In our congregation, Hospitality is not simply a value; it is our fundamental pillar. If you have ever wondered about the meaning of the word Hospitality, in this article we tell you all about this concept that is the basis of our mission.
The term “Hospitality” has its roots in the Latin “hospitalitas”, derived from “hospes”, which means “guest” or “invited”. According to the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), hospitality is understood as a virtue that is exercised with pilgrims, needy and helpless, offering them welcome and assistance in their needs.
Christians can understand hospitality as a characteristic of someone who follows Jesus, since it was an identifying characteristic of Christ, the Good Samaritan. God made man, he was completely hospitable, with an unconditional welcome to all “just as they were”. The Lord taught us about caring for the whole person, since He not only healed physical wounds, but also mental and spiritual ones. Anyone who encountered Him was welcome and accepted.
A great referent of Hospitality, who knew how to follow this good Samaritan Jesus, was St. John of God, founder in the 16th century of the Order of St. John of God, to which St. Benedict Menni belonged. This great saint, patron of the sick, nurses, hospitals and firemen, knew how to incarnate what is a merciful and compassionate welcome to every person, without judging the one who approaches. His testimony teaches us to “do good” by giving the best of ourselves with professionalism, respect, humility, responsibility and faith.
St. Benedict Menni, in the light of St. John of God, embraced and deepened the meaning of Hospitality. He conceived it as an integral work of mercy and made it his own by prioritizing the care of people with mental illness, especially the vulnerable and needy. In this way, on his way to holiness, St. Benedict Menni would begin a renewal of this hospitaller charism, with the founding of the Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1881, uniting science and charity, understood from the Christian identity.
Today, almost 143 years later, the strength of hospitality has no limits and the Hospitaller project is embodied in a wide range of centers and services that make up the Hospitaller work in the world. 88 social and health centers, 25 countries, 4 continents and a whole Hospitaller Family giving true meaning to the word Hospitality, making this service to sick people with mental illnesses its “proper sphere” of evangelization in the Church.
From Sisters Hospitallers, we renew our commitment to Hospitality, which we understand entails important connotations such as humanity, welcome, universality, love, service, mutual help, care for the poor, and we ask our founders, who knew how to understand its essence from the beginning, to guide and protect us always.
