Tag: hospitality
St. Benedict for Beginners – ‘Welcomed as Christ…’
‘All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.’ Monks and nuns might stay in their monasteries, but they are not cut off from the world. Instead of going about in the world, they invite the world to them. The doorkeeper is an important person in Benedict’s community, and hospitality is still one… Read More ›
I Honor the Place within You
“Hospitality is one form of worship,” the rabbis wrote. Hospitality in a culture of violence and strangers and anonymity has become the art of making good connections at good cocktail parties. We don’t talk in elevators, we don’t know the security guard’s name, we don’t invite even the neighbors in to the sanctuary of our… Read More ›
Gentleness in Hospitality
We came from Palestine to Egypt and went to see one of the fathers. He offered us hospitality and we said, “Why do you not keep the fast when visitors come to see you? In Palestine they keep it.” He replied, “Fasting is always with me but I cannot always have you here. It is… Read More ›
Hospitality
Once three brothers came to visit an old man in Scetis and one of them said to him, “Abba, I have committed to memory the Old and New Testaments.” And the old man answered, “You have filled the air with words.” The second one said to him, “I have written out the Old and New… Read More ›
His True Work: Hospitality
It was said of an old man that he dwelt in Syria on the way to the desert. This was his work: whenever a monk came from the desert, he gave him refreshment with all his heart. Now one day a hermit came and he offered him refreshment. The other did not want to accept … Read More ›
Two Lives: Fr. Raymond and Betty
Over the summer I was privileged to attend two funerals, Fr. Raymond and my mother-in-law, Betty Ray Canipe. Why would I connect the two? It is quite simple. Betty passed away on Saturday and Fr. Raymond passed away on Sunday. So close together I could not help reflect on parallels between the two of them… Read More ›
Living out the Rule
The community as envisaged by Benedict does not operate according to the standards of this age . . . . Benedict resists any tendency which would lead his monks to do any of the following: to be more concerned about “transitory earthly trifles” than the kingdom (Rule of St. Benedict [RB] 2:33-36) to become protective… Read More ›
Pursue Hospitality in Every Way
All guests who arrive should be received as Christ, for he himself will say, I was a stranger and you took me in. Proper respect should be shown to all, especially fellow monks and pilgrims. (RB 53: 1-2) Pursuing hospitality in every way, and do not turn your eye away or send the poor man… Read More ›
Hospitality Toward Others
The greeting itself, however, ought to manifest complete humility toward guests who are arriving or departing: by an inclination of the head or by a complete prostration on the ground, one must adore Christ in them, fir he is in fact the one who is received. (RB 53: 6) Abba Apollo said with regard to… Read More ›