Some Notes on St. Scholastica

St. Scholastica (c. 480-10 Feb 543) was the sister of St. Benedict, his twin sister, as one tradition says. The only source for details about St. Scholastica is the 6th-century “Dialogues” of St. Gregory the Great.

Scholastica was born in Nursia, Umbria, of wealthy parents. Scholastica was dedicated to God from a young age. At 12, she and her brother were sent to Rome. But they were deeply disturbed by the dissolute lifestyle of the city. Therefore, Benedict decided to retire to a hermitage.

Revealing her detachment from earthly goods, Scholastica asked her father to allow her to enter the religious life. She first entered a monastery near Nursia and then moved on to Subiaco, following her brother, who had founded the Abbey of Monte Cassino. There, just seven kilometers away, under Benedict’s direction, she founded the monastery of Piumarola, where she and her religious sisters followed the Rule of St. Benedict, giving rise to the female branch of the Benedictine Order. She was a very docile disciple of her brother. She devoted her whole life to seeking and serving God.

Once a year, Scholastica and Benedict would meet at a house, halfway between the two monasteries. They would spend the day in spiritual conversation, praying together and discussing sacred texts and issues.

St. Gregory’s “Dialogues” reports that in the last of these meetings, on 6 February 543, Scholastica asked her brother to continue the spiritual conversation until the following morning. But Benedict wanted to return to his monastery in observance of his own Rule of Enclosure. Scholastica cried. She then prayed and implored the Lord for help. After a moment, a violent storm arose, preventing Benedict from leaving. Thus, they spent the night in spiritual conversation.

Three days later, from his cell, Benedict saw his sister’s soul ascending to heaven in the form of a shining white dove. Benedict had her buried in a tomb which he had prepared for himself at the Abbey of Monte Cassino and where he too would be buried four years later (547).

St. Scholastica is the patron saint of Benedictine nuns and is considered the founder of female monasticism.

Gospel, Mk. 7:1-13. The Gospel today on the Lord’s indictment of the Pharisees’ hypocritical ritual purification sheds light on the interior life of St. Scholastica. She prayed with a pure love of God, and God answered her prayer. The “Dialogues” of St. Gregory the Great said, “She could do more, because she loved more.”

Prayer: “As we celebrate anew the Memorial of the Virgin St. Scholastica, we pray, O Lord, that, following her example, we may serve you with a pure love and happily receive what comes from loving you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.