Before All Things and Above All Things
The sermon emphasizes the importance of caring for the sick with compassion, patience, and attention to their specific needs, motivated by the honor of God and the example of Christ.
St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of caring for the sick as if they were serving Christ Himself, quoting Matthew 25:36 and 25:40. He encourages the sick to consider their care as an honor to God and advises them to be patient and not make unnecessary demands on those serving them. The Abbess is instructed to ensure the sick are not neglected and to provide them with a special room and a God-fearing attendant. Special care is to be given to the sick, including the use of baths and, when necessary, meat for strength, with a gradual return to regular diet as they recover.
Text
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.
Sermon Outline
- Care for the Sick
- Serve the sick as if they were Christ
- Consider the honor of God in serving the sick
- Be patient with the sick and their demands
Key Quotes
“For He Himself said, 'I was sick, and you visited Me' (Matt 25:36)” — St. Benedict of Nursia
“What you did for one of these least ones, you did for Me' (Matt. 25:40)” — St. Benedict of Nursia
Application Points
- We should serve the sick with compassion and patience, considering the honor of God in our actions.
- The Abbess and other leaders have a responsibility to ensure the sick are not neglected and are provided with the care they need.
- We should be mindful of the specific needs of the sick, including access to baths and meat as needed for their recovery.