Saint Scholastica – Foundress of Benedictine Nuns

Saint Scholastica was born in Italy around the year 480, into a time of great upheaval as the Roman world was finally giving way to a new Christian culture. She is best known as the twin sister of Saint Benedict, but her own holiness and spiritual insight stand firmly on their own.

Most of what we know about Saint Scholastica comes from Saint Gregory the Great’s Dialogues.

From an early age, Scholastica dedicated her life entirely to God. While her brother Benedict founded monasteries for men and eventually wrote the Rule that shaped Western monastic life, Scholastica embraced the same spirit of prayer, order, and devotion in a feminine way. She established communities of women living a life of contemplation, simplicity, and love, helping to lay the foundation for Benedictine religious life for women.

Though little is recorded about Scholastica’s daily life, one story, preserved by Saint Gregory the Great, offers a tender and revealing glimpse into her character. Each year, Scholastica and Benedict would meet for a day of prayer and holy conversation at a house near his monastery. They enjoyed these discussions and looked forward to them for weeks.

At one of these meetings, Benedict prepared to leave in time to be at his monastery for evening prayer in obedience to his rule, Scholastica gently asked him to stay and continue their spiritual discussion. She may have sensed this was to be their last meeting.  When he refused, not wanting to break his own rule, she turned to God in prayer. Suddenly, a violent storm arose, making it impossible for Benedict to return to the monastery.

Benedict protested, but Scholastica simply replied that she had asked her brother, but he would not listen, so she asked God, and God listened. Saint Gregory explains that her prayer was answered because she loved more deeply. Where Benedict was guided by discipline and structure, Scholastica was guided by charity, showing that love is the heart of all Christian life.

Scholastica died only three days later. From his cell, Benedict saw her soul ascend to heaven in the form of a dove, a sign of her purity and peace. He buried her in the tomb he had prepared for himself, united even in death.

Scholastica is the patron saint of Benedictine nuns, convulsive children, education, and is invoked for protection from storms. Her feast day is February 10.

St. Scholastica, pray for us!

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