Hospitality

HOSPITALITY. Hospitality has always been very much in esteem among civilized people. In Homer and the old Greek writers, we see what respect they had for their Guests. They believed, that the Gods sometimes went through the world disguised like travellers¹, and observed the conduct of mankind towards one another. The apprehension they had of despising some God instead of a traveller, induced them to receive the greatest strangers with respect, and the Rights of Hospitality were the most sacred and inviolable among them.

The Scripture furnishes us with several examples of Hospitality exercised by the Patriarchs. Abraham received three Angels, threw himself at their feet, invited, Genes. xviii. 2, 3, &c.pressed them, served them himself, and stood in their presence; Sarah his wife took care of matters in the kitchen, and baked bread for his Guests. Lot waited at the city-gate to receive such Guests, as might come thither. When the inhabitants Gen. xix. 1, 2, 3.of Sodom appeared before his house, in order to insult his Guests, he went out, he spake to them, he exposed himself to their fury, and offered to give up his own daughters to their brutality, provided they would spare them. The same almost is observable Judg. xix. 16, 17.in the old man of Gibeah, who had received the young Levite and his wife. St. Paul makes use of Abraham’s and Lot’s example to encourage the Faithful, and persuade them to the exercise of this virtue, saying, that they who have practised it, have merited the honour of Matth. x. 40, 41.receiving Angels under the form of men. The Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, who abounded with the Spirit of their Master, with great care recommended Hospitality to the Faithful; and the primitive Christians made one principal part of their duty to consist in the exercise of this virtue. Our Saviour tells his Apostles, that whosoever receiveth them, receiveth him himself; and that whosoever should give them even a glass of water, should not lose his reward. Lastly, at the day of Judgment he will say to the wicked, Go, ye cursed, into everlasting fire; I was a stranger, and ye received me not … and in as much as ye have not done it unto the least of mine, ye have not done it unto me. St. Peter requires the Faithful to use Hospitality to their brethren without murmuring 1 Pet. iv. 3.and complaint. St. Paul in several of his Epistles recommends Hospitality; Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, says he Hebr. xiii. 2. Hebr. xiii. 2. 1 Tim. iii. 2. & Tit. i. 8.to the Hebrews. See likewise Rom. xii. 13. Given to Hospitality. But he recommends it particularly to Bishops. In the two Epistles to Timothy and Titus, where he sets down the duties and qualities of a Bishop, he does not forget Hospitality. Let no one be made a Bishop, who does not exercise Hospitality, says St. Gregory Greg. Mag. Ep. ad Joan. Episc. Hieron. Ep. ad Oceau.the Great. And if the Bishop does not receive all strangers into his house, he is inhuman. Episcopus, nisi omnes receperit, inhumanus est, says St. Jerom.

The primitive Christians were so zealous and so exact in the discharge of this duty, that the very Heathens admired them for it. They were Hospitable to all strangers, but chiefly to those who were of the same faith and communion. Believers scarce ever went without Letters of communion, which testified the purity of their Faith: this was sufficient to procure them reception in all those places, where the name of Jesus Christ was known. It is our opinion, that the two last Epistles of St. John the Evangelist, may be such kind of letters of communion and recommendation, which were given to Christians who travelled.

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