The autumn and winter months are the days when we all think about hospitality, due to Thanksgiving and Christmas falling one short month apart. A lot of work goes into preparing the house for family and friends who are spending the holidays with you, but once again, there are saints eager to help you in this work.
The list of those who offered shelter, food, protection, and friendship to others is an immense one, so we’ll just look at seven of the best known hospitable saints:
St. Elizabeth, queen of 13th century Thuringia, chose simplicity and penance over the ease available to a queen. She distributed bread to large numbers of the poor and built a hospital for them, working in it herself.
Sts. Martha and Mary, according to Jewish custom, welcomed any guest into their home without question. Their hospitality was more than a custom to them, however, as we learn through Christ’s visits to their home: at a time when the Carpenter from Nazareth was viewed with doubt (at best), they served Him and His Apostles eagerly and frequently.
St. Louis IX was respected throughout turbulent 13th century Christendom for his holiness and justice. He fed 100 poor from his own table every day, washed their feet, and ate the leftover scraps; he revealed that the poor were very precious to him as a means of attaining heaven.
St. Benedict wrote in his Rule that every guest was to be treated as Christ, quoting Our Lord’s words in Scripture, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” He and his followers made hospitality part of their charism, setting up a porter’s lodge near the monastery gate to receive visitors.
Also a Benedictine, St. Meinrad tried to live as a hermit in the 8th century. Because of his holiness, however, he had frequent visitors, and he welcomed all of them with generosity. He was eventually martyred for this virtue by two thieves whom he received.
Bl. Solanus Casey was a Capuchin who lived in New York, Detroit, and Indiana. He served as the porter, a humble duty usually assigned to young friars. Being the porter was a great joy to him, however, and visitors sought him out for his wisdom, joy, and Christ-like attention to every guest.
Steal some quiet time with the saints as you prepare meals this holiday season. In Cooking With The Saints, you’ll learn about 60 inspiring saints and make delicious recipes from around the world—all in one place! This cookbook helps you work like Martha in the spirit of Mary. Available today from The Catholic Company!
