Transitus is a fascinating word! It is infused with faith. It gives clarity that death is not the end. The dying is passing from one state to the next. Expressed with poetic beauty in the liturgy “in death life has changed, not ended.”

The Transitus of our Holy Father Benedict is a Feast Day that falls as a commemoration in Lent. On July 11, 1964 Saint Pope Paul VI declared Saint Benedict Patron of Europe at the rededication of his monastery: Monte Cassino. July 11 is the feast day of our Holy Father Benedict for the whole universal church.

Saint Gregory recorded the transitus of Benedict:

“Six days before he died, he gave orders for his tomb to be opened. Almost immediately, he was seized with a violent fever that rapidly wasted his remaining energy. Each day his condition grew worse until finally, on the sixth day, he had his disciples carry him into the chapel where he received the Body and Blood of our Lord to gain strength for his approaching end. Then, supporting his weakened body on the arms of his brethren, he stood with his hands raised to heaven and, as he prayed, breathed his last (St. Gregory, Book Two of Dialogues, Chapter 37).

How beautiful it is for brothers to dwell in unity. One does not die alone. Rather, with the help of his brothers, Benedict raised his hands a final time to praise God to breath his last and fall into the arms of his Lord.

I can read the final lines of Holy Father Benedict’s Rule and see how fitting it is in his Transitus. Benedict writes:

To their fellow monks they show the pure love of brother; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life (72:11-12).

Being Benedictine is a solid reminder that we journey to everlasting life together. How appropriate it is that we journey in this life accompanied in faith and prayer. May we never miss this opportunity to recognize God’s loving presence in our faith communities so that we may “lift up [our] hands toward the sanctuary, and bless the LORD” (Psalm 134:2).