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February 10
St. Scholastica
(480-542?)
Twins often share the same interests and ideas with an
equal intensity. Therefore, it is no surprise that Scholastica
and her twin brother, Benedict, established religious communities within a few
miles from each other.
Born in 480
of wealthy parents, Scholastica and Benedict were brought up together until
he left central Italy for Rome to continue his studies.
Little is
known of Scholastica’s early life. She founded a
religious community for women near Monte Cassino at Plombariola, five miles from where her brother governed a
monastery.
The twins visited
each other once a year in a farmhouse because Scholastica
was not permitted inside the monastery. They spent these times discussing
spiritual matters.
According to
the Dialogues of St. Gregory the
Great, the brother and sister spent their last day together in prayer
and conversation. Scholastica sensed her death was
close at hand and she begged Benedict to stay with her until the next day.
He refused
her request because he did not want to spend a night outside the monastery,
thus breaking his own Rule. Scholastica asked God to
let her brother remain and a severe thunderstorm broke out, preventing Benedict
and his monks from returning to the abbey.
Benedict
cried out, “God forgive you, Sister. What have
you done?” Scholastica replied, “I asked a favor
of you and you refused. I asked it of God and he granted it.”
Brother and
sister parted the next morning after their long discussion. Three days later, Benedict was praying in
his monastery and saw the soul of his sister rising heavenward in the form of a
white dove. Benedict then announced the death of his sister to the monks
and later buried her in the tomb he had prepared for himself.
Comment:
Scholastica and Benedict gave themselves totally
to God and gave top priority to deepening their friendship with him through
prayer. They sacrificed some of the opportunities they would have had to be
together as brother and sister in order better to fulfill
their vocation to the religious life. In coming closer to Christ, however, they
found they were also closer to each other. In joining a religious community,
they did not forget or forsake their family but rather found more brothers and
sisters.
Quote:
“All religious are under an
obligation, in accordance with the particular vocation of each, to work zealously
and diligently for the building up and growth of the whole mystical body of
Christ and for the good of the particular churches. It is their duty to foster
these objectives primarily by means of prayer, works of penance, and by the
example of their own lives” (Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops,
33, Austin Flannery translation).
Patron
Saint of:
Nuns
St. Scholastica, Pray for us.
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