Wednesday, February 9, 2011

February 10 -- St. Scholastica

St. Scholastica (480-543), born in Italy, " had been consecrated to the Almighty Lord from the time of her childhood".  Her twin brother was St. Benedict of Nursia who founded a network of monasteries which spread Catholic Civilization throughout Europe.

St. Scholastica founded an order of nuns which gave fecundity to her brother's work through prayer and suffering.  Their sole apostolate was one of suffering--accepting their own crosses as well as taking on the crosses of others to bring the necessary graces to bring many souls to the Catholic Faith.

Modern society puts a great emphasis on "doing".  Action is of primary importance -- get things done.  As a result, men do not make time for thought, silence, prayer and contemplation. 

And yet, St. Alphonsus de Liguori says that man cannot save his soul without prayer. 

How well St. Scholastica knew this and also knew that suffering can accomplish more than physical action. The feminine branch of the Benedictines suffered and prayed in a heroic cloister.  As a result, the masculine branch of the Benedictines flourished in their apostolic works.

Let us ask St. Scholastica for the grace of understanding the importance and efficacy of suffering.

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