In the space of 15 days three of our friends from the Road to Andorra have left us

In the space of 15 days three of our friends from the Road to Andorra have left us
On Sunday October 24 Maria Pilar Torra; on Monday November 1 Eusebi Riart, from Cal Rotger de Peramola, and last Sunday 7th Francesc Beato. All three have been very helpful in different aspects of the road.

About Francesc Beato, a distinguished member of Rambler Center of Catalonia (CEC, Centro Excursionista de Cataluña), we must say that he was a lover of the Road to Andorra: he joined us several times in the walks on the second Saturdays of every month and was part of the Advisory Board of the Association of Friends of the Road from Rialb Pallerols to Andorra. His comments on how we should focus our planned hikes were always helpful. Especially important for us were his constant encouragement and his drive to improve our proposed mountaineering.
He attended all the conferences of Freedom Roads through the Pyrenees that we organized, participating as a speaker on the first conference we had in Peramola. We’ll miss him on the IV Conference when we celebrate it next Saturday, the 13th, at Seu d’Urgell.
He died in a car accident, along with his son Josep Oriol and his niece Montserrat.
He, who so loved the mountains of Catalonia and the world, has now reached the great mountain of God. From there he can joyfully see all the mountains he loved, and above all he gazes face to face at the great Beauty of our Father and the Lord of Creation.

In the future, the new heaven and new earth of which the Book of Revelation talks, “where there will be no tears, no pain, no fatigue” we will be able to walk together with Francesc Beato and all those who have loved Creation. We will walk through all the peaks of the earth, like we would never have dreamed. That is how splendid and overflowing is the love of God who made all the Creation for us and to manifest his glory.
Francesc, during his walk across this land, desired so much the beauty that he now has in huge degree. As the poet Joan Maragall says: “A bigger beginning follows Death”.
I want to finish by transcribing some reflections of Pope John Paul II, made while he was in the Alps, on July 11, 1999:
I wish that you might know how to enjoy the many natural wonders – the air, forests, water, etc. – with great respect for the treasures that the Creator has given us.
Whenever I have the opportunity to visit the mountains and see these landscapes, I thank God for the majestic beauty of Creation. Thanks for the immense beauty, that shows to the cosmos a reflection of his power, to enchant the souls who contemplate it and praise him for its greatness.
The mountains are not only a magnificent sight to behold, but it is a school of life: We come together to achieve a goal, to help each other in difficult times, to savor the silence together and recognize our smallness in an environment so majestic and solemn.

Note .- Next November 20th, we will celebrate in Pallerols the Feast of the Encounter of the Rose, we will offer a Mass for those friends who left us this year.