Once the monk's body is brought into
the church, others take turns praying at
the side of the funeral bier. From now
until the funeral, the monastic
community surrounds their deceased
brother with constant prayer.

Keeping Vigil

The body is placed on a bier or in an open pine box, in front of the abbey church's altar. From then on for the rest of the day, through the night and into the next morning, the monks take turns keeping prayerful watch beside the body. This centuries-old tradition of keeping Vigil throughout the hours preceding the funeral is a beautiful embodiment of the spiritual bond that unites all Cistercian monks in what has come to be known as the "school of charity".