Christians in a Secular World continued....
HEALTH
The Church also has a good record for its concern for those
who are sick. The Roman emperor, Constantine closed all pagan hospitals in the
year 335 AD and a fresh start was made by allowing the monasteries to take over
the work. Such work was regarded by the Church as one of its primary duties.
In 529 AD the Benedictine monastery on Monte Cassino in
Italy included a hospital, and many other monasteries followed suit. In London
the St. Bartholomew hospital was founded by the monk Rahere in 1123, and in
1247, monks founded the Priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem and also opened an
Infirmary in Bishopsgate.
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