Holy Rule for March 15

[St. Mary's Monastery]

+PAX
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule

March 15, July 15, November 14
Chapter 36: On the Sick

Before all things and above all things, care must be taken of the sick, so that they will be served as if they were Christ in person; for He Himself said, "I was sick, and you visited Me" (Matt 25:36), and, "What you did for one of these least ones, you did for Me" (Matt.25:40). But let the sick on their part consider that they are being served for the honor of God, and let them not annoy their sisters who are serving them by their unnecessary demands. Yet they should be patiently borne with, because from such as these is gained a more abundant reward. Therefore the Abbess shall take the greatest care that they suffer no neglect.

For these sick let there be assigned a special room and an attendant who is God-fearing, diligent and solicitous. Let the use of baths be afforded the sick as often as may be expedient; but to the healthy, and especially to the young, let them be granted more rarely. Moreover, let the use of meat be granted to the sick who are very weak, for the restoration of their strength; but when they are convalescent, let all abstain from meat as usual.

The Abbess shall take the greatest care that the sick be not neglected by the cellarers or the attendants; for she also is responsible for what is done wrongly by her disciples.

REFLECTION

We serve the sick "for the honor of God." That is important to remember, both for ourselves and for the sick. We serve Christ in the sick, it is Him we visit. That, too, must be held in view by both patient and caregiver.

In monasteries and in the world, one can get too used to always having people come to one under their own steam. When the sick can no longer do this, it is treacherously easy to forget them, to write them off. Some folks just stay out of the way of sick people, for whatever reason, but that must not be our way.

Oblates in the world can find ample opportunities to visit the sick. A caregiver who is overwrought may welcome a respite, even of a few hours in the day, to tend to things not easily done otherwise, or even just for rest and recovery. Why not offer? Why not volunteer at a nursing home or adult day care center? Visiting friends in the hospital is another way, and one we should not omit. "I was sick and you visited Me."

We are to care for the sick "before all things and above all things." That means that a Benedictine should be known as much for care of the sick as we are for hospitality or liturgy. It should be one of the things that stand out in a Benedictine.

An interesting aside here is the last word on the Abbess: she is responsible for what her disciples do (or don't do.) That is an awesome responsibility, but it is very real. With the Benedictine Abbot or Abbess, the buck really does stop there, as the Rule frequently reminds us. That is yet another reason we should pray for our superiors every day.

Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)