The Benedictines are known for a profound practice of hospitality which we should all strive to emulate. The simplicity of welcoming the stranger necessitates an intrinsic understanding of who the stranger truly is, and by whose grace we extend our greeting.
The Rule of St. Benedict 53:1-2, 15
Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for he is going to say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matt. 25:35). And to all let due honor be shown, especially to thouse who share our faith (Gal. 6:10) and to pilgrims. ...In the reception of the poor and pilgrims the greatest care and solicitude should be shown, because it is especially in them that Christ is received.
Learn more about the Benedictines.
The above image is a detail from a mural painted by Fra Angelico, located in the Monastery of San Marco, Florence where Fra lived between 1439 and 1445.
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