Today we celebrate Saint Scholastica, the patron saint of Benedictine nuns. The twin sister of St. Benedict, she is also the patron saint for protection from rain and storms.

ABOUT SAINT SCHOLASTICA

St. Scholastica was born in Nursia, Italy around 500 A.D. She was dedicated to God as an infant and became a nun. What is known of her comes from what St. Gregory wrote about her.

The story of St. Gregory tells us of the last time St. Scholastica visited St. Benedict. They met at a place that was not far from his monastery. They spent the day together speaking of spiritual matters and praising God. When it got dark, Benedict was ready  to leave, but his sister begged him to stay. He denied her request, because he was obedient to the Rule that he had written for his monastery regulating what time he was to rest. In response, St. Scholastica folded her hands, placed them on the table, and rested her head on them in prayer. The skies that had previously been clear filled with clouds, resulting in a storm that kept Benedict from returning to the Abbey. As St. Gregory put it, “The Holy nun, having rested her head on her hands, poured forth such a flood of tears on the table, that she transformed the clear air to a watery sky.

St. Benedict said to her, “God forgive you, what have you done?” to which she replied, “I desired you to stay, and you would not hear me; and I desired it of God and he has granted my petition. Therefore if you can now depart, in God’s name return to your monastery and leave me here alone. “Not being able to leave, Benedict continued his conversation  with his sister through the night. In elaborating on the competing desires of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, St. Gregory explains “St. Benedict found, however, that a miracle prevented his desire… she who loved more, did more.

Three days later, from his cell, St. Benedict saw the soul of his sister ascending into Heaven in the form of a dove. He had the monks bring her body to the Abbey and had her buried in his grave,. St. Gregory wrote, “By this means it fell out that, as their souls were always one in God while they lived, so their bodies continued together after their deaths.

PRAYER

O God, to show us where innocence leads, you made the soul of your disciple St. Scholastica soar to heaven like a dove in flight. Grant through her merits and her prayers that we may so live in innocence as to attain joys everlasting. This we ask of you in the name of the Triune God.  Amen.

Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew, OP