ST. SCHOLASTICA (FEB. 10TH)

 

St. Scholastica of Monte Cassino

Edited by Bp. Joseph

Today, both the East and West celebrate one of the founders of female monasticism, St. Scholastica of Monte Cassino, twin sister of St. Benedict. She established a rule of cenobitic monastic life for women, mirroring her brother’s work, and established dependent female communities to the male Benedictine Order that provided discipline and order to women called to the consecrated life.

The most commonly told story about her is that Scholastica would, once a year, go and visit her brother at a place near his abbey, and they would spend the day worshiping together and discussing sacred texts and issues.

One day they had supper and continued their conversation. When Benedict indicated it was time for him to leave, Scholastica, perhaps sensing that the time of her death was drawing near, asked him to stay with her for the evening so they could continue their discussions. Not wishing to break his own Rule, Benedict refused, insisting that he needed to return to his cell. At that point, Scholastica closed her hands in prayer, and after a moment, a wild storm started outside of the guest house in which they were staying. Benedict asked, "What have you done?", to which she replied, "I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and he did listen. So now go off, if you can; leave me and return to your monastery." Benedict was unable to return to his monastery, and they spent the night in discussion.

Three days later, from his cell, he saw his sister's soul leaving the earth and ascending to heaven in the form of a shining white dove. Benedict had her body brought to his monastery, where he had it laid in the tomb which he had prepared for himself.

COLLECT

ALMIGHTY GOD, help us to love one another as sisters and brothers, and to balance ascetic discipline with love and monastic rules with compassion, according to the example shown by Your holy servant, St. Scholastica; and may she ever intercede for us in Heaven; for the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.