Sister Lisa Maurer – Hospitality

Awhile back I was interviewed for the Cable, the weekly student newspaper of The College of St. Scholastica.  One of the questions posed to me was, “what Benedictine value you feel is the most important and why.”  I was taken aback at the weight of the question after being tossed softballs like where did you go to college and what is your favorite childhood memory.  In order to buy some thinking time, I came back by asking her to remind me of the core values of the College.

To my great joy the student reporter proudly and confidently rattled off Community, Hospitality, Respect, Stewardship and Love of Learning.  The quickness of her answer and my delight at her response didn’t give me the time I needed for great enlightenment and I almost panicked.  Until that moment, I have never considered which Benedictine value I held higher.  They all seem to mesh together for me, one flowing from the other.  In addition, St. Benedict, in his Rule, offers more values than the five espoused by the College.    In my Postulancy and Novitiate I was taught (and still am learning) that patience and humility are virtues greatly valued by Benedictines and they weren’t even on her list!Knowing that I needed an answer, my mind quickly moved to the idea – what value do we Sisters cherish, what value rings true for us.  Hospitality.  We, according to visitors, offer plentiful and authentic hospitality to everyone who comes to our door.  We take to heart the words of St. Benedict, “everyone should be received as Christ.”

“Hospitality,” I finally said, “is the most important value to me.  St. Benedict says that we should welcome everyone as if we are welcoming Christ.  Hospitality is more than just welcoming someone in or offering them a meal.  Hospitality is recognizing the good in every person and valuing each individual.  Hospitality also ties into every other Benedictine value.  If you see Christ in someone, you respect them and all the other values flow from there.” Oh yeah, in the spirit of Hospitality you are welcomed to post a response… [Photo on homepage:  Sister Lisa with a CSS student during a Benedictine Friends project night.  Together Sisters and students made blankets for people in need.] 

Sister Lisa Maurer Sister Lisa Maurer was born and raised in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, before entering the Monastery, Sister Lisa taught and coached in Catholic Schools within the New Ulm Diocese. Sister Lisa made her first Monastic Profession in August 2009. She currently ministers at the parishes of St. Lawrence and St. Joseph in Duluth.See all of Sister Lisa’s posts.