WALKING WITH THE SAINTS l FEAST OF ST. SCHOLASTICA , PATRON SAINT OF BENEDICTINE NUNS l FEBRUARY 10
Twins are very special. They have a magnetic attraction for each
other. They share the same interests and ideas with the same concern and intensity. Our saint for today, is truly special. She is no other than the twin sister of St. Benedict of Nursia. Have you guessed her name? Yes! St. Scholastica. Our twin saints were
born in Nursia, Italy on March 2, 480 to wealthy Christian parents. Little is known about their childhood except the fact that they were brought up as good Christians. The account we know about Scholastica is in relation to her brother. Scholastica was consecrated to God but she lived at home until the
time she followed the footsteps of Benedict. The young Benedict abandoned his secular studies and lived as a hermit for three years. Made aware of the dangers of a solitary life, he founded a religious Order in 529 and established monasteries for men, establishing his headquarters at Monte Casino, Italy. A
little later, Scholastica established a monastery for women, following the monastic rule of her brother, in Piumarola, a few kilometers from Monte Casino. Scholastica was made abbess of the new community of nuns and followed strictly the motto of
the Benedictines: ora et labora (pray and work). As abbess, it was her duty to set the examples of prayer and work and guide her sisters in faithfully working for their own sanctification. Since
they were governed by strict rules, Benedict and Scholastica visited each other only once a year. They eagerly awaited this day in order to pray and share heavenly topics. And since they could not enter each other’s monastery, they had to meet in a building outside the walls of their convents. These visits were
precious moments when they discussed spiritual matters. According to the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great,
Benedict and Scholastica spent their last day together in conversation and prayer. Scholastica was ill and she sensed her coming death, so she begged her brother to stay with her for another day. Since their monastic rule allowed him
only to be out of the monastery for one day, Benedict refused. At this refusal, Scholastica bowed down and begged God to let her brother remain. Suddenly, a torrential rain descended on the building, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Immediately Benedict cried out: “God forgive you, Sister. What have
you done?” Scholastica answered: “I asked of you a favor and you refused. I asked it from God and He granted it.” The storm prevented Benedict to return to his own monastery and he parted the next morning after long conversation and prayer with his sister. Three days later, while Benedict was praying in his monastery, he saw in a vision the soul of Scholastica in the form of a dove, rising towards heaven. Benedict understood that his sister died and after announcing the news to the monks,
they went to take her body and buried it in the tomb he had prepared for himself. Today, St. Scholastica is venerated
as the patron of Benedictine nuns, of education, convulsive children, and is invoked against storms and torrential rains.
Virtue: faith, innocence, humility, honesty, charity, integrity, confidence, generosity and fidelity
Prayer: “St. Scholastica, please pray that we may trust God the way you trusted Him.”
