In Chapter 36 of his Rule for monks Saint
Benedict reminds us that,
“the sick are to served out of honor for God” and that “care of the sick must
rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ, (who) said, “I was sick and you visited me,” and, “What you did for one of these
least brothers you did for me.” Benedict exhorts the abbot to take “the
greatest care” and be “extremely careful that they suffer no neglect."
