St. Scholastica

St. Scholastica is the patron saint of convulsive children, nuns, and is invoked against storms and rain.

Today, February 10, is her feast day.

I'm sure you've heard the story of St. Scholastica before but it is a good one which is worth being told over and over again.

St. Scholastica visited her twin brother St. Benedict once a year. However, since she was not allowed to enter his monastery, he sometimes went with some of his brethren to meet her at a house some distance away. These visits were spent in worship and discussion of spiritual matters.

On one occasion, as the end of the day approached they had their meal and continued with their conversation, St. Scholastica begged her brother to stay until the next day. St. Benedict refused since this would have meant that he (and his companions) would be away from the monastery which was against his own rules.

St. Scholastica closed her hands in prayer. The weather at that point had been nothing short of perfect. After her prayers, a wild storm started.

"God forgive you, Sister. What have you done?" Benedict asked his sister.

"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."

So Benedict, unable to return to his monastery, had no recourse but to stay. They were able to spend more time together in prayer and conversation. The next day, Benedict and Scholastica parted ways. It was their last moments together on earth.

Three days later, while Benedict was praying in his monastery, he saw the soul of his sister rising towards heaven in the form of a white dove. Benedict then announced the death of his sister to the monks and later buried her in the tomb he had prepared for himself.