Monks move quickly through the silent
cloister when summoned to the
bedside of their dying brother.

Preparing for Death

As death approaches, the abbot alerts the other monks and tells them one of their brothers has been anointed and is dying. Whenever possible a hospitalized monk is brought home to die in the company of his brothers.

When the monastery's infirmarian suspects that death will soon occur, the abbot is notified and the abbey bell is rung to summon the entire community to their brother's side. The monks hurry to gather in the sickroom or in the hallway to pray together, reciting psalms, litanies and other prayers from their Cistercian Tradition.