Dear Friends,I was recently attending a course at Epiphany House, the Diocese of Truro’s retreat and guest house. It is a place steeped in prayer, and while sitting in one of the meeting rooms, my eyes were drawn to an inscription carved into the oak surround of a now-disused fireplace:“Hospites Tanquam Christos Suscipiantur”While the more learned reader might recognise the Latin immediately, I—like so many of us in the digital age—turned to a search engine to unlock its meaning. The translation is profound: "Let guests be received (or welcomed) as if they were Christ."Further reading revealed that this phrase originates from Chapter 53 of the Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century. The full original sentence reads: "Omnes supervenientes hospites tamquam Christus suscipiantur"—All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.This is not merely a call to be "polite." In the monastic tradition, it is known as "radical hospitality." Benedict believed that we should be particularly attentive to the poor and pilgrims because, as he wrote, "Christ is more truly received in them." This very phrase has become the cornerstone of the modern hospice and palliative care movement, reflecting the core value of treating every suffering person with the reverence, dignity, and compassion one would afford to Jesus Himself. Its biblical root is found in Matthew 25:35, where Jesus says, "I was a stranger [hospes] and you welcomed me."As I reflected on this, I began to wonder what this looks like in the day to day of daily life in West Cornwall. I am acutely aware that my actions carry weight; if I behave poorly, people may not see me as an individual, but rather as "The Vicar"—a representative of the local church.This last week has been particularly frustrating with home deliveries, either just not appearing or being delayed by several days. We have all experienced the modern frustration of "missing deliveries" or items not arriving as expected. When our expectations of a timescale are met with silence, it causes genuine stress. In those moments, it is easy to let displeasure boil over.Hebrews 13 verses 1-2 state:Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.The Benedictine rule also challenges us: can we show the necessary firmness to solve a problem while remaining courteous? Can we see the delivery driver—likely exhausted and under immense pressure—not as a "service failure," but as a person? By thanking them for their labour, we practice that "as if they were Christ" hospitality in the most mundane of settings.I saw this hospitality in its most literal form recently when I visited the John Daniel Centre in Heamoor. This project, run by Growing Links – Street Food Project, it is a lifeline for the homeless and marginalised in our area. It is open every day, offering hot meals, showers, and laundry facilities. It provides a sanctuary of warmth and security for those who have none.During my visit, I entered a large room which was being used to dry out tents. After the weeks of relentless wet weather we have endured, it was a sobering sight. It made me profoundly grateful for the roof over my head and reminded me that for many in our community, "hospitality" is not a luxury, but a means of survival.I am pleased to share that a portion of the Christmas Collection from Madron Parish Church was donated to support this vital work. I recently received a thank-you note explaining that these funds will be used to purchase seeds for the Community Garden at Gulval. This project is a beautiful example of "growing" hospitality; it teaches people the skills to produce their own food while significantly improving their mental wellbeing through connection with the land and those alongside them.As we journey through the season of Lent, the theme of welcome is at the forefront of my mind. For those who do not yet know Christ personally, they look toward those of us who do. My prayer is that we work hard not to be an "obstacle" to them, but rather a "signpost"—a source of hope and a reflection of the Christ who died on the Cross for every one of us.Let us strive to see the face of Christ in every stranger we meet this month.Yours in Christ,Chris
