He believes he would degrade himself by treating others shamelessly. A lifetime of respect for basic human dignity bears fruit when his own death is at hand, and he has the consolation of dying at home, surrounded by those with whom he has shared his life. They have the rich gift of sharing the intimacy of his death. It is a final and tender moment that allows the passage of death to take place with the greatest dignity. But recognition of dignity in oneself and others must be demonstrated in action.
Reverence is dignity acknowledged by behavior.
The younger monks must respect their seniors, and the seniors must love their juniors The Rule of Benedict, Ch. The monastery cemetery is a place of order. The ordered serenity of the monastic cemetery sits like an oasis of peace, protecting hope for the life to come. This order in death reflects the order of the community in life. The purpose of order in the monastery s life is to make plain what is implicitly good.