Associated Press, "Sánchez belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a Roman Catholic religious order founded in 1732 with a presence in 80 countries."
