Yesterday morning we celebrated the funeral liturgy for one of our monks. Though the temperature was well below freezing the sun was out and there was little to no wind. It was a beautiful winter funeral.
Following the liturgy in the abbey church we process to the cemetery with members of the deceased’s blood family. Here we are walking through the monastic garden area.
The procession reaching the gates of the cemetery.
All gathered around the coffin for the graveside service. The plain wooden caskets used for monastic funerals are handcrafted in our woodshop. The wood is from our own forest.
It matters not when we go, but how we go. Brother went in peace with his family by his side to a future full of perpetual sunshine.The simplity of a monk’s funeral makes it all the more joyful.