St Scholastica was the twin sister of St Benedict, father of Western monasticism. They would meet each year midway between their monasteries to talk of spiritual matters. One year, as dusk fell, Scholastica begged B to stay, but he said it was impossible to deviate from the rules
Conversation
She began to pray, whereupon the heavens erupted with a flood of rain that made travel impossible. “What have you done?” Benedict cried. Scholastica replied: “I asked you, but you were unwilling to listen to me. I asked my Lord and He listened to me.” So she had her desire.
They spent the whole night praising God. St Gregory comments: “As John says, ‘God is love,’ and she justly overcame him by the greater strength of her love.” It was their last meeting. Scholastica died 3 days later. In a vision Benedict saw her spirit rise to heaven like a dove.
3
19