Scholastica was born in Italy in 480 in Nursia, Umbria. According to a ninth century tradition, she was the twin sister of Saint Benedict of Nursia and daughter of Anicius Eupropius and Claudia Abondantia Reguardati.
She had consecrated her life to God from her earliest youth. After her brother went to Monte Cassino, where he established his famous monastery, she took up her abode in the neighborhood at Plombariola, where she founded and governed a monastery of nuns. Benedictine tradition holds that this was the first convent of Benedictine nuns.
The most commonly told story about her is that Scholastica 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.
On one occasion they had passed the time as usual in prayer and pious conversation and in the evening, they sat down to take their reflection. St. Scholastica begged her brother to remain until the next day. St. Benedict refused to spend the night outside his monastery. She had recourse to prayer and a furious thunderstorm burst so that St. Benedict couldn’t return home. They spent the night in spiritual conferences.
Three days later St. Scholastica died, and her holy brother beheld her soul in a vision as it ascended into heaven. He sent his brethren to bring her body to his monastery and laid it in the tomb he had prepared for himself. She died about the year 543, and St. Benedict followed her soon after.
Saint Scholastica is the patron saint of Benedictine nuns, education, and convulsive children, and is invoked against storms and rain.
Other Saints of the Day
Saint Andrew
1. Saint Aponius
2. Saint Desideratus
3. Saint Erulph
4. Saint Paganus
5. Saint Andrew
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