Scholastica

Scholastica (c. 480 – 10 February 543) is a saint of the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Communion. She was born in Italy. According to a ninth century tradition, she was the twin sister of Benedict of Nursia.[2] Her feast day is 10 February, Saint Scholastica's Day.[3] Scholastica was the foundress of the women's branch of Benedictine Monasticism.

This article is about the Christian saint. For other uses, see Scholastica (disambiguation).

Saint Scholastica
Saint Scholastica from the San Luca Altarpiece
Virgin
Bornc. 480
Nursia, Umbria, Italy
Died10 February 543
near Monte Cassino
Venerated inCatholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Anglican Communion
CanonizedPre-Congregation by St. Peter III
Feast10 February
Attributesnun with crozier and crucifix; nun with dove flying from her mouth[1] Also patron Saint of book fairs.
PatronagePatroness of Benedictine women's communities; school; tests; books; reading; convulsive children; nuns; invoked against storms and rain; Le Mans

Life

According to the Dialogues of Gregory the Great, Scholastica was born c. 480 in Nursia, Umbria, of wealthy parents (Anicius Eupropius and his wife Claudia Abondantia Reguardati). While Gregory states that Scholastica was Benedict's sister, a later tradition says she was his twin (whether this is meant biologically or spiritually, or both is unclear). Gregory also says she was dedicated to God from a young age. She and her brother Benedict were brought up together until the time he left to pursue studies in Rome.[4]

A young Roman woman of Scholastica's class and time would likely have remained in her father's house until marriage (likely arranged) or entry into religious life. But wealthy women could inherit property, divorce, and were generally literate. On occasion several young women would live together in a household and form a religious community.[2]

Benedictine tradition holds that Scholastica established a hermitage about five miles from Monte Cassino and that this was the first "Benedictine" convent.[5] However, it has been suggested that it is more likely that she lived in a hermitage with one or two other religious women in a cluster of houses at the base of Mount Cassino where there is an ancient church named after her (Monastero di Santa Scolastica). Ruth Clifford Engs notes that since Dialogues indicates that Scholastica was dedicated to God at an early age, perhaps she lived in her father's house with other religious women until his death and then moved nearer to Benedict.[2]

Narrative from the Dialogues
Benedict and Scholastica, Klosterkirche Elchingen

The most commonly told story about her is that she would, once a year, go and visit her brother at a place near his abbey, and they would spend the day worshiping together and discussing sacred texts and issues.[6]

One day they had supper and continued their conversation. When Benedict indicated it was time for him to leave, Scholastica, perhaps sensing that the time of her death was drawing near, asked him to stay with her for the evening so they could continue their discussions. Not wishing to break his own Rule, Benedict refused, insisting that he needed to return to his cell. At that point, Scholastica closed her hands in prayer, and after a moment, a wild storm started outside of the guest house in which they were staying. Benedict asked, "What have you done?", to which she replied, "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." Benedict was unable to return to his monastery, and they spent the night in discussion.[6]

Three days later, from his cell, he saw his sister's soul leaving the earth and ascending to heaven in the form of a shining white dove.[7] Benedict had her body brought to his monastery, where he had it laid in the tomb which he had prepared for himself.[6]

The Anglo-Saxon bishop and scholar Aldhelm recounts the story in both the De Laude Virginitatis, written for the nuns at Barking, and in the shorter Carmen de virginitate.

Studies

What is known of Scholastica derives from the Dialogues of Gregory the Great. Pearse A. Cusack argues that she is a literary invention on the part of Gregory to demonstrate that love supersedes law.[8] Early calendars and place names in the area around Monte Cassino suggest that she did exist.[9] Gregory names as his sources four of Benedict's contemporaries. A contemporary, Caesarius of Arles, wrote Regula virginum (Rule for Virgins), the first rule drawn up for women living in community, for his sister, Caesaria.[10]

Legacy

Scholastica is the foundress of the women's branch of Benedictine Monasticism.

She was selected as the main motif for a high value commemorative coin: the Austria €50 'The Christian Religious Orders', issued 13 March 2002. On the obverse (heads) side of the coin Scholastica is depicted alongside Benedict. In iconography, Scholastica is often represented as an abbess, in a black habit and holding a book or a dove.[11]

Scholastica is the patron saint of nuns, education, and convulsive children, and is invoked against storms and rain. Her memorial is 10 February.

Feast day

Saint Scholastica's Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Scholastica, is celebrated on February 10.[3] Its symbol is the Christian cross.[12] Saint Scholastica's Day bears importance in the monastic calendar as she is honoured as the patroness of Benedictine nuns.[13] The Feast of St Scholastica is commemorated through Mass or a service of worship.

See also

References
  1. "Patron Saints Index: Saint Scholastica". Saints.sqpn.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  2. "St. Scholastica - Traditional twin of St. Benedict". www.indiana.edu. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  3. Mazar, Peter (2000). School Year, Church Year. LiturgyTrainingPublications. ISBN 978-1-56854-240-9.
  4. Boo O.S.B., Mary Richard and Braun O.S.B., Joan M., "Emerging from the Shadows: St. Scholastica", Medieval Women Monastics, (Miriam Schmitt, Linda Kulzer, eds) Liturgical Press, 1996 ISBN 9780814622926
  5. "Saint Scholastica, Virgin and Religious Founder. OSB". www.osb.org. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  6. "Saint Scholastica, Virgin and Religious Founder. OSB". www.osb.org. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  7. "Saint Scholastica, Virgin and Religious Founder. OSB". www.osb.org. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  8. Cusack, Pearse Aidan (1 July 1974). "St Scholastica: Myth or Real Person?". The Downside Review. 92 (308): 145–159. doi:10.1177/001258067409230801. ISSN 0012-5806.
  9. Beau, A., Le Culte et les reliques de Saint Benoît et de Sainte Scholastique, Abadia de Montserrat/University of Virginia, (1979) ISBN 9788472023666
  10. Shahan, Thomas. "St. Caesarius of Arles." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 10 February 2018
  11. Lexikon der christlichen Ikonographie, (Kirschbaum and Bandmann, eds.),8.315-16
  12. Cambridge Antiquarian Communications, Volume 4. Macmillan. 1878. p. 155.
  13. Webber, Donald (2008). Silence and Peace. Lulu. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-615-20507-6.
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