 Feast of St. Scholastica |
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Saint Scholastica and her brother, St. Benedict, lived during the fifth century. Saint Benedict is well known; his sister lived in his shadow, and it is in the life of Saint Benedict that the sanctity of his sister shows its character. Saint Gregory the Great says of her: "Scholastica, sister of our blessed Father, vowed to God in childhood, was accustomed to come once a year to see her brother. The man of God came down for the occasion to a small house belonging to the monastery, not far from the gate. The day came when, according to custom her venerable brother came down with his disciples to meet her. They spent the whole day in praise of God and holy conversation. When day faded and night fell, they took supper together; while they were still at table and it was getting late and the holy talk continued. The saintly nun said to her brother: 'Please do not leave, but let us spend the night discussing the joys of eternal life.' He said in reply: 'What are you asking, my sister? I cannot in any way remain outside the monastery.'
"The sky was still quite clear and there was not a trace of cloud in the sky. But the holy woman, at her brother's refusal, crossed her fingers on the table and, putting her head on her hands, repeated her request to Almighty God. And when she raised her head, the thunder and wind and such a rainstorm came up, that neither the venerable brother, nor the brethren who came with him, and who now studied the weather from the safety of the threshold, could set foot outdoors.
"Because the saintly nun, her head on her hands, released a flood of tears and changed a peaceful evening into rain. The response followed the request in an instant; and the prayer and the downpour coincided so perfectly, that Scholastica had scarcely lifted her head from the table when it thundered and the rain fell.
"So, in the midst of the flashes of lightning, of thunder and of torrents of rain, the man of God, seeing that he could not return to his monastery, became sad and said: 'May Almighty God forgive you, sister, what you have done.' And Scholastica replied: 'I asked you and you did not wish to listen to me. I asked God and He understood. So go now if you can, leave me and return to your monastery.' Saint Benedict, who had refused to remain, now could not leave the protection of the roof, so he remained in spite of himself. They spent the night awake and regaling each other with spiritual talk.
"The next morning, the venerable woman went back to her monastery and the man of God to his. Three days later, lifting his eyes to heaven in his cell, Benedict saw the soul of his sister leave her body and enter into the heights of heaven in the form of a dove. Rejoicing in the glory of his sister, he gave thanks to God in hymns of praise and announced her death to the brethren. He sent them to find her body and to bring it to the monastery, so that he could bury it in the grave which he had prepared for himself."
The Church today sings: "Who is she who flies like a cloud and like a dove returns to her nest? God has given me wings like a dove: I will fly away and be at rest." Again: "Rise and come, my sister, my dove, my beautiful; come and take the crown which the Lord has prepared for you for all eternity." Is this not the Christian poetry which some wish to suppress? Let us profit from it, while there is still time: "Under the form of a dove, the soul of Scholastica appeared. The soul of her brother has rejoiced. The soul of Scholastica has appeared. Glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. In the form of a dove, the soul of Scholastica has appeared."
This is the antiphon for the Magnificat of First Vespers: "The crowd of the faithful exults in the glory of Scholastica, especially the virgins who celebrate her feast; because, relying on her tears and in prayer to the Lord, she obtained more from Him because she loved much."
Source: Adapted from angelusonline.org |
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Topic: Saint of the day (Read 497265 times)