St. Benedict's Priorities

The world would be such a better place if we just followed the precepts of St. Benedict.

For example, we would not be grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic right now if we had heeded these words from Chapter 36 of Benedict’s Rule: “Care of the sick must rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ, for he said: ‘I was sick and you visited me’ (Mt 25:36) and ‘What you did for one of these least brothers you did for me’ (Mt 25:40).”

Let’s see. When the virus first appeared in China, government officials tried to cover up the outbreak and cracked down on doctors who attempted to warn colleagues about the new infection. In the U.S., the government has been slow to create and distribute diagnostic tests, which are critical to stopping an outbreak. Lack of paid sick leave and access to health care for many people are increasing spread of the disease. Because care of the sick is not a priority and takes a back seat to greed and reputation, the world is now suffering from a pandemic.

Time and time again we experience crises that prove we are all connected and what affects one of us affects us all. Powerful people are not shielded from infection: politicians in Australia and Brazil and the wife of the Prime Minister of Canada have contracted the COVID-19 virus. Wealthy people are not shielded either: NBA basketball star Rudy Gobert and his teammate Donovan Mitchell have been infected as well.

We are only as healthy as the most vulnerable persons among us. We only achieve spiritual maturity when we recognize that Christ dwells in homeless, hungry, sick, and imprisoned people as surely as Christ dwells in us. We would do well to put St. Benedict’s precepts into action, or we will continue to receive painful lessons in the consequences of neglecting to meet the needs of all persons with whom we share the earth.