Omnes supervenientes hospites tamquam Christus suscipiantur, quia ipse dicturus est: ‘Hospis fui, et suscepistis me’; et omnibus congruus honor exhibeatur, maxime domesticis fidei et peregrinis. Ut ergo nuntiatus fuerit hospis, occurratur ei a priore vel a fratribus cum omni officio caritatis; et primitus orent pariter et sic sibi socientur in pace. Quod pacis osculum non prius offeratur nisi oratione praemissa propter inlusiones diabolicas. In ipsa autem salutatione omnis exhibeatur humilitas omnibus venientibus sive discedentibus hospitibus: inclinato capite vel prostrato omni corpore in terra Christus in eis adoretur qui et suscipitur. Suscepti autem hospites ducantur ad orationem, et postea sedeat cum eis prior aut cui iusserit ipse. Legatur coram hospite lex divina, ut aedificetur, et post haec omnis ei exhibeatur humanitas. Ieiunium a priore frangatur propter hospitem, nisi forte praecipuus sit dies ieiunii qui non possit violari; fratres autem consuetudines ieiuniorum prosequantur. Aquam in manibus abbas hospitibus det; pedes hospitibus omnibus tam abbas quam cuncta congregatio lavet; quibus lotis hunc versum dicant: ‘Suscipimus Deus misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui.’ Pauperum et peregrinorum maxime susceptioni cura sollicite exhibeatur, quia in ipsis magis Christus suscipitur; Nam divitum terror ipse sibi exigit honorem. Coquina abbatis et hospitum super se sit, ut incertis horis supervenientes hospites qui numquam desunt monasterio, non inquietentur fratres. In qua coquina ad annum ingrediantur duo fratres qui ipsud officium bene impleant. Quibus ut indigent solacia ministrentur, ut absque murmuratione serviant; et iterum, quando occupationem minorem habent, exeant ubi eis imperatur in opera. Et non solum ipsis sed et in omnibus officiis monasterii ista sit consideratio, ut quando indigent solacia accomodentur eis, et iterum quando vacant, oboediant imperatis. Item et cellam hospitum habeat adsignatam frater cuius animam timor Dei possidet; ubi sint lecti strati sufficienter, et domus Dei a sapientibus et sapienter administretur. Hospitibus autem cui non praecipitur nullatenus societur neque conloquatur; sed si obviaverit aut viderit, salutatis humiliter, ut diximus, et petita benedictione pertranseat dicens sibi non licere conloqui cum hospite.

All guests who arrive should be received as Christ, for he will say, “I was a guest, and you took me in.” Show fitting honor to all of them, most of all to fellow believers and to pilgrims. So when a guest is announced, the prior or the brothers should go out to meet him with every loving service. First they should pray together, and in this way be joined in peace. The kiss of peace should not be given until they have prayed first, because of the tricks of the devil. In the greeting itself, show every kind of humility to all guests, whether they are coming or going. With head bowed, or with the whole body stretched out on the ground, worship Christ in them, for it is he who is received. Once the guests are received, they should be led to prayer. Afterward the prior, or someone he chooses, should sit with them. The divine law should be read to the guest, to strengthen his faith. After this, show him every kindness. The prior should break his fast for the guest’s sake, unless it is a special fast day that must not be broken. But the brothers should keep their usual fasts. The abbot should pour water over the guests’ hands. The abbot and the whole community should wash the feet of every guest. When the feet are washed, they should say this verse: “We receive your mercy, O God, in the middle of your temple.” Take the greatest care in receiving the poor and pilgrims, because in them Christ is received all the more. As for the rich, the awe they inspire wins them honor all by itself. The abbot and the guests should have a kitchen of their own. Then the guests, who arrive at all hours and are never lacking in a monastery, will not disturb the brothers. Two brothers who can do the job well should take charge of this kitchen for a year at a time. They should be given helpers when they need them, so that they can serve without grumbling. And when they have less to do, they should go out to whatever work they are told to do. This should be the rule not only for them but for every job in the monastery. When the brothers need help, they should get it. And when they are free, they should do as they are told. In the same way, the guest quarters should be given into the care of a brother whose soul is filled with the fear of God. There should be enough beds made up there. And the house of God should be run by wise people, and wisely. No brother should mix with the guests or talk with them at all unless he has been told to. If he meets or sees them, he should greet them humbly, as we have said, and ask for a blessing. Then he should go on his way, saying that he is not allowed to talk with a guest.