Funeral Service after Exit – Terminal Care – Assisted Suicide – In the splendor of salvation from all fear!
“My mother will soon leave this life with the assistance of the organization EXIT and would like to speak about her farewell ceremony.” This is a sentence I hear often at the very beginning of a conversation. It is spoken quietly, carefully, and usually with great inner tension.
As abbot of the Nigredo monastery and funeral officiant, I am available to accompany you during this sensitive time and to shape the farewell ceremony with care, respect, and dignity – always in accordance with the wishes of the person concerned and their loved ones.
Preparing the Farewell Ceremony – Accompaniment in Dying
The preparatory conversation for a farewell ceremony is more than an organisational meeting. It is a protected space. Here, practical questions may be clarified, but just as important is the human and spiritual dimension: the opportunity to speak openly about fears, memories, unresolved matters, gratitude, and peace.
As a monk and spiritual companion, I consider it essential that those affected are given time and quiet to tend to their inner life. In an atmosphere of trust, silence, prayer, and gentle conversation can help bring clarity, reconciliation, and calm – often long before the final moment arrives.
Prayer and Meditation – Assisted Dying
Moved by deep and often unconscious tendencies, I walk the path between death and birth.
In the light of release from fear, may the compassionate ones go before me, and may the guardians of wisdom stand quietly behind me.
Remain with me as I cross this narrow passage, and guide me safely through the intermediate realm.
As I part from those I love and walk for a time alone,
and the familiar forms of my life gently dissolve,
may compassion surround me,
so that no fear overwhelms my heart.May the lights of wisdom shine softly,
that I may recognize what is, without resistance.
When peaceful and powerful images arise,
may I meet them with trust and openness.If pain appears as a result of past actions,
may understanding transform it into insight.
If the voice of truth resounds strongly,
may it become a voice of guidance and reassurance.When I stand without refuge,
may great compassion receive me.
When old patterns loosen their hold,
may clarity and quiet joy arise.May the elements of this world be gentle with me,
and may I find my way into peace.
Presence, Dignity, and Trust
Whether the farewell takes place before death, at the moment of passing, or in the days that follow, you do not need to walk this path alone. A consciously prepared farewell ceremony can offer orientation, dignity, and a sense of meaning – for the person who is leaving, and for those who remain.
I am available to you for conversations, rituals, prayer, and silent presence. Together, we create a space in which fear may soften, gratitude may speak, and trust may grow.
Walking between death and birth, we entrust ourselves to what carries us – gently, honestly, and with respect for life in all its forms.