Today we celebrate the feast of St. Scholastica twin sister of St. Benedict.
Benedict was studying in Rome when he heard God calling him to devote all of his life to serving God. He organized several communities of monks who also felt called to religious life. The most famous of Benedict’s monasteries was at Monte Cassino, in Italy.
His sister, Scholastica also felt called to the religious life, and the two siblings helped each other start a community for religious women about five miles south of Benedict’s monastery.
Because they were so dedicated to their holy way of life, they were only able to visit together once a year, and only for a short while, for they both had to return to their communities according to their rule of life.
One year, they met at a residence half way between their two communities to spend the day praying and speaking of God and the spiritual life.
When Benedict said he had to return to the monastery, Scholastica begged him to stay and talk awhile longer. Benedict refused, saying that his rule required that the monks be in their monastery at night. Heartbroken, Scholastica folded her hands, put her head on the table, and quietly wept and prayed. As she prayed, a storm began, so terrible that no one could venture out. "What have you done?" Benedict exclaimed to his sister. She explained that since he had refused the favor she has asked, she had turned to God instead, and God granted it. Benedict and Scholastica continued their conversation and prayer until morning. And then both returned to their monastery.
Three days later, while praying in his cell, Benedict had a vision that his sister had died. In his vision her soul rose to heaven in the form of a dove. Benedict buried his sister in the tomb that had he had originally prepared for himself.
Scholastica loved and served God with a purity of heart, and purity of heart leads to the experience of the joy of God’s friendship. St. Gregory the Great said, “Since God is love, then surely he can do more who loves more.” The story of Scholastica and Benedict illustrates the power of love and faith and trust in God, something we are all called to.
Scholastica is honored as a consecrated virgin. The consecrated virgin dedicates her life to deepening her faith and love for God. Pope Francis has designated this year as a Year for Consecrated Life.
Sometime this year, every young person should ask God, “Are you calling me to consecrated life, like St. Scholastica, like St. Benedict”? The Church needs monks and nuns who are powerful witnesses of God’s love. Monks and nuns to remind us that God’s love is more important than worldly fame, success, money, and the accumulation of possessions and pleasures.
How do you know if God might be calling you to become a consecrated religious? When you think about living a life totally dedicated to God, does that fill you with a sense of peace or joy? Do you have a desire to make the world a better place by serving Jesus?
Each of us should pray constantly, asking God to show us how we can be of greater service to Jesus. But particularly this year, pray for an openness to a life dedicated to God as a religious sister or brother. God has a plan for each of us, and when we say yes to that plan, we will find our greatest joy.
The primary tenet of the rule of St. benedict, which Scholastica helped author is “To prefer nothing to Christ.” May God help all of us “prefer nothing to Christ”, that we may serve Him and find joy in Him always, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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