Scholastica

Who they were

Scholastica, the twin sister of St Benedict, was born at Norcia and consecrated to God from childhood. Almost all that is known of her comes from St Gregory the Great's Dialogues. She lived by her brother's Rule and founded a monastery near Monte Cassino, the beginning of the Benedictine nuns.

She and Benedict met once a year in a house between their monasteries. At their last meeting she begged him to stay the night talking of God; he refused, so as not to break the Rule, and she prayed. A sudden storm broke and he could not leave: 'I asked you and you would not listen; I asked my God and He heard me.' Three days later Benedict saw her soul rise to heaven as a dove, and he buried her in the tomb he had prepared for himself at Monte Cassino.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Scholastica has been honoured as a saint since St Gregory the Great wrote of her. No miracle was ever formally examined.

Why that counted as sanctity

St Gregory's verdict on the storm is her portrait: 'she could do more, because she loved more.' Scholastica lived for God in silence and prayer - 'be silent, or speak of God' - and her trust in Him was stronger than the rule itself.

Connected on this site

• Benedict of Nursia Saint Brother or sister
  “480 – 10 February 543) was an Italian Christian consecrated virgin and the sister of Benedict of Nursia.” — Wikipedia