Scholastica of Nursia
Scholastica (480 – 10 February AD 543) is a saint of the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Communion. She was born in Italy, and a ninth-century tradition makes her the twin sister of Saint Benedict of Nursia. Her feast day is 10 February, Saint Scholastica's Day. Scholastica is traditionally regarded as the founder of the Benedictine nuns.
According to the late 6th century Dialogues of Gregory the Great, Scholastica was born c. 480 in Nursia, Umbria, to wealthy parents (Anicius Eupropius and his wife, Claudia Abondantia Reguardati). While Gregory states that Scholastica was Benedict's sister, a later tradition says she was his twin (whether this is meant biologically or spiritually, or both is unclear). Gregory also says she was dedicated to God from a young age. She and her brother Benedict were brought up together until he left to pursue studies in Rome.
A young Roman woman of Scholastica's class and time would likely have remained in her father's house until marriage (likely arranged) or entry into consecrated life. Occasionally, several consecrated virgins would live together in a household and form a community.
Benedictine tradition holds that Scholastica established a hermitage about five miles from Monte Cassino and that this was the first convent of Benedictine nuns. However, it is possible that Scholastica lived in a hermitage with one or two consecrated virgins in a cluster of houses at the base of Mount Cassino, where there is an ancient church under her patronage Monastero di Santa Scolastica. Ruth Clifford Engs notes that since Dialogues indicates that Scholastica was dedicated to God at an early age, perhaps she lived in her father's house with other religious women until his death and then moved nearer to Benedict.
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.
One day they had supper and continued their conversation. When Benedict indicated it was time for him to leave, Scholastica, perhaps sensing that her death was approaching, asked him to stay with her for the evening to continue their discussions. Not wishing to break his own Rule, Benedict refused, insisting that he needed to return to his cell. At that point, Scholastica closed her hands in prayer, and after a moment, a wild storm started outside of the guest house in which they were staying. Benedict asked, "What have you done?" she replied, "I asked you, and you would not listen, so I asked my God, and he did listen. So go off, if you can; leave me and return to your monastery." Benedict could not return to his monastery, and they spent the night in discussion.
Three days later, from his cell, he saw his sister's soul leaving the earth and ascending to heaven as a shining white dove. Benedict brought her body to his monastery, where he had it laid in the tomb he had prepared for himself.
The Anglo-Saxon bishop and scholar Aldhelm recounts the story in both the De Laude Virginitatis, written for Barking nuns and the shorter Carmen de Virginitate.
What is known of Scholastica derives from the Dialogues of Gregory the Great. Early calendars and place names around Monte Cassino's area support the historical accuracy of St. Gregory the Great's account of her life. Gregory names as his sources four of Benedict's contemporaries. A contemporary, Caesarius of Arles, wrote the Regula virginum (Rule for Virgins), a rule drawn up for virgins living in a community, for a community which his sister, Caesaria, headed.