St Schlastica is the twin sister of St Benedict. They were both born in the year 480 in a wealthy family. She founded a religious community near the monastery of Monte Casino in Italy that her brother founded. She and Benedict visited each other once a year in a nearby farmhouse, as she was not permitted inside the monastery as a woman. She died in the year 542. : According to Pope Gregory the Great, Scholastica prayed for a severe storm to prevent her brother, Benedict, from leaving after their final annual meeting, allowing them to continue their spiritual discussions. Three days after that last meeting, Benedict was in his monastery praying when he envisioned a white dove rising toward the heavens. Benedict saw this as a sign that she had died. Scholastica is remembered for her deep love of God and for her deep prayer life.
One of the verses of psalm 84 states today: “My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” I can imagine St Scholastica, St Benedict, and many of the other members of the community of saints crying out for the Lord, yearning for him in the midst of the challenges and trials that they went through in life. May we feel that same yearning for God in the midst of our own reality.
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