Saint Scholastica was the twin sister of Saint Benedict, who was the great reformer of the monastic movement. And I love the story of Scholastica and Benedict, as told by Saint Gregory the Great.
When Benedict founded his monastery on top at Monte Casino, Scholastica lived in a small cottage at the base of the mountain. Every year on their birthday, Benedict, with two of his brother monks, would go down from Monte Casino to Scholastica’s cottage, and they would spend the day together visiting and discussing theology and the spiritual life.
As they were finishing their visit one year, and evening was coming on, Benedict announced that it was time to leave. But Scholastica pressed him to stay so that the four of them could continue talking about the wonders of the mysteries of God throughout the night.
And Benedict said to her, “Sister! What is this that you are suggesting? I simply cannot spend the night outside of my cell!”
Scholastica than bowed her head and prayed. As Benedict and his two brothers made for the door, a clap of thunder was heard so loud it shook the room, and a torrent of rain began to fall so forcefully, that none of the men could even pass the threshold.
Benedict looked sternly at Scholastica. “Sister! What have you done?”
And Scholastica answered, “Well I asked you and you wouldn’t listen, so I asked my God and He did! So now leave for your monastery if you can.”
And so Benedict and his brothers reluctantly sat back down at table and continued their visit with Scholastica until dawn.
Three days later, Benedict was looking out the monastery window toward Scholastica’s cottage and he saw his sister’s soul ascending into heaven in the form of a dove. He then sent some of his brothers to retrieve her body from the cottage and bring it up to Monte Casino for burial.
Benedict and Scholastica are buried together under the main altar at Monte Casino, and the inscription on the tomb reads, “They who could not be separated in life, are now joined in death.”
I had the pleasure of visiting Monte Casino when I was on Sabbatical. Rome is a nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there. Too chaotic for me. But there are three places in Italy where I wouldn’t mind living: Sienna, Assisi, and Monte Casino.
The present day monastery is an exact replica of the original monastery which was destroyed during WWII when it was bombed by the Allies, who believed that the Germans were using it as a fortification and observation post. The monks were warned to get out of the monastery the day before the bombing and the American government paid to have the monastery reconstructed after the war.
When you see pictures of the monastery after the bombing, the whole building was rubble, EXCEPT one spot, the main altar and the tomb of Benedict and Scholastica underneath. They were left without a scratch. An unexploded bomb was resting next to the altar, and when demolition teams came in to diffuse it, they found that the bomb didn’t explode because there was no powder in it. That one bomb was an empty shell.
The unexploded bomb is on display in the monastery museum to this day. It is considered by the monks to be a miracle of Benedict and Scholastica.
Also, in a field near the monastery is a cemetery of Polish soldiers, who were the first regiment to retake the hill. The monks now look after them. The inscription on the cross above the cemetery reads, “We gave our hearts to Poland. We gave our lives to Italy, and now we give our souls to God.”
May Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica look after all of our souls and lead
them to God as well.
Saint Scholastica, pray for us.
And blessed be God forever.
Father Michael Anthony Sisco, Visitor
Confraternity of Penitents
