A few weeks before I was ordained, a gunman entered a Benedictine monastery just north of Kansas City. The man parked his car in the parking lot, walked into the monastery and opened fire. He shot and killed two monks and wounded two others; then he marched into the chapel and shot himself in the head.
Benedictine monks are known for their hospitality. They're famous for it. They take Matthew 25:36 to heart, welcoming everyone as if they were Christ himself. The Rule of St. Benedict says the following:
At the door of the monastery, place a sensible brother who knows how to welcome. Give him a room near the entrance so that when visitors come they will always find someone there to answer the door. And as soon as anyone knocks, let that porter say, "Thanks be to God: a blessing! A blessing!"
