Scholastica
f course every doubt about Saint
Benedict is magnified exponentially regarding Saint Scholastica. Gregory mentions her in only one chapter of his Dialogues, and it is chiefly from this source that our knowledge springs.
Scholastica is described as a woman “dedicated from her infancy to God.” She was a nun, living in a small community of women consecrated to God’s service. Beyond this, we know very little.
Gregory tells us that she regularly visited Benedict at a place not far from his monastery, and that she and the other nuns conversed with Benedict and his monks.
Shortly before her death, during one of her regular visits to Benedict, Scholastica asked him to remain visiting with her overnight, something Benedict and the other monks were not allowed to do. Despite her entreaties,
Benedict would not relent, arguing that he and the other monks could not tarry outside beyond the walls of the monastery overnight.
Gregory says that at this point, Scholastica prayed to God that her brother might remain with her. Out of a clear sky, rain and harsh wind suddenly emerged preventing Benedict from returning to his monastery.
As Gregory tells us, “And it is not a thing to be marveled at, that a woman which of long time had not seen her brother, might do more at that time than he could, seeing, according to the saying of St. John, God is charity and therefore of right she did more which loved more.”
Scholastica disappears shortly after Gregory introduces her, as her death is mentioned in the very next chapter of his Dialogues.
Three days after their first and only all day and night meeting, Benedict looked up from his prayers and saw her soul ascend to heaven in the likeness of a dove.
Her ordered her body brought to the monastery at Monte Cassino and buried in the tomb he had made for himself.
Nothing is mentioned of Scholastica after this, and historians have found precious little more evidence of her life and works.
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