Why It Is Good To Have a Rule of Life

As I've mentioned, during our family vacation Jana and I got to spend two nights at the monastery of the  Benedictine Sisters of Erie.

This was the first time Jana and I had stayed at a monastery and I think we used the time well. We enjoyed praying with the sisters and eating with them at mealtimes. We had a nice discussion with Sister Judith over one meal about the recent tensions between the Vatican and the female religious in America. (Jana and I are solidly behind the sisters.)

The Benedictines are known for their hospitality. A fun story along these lines. Jana was laughing with Sister Maurlene during one conversation when they had this exchange:

Jana: "Isn't there some rule that says you have to be nice to me?"

Sister Maurlene (reluctantly, though tongue in cheek): "Yes, I'm supposed to treat you as if you were Christ himself."

Jana: "That's Chapter 53, right?"

Sister Maurlene (shaking her head): "Yeah."

Sister Maurlene was a hoot.

From Chapter 53--"On the Reception of Guests"--of the Rule of St. Benedict:

Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for He is going to say, "I came as a guest, and you received Me" (Matt. 25:35).

And that's why it's good to have a Rule of life.