Saint Scholastica

Saint Scholastica, the twin sister of St. Benedict, was born in AD 480. Like her brother, Scholastica renounced her family's wealth and status to dedicate herself to religious life. She founded and governed a monastery of nuns at Plombariola, about five miles from St. Benedict's monastery in Monte Cassino. Scholastica used to recommend observing the rule of silence and avoiding conversation with people outside the monastery. She used to say, "Either speak of God or keep silent, for what in this world is so worthy of speech?" Once a year, just before Lent, St. Benedict would meet St. Scholastica to converse on spiritual matters in a farmhouse because she was not permitted inside his monastery. 

Saint Gregory the Great has left us a touching account of their last annual reunion. Scholastica felt her death was close at hand and begged Benedict to stay with her until the next day. When St. Benedict refused to spend the night outside his monastery, she had recourse to prayer. An unexpected and violent storm forced Benedict to stay, and they parted the next morning after their long spiritual discussion. As St. Gregory puts it, the law of love triumphed over the rule of justice and discipline. Three days later, St. Scholastica died at age 67, and her holy brother beheld her soul in a vision as it ascended into heaven in the form of a white dove. 

Saint Benedict buried St. Scholastica in the tomb he had prepared for himself. He followed her in death a few weeks later and was laid to rest beside her. They sacrificed time as siblings to fulfill their religious vocations, yet in growing closer to Christ, they also found closeness to each other. St. Scholastica's intercession is particularly sought during storms.

Saint Scholastica, pray for us to serve our Lord with pure love that our lives, too, may become an oblation pleasing to God.

Prepared and updated by:

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,

Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.