“She who loved more, did more” (St. Gregory the Great on St. Scholastica).

It seems that for many an explanation of St. Scholastica boils down to the sentence: “She was the sister of St. Benedict.” While true, such a terse description offers little invitation to the modern woman looking for a new heavenly friend.

Who Was St. Scholastica?

There is little documentation regarding Scholastica’s youth, the discovery of her vocation, and, really, her whole life. We do know that her mother passed away when she and Benedict were born, and when Benedict went to study in Rome, Scholastica stayed at home, caring for their father.

It is believed that her brother’s vocation was a huge influence on her and that she left home to live in a community of pious virgins. Soon after, she received permission to adopt the rule of Benedict and, thus, started the first order of Benedictine nuns.

She and her sisters lived about five miles away from Benedict and his monastery. One evening, Benedict came to visit her, and knowing that she was going to die soon, St. Scholastica begged him to stay the night. He declined, as it would violate his rule, so Scholastica turned to prayer, beseeching God to let her brother stay. In answer, a horrific thunderstorm struck, and St. Benedict stayed. Several days later, St. Scholastica died, and St. Benedict had a vision of his sister’s soul entering Heaven. 

St. Gregory the Great recount the famed thunderstorm incident in his Dialogues:

The holy nun said to her brother: “Please do not leave me tonight; let us go on until morning talking about the delights of the spiritual life.” “Sister,” he replied, “what are you saying? I simply cannot stay outside my cell.

When she heard her brother refuse her request, the holy woman joined her hands on the table, laid her head on them and began to pray. As she raised her head from the table, there were such brilliant flashes of lightning, such great peals of thunder and such a heavy downpour of rain that neither Benedict nor his brethren could stir across the threshold of the place where they had been seated.

A Heart Full of Love

While many of the intimate details regarding St. Scholastica’s life are lost, what we do see is a woman with a tremendous capacity for love. It is evident from her tending to her father and staying close to her brother that St. Scholastica loved her people fiercely.

While many saints who entered into religious life, died with family far away, there is something poignant about this sweet nun’s wish to be near her brother before the end. Her earthly relationships did not take away from her love of God but, rather in loving God, she was able to love the people around her with steadfast tenderness and devotion.

St. Scholastica reminds us that loving others well starts with loving God. Then, God can fill us up with His love—a love that will overflow from our hearts, touching the people we encounter.  Community was at the heart of Scholastica’s life, a powerful reminder that we are made for love. Building community is not just good but paramount to a flourishing life. St. Scholastica did not just hang out with whomever, though: She sought out women who were interested in pursuing Christ, and, seeing the wisdom and piety of her brother, she stayed close to him.

It is all too easy to reduce relationships to social media pictures and chat groups. We need to actively seek out our community and build our village. It takes time and discipline, and it is often inconvenient to whatever season of life we may be in. But in a world that feels burdened by the busy, carving time for the Christ-centered friendships can nourish our souls and remind us of what truly matters.

Setting out to build community in a world that struggles to make eye contact can feel intimidating. Fortunately, we can remember St. Scholastica’s deep love and focus on being a friend, rather than finding friends. It is a mindset that frees us from insecurity and worrying too much about what others think.

Building our village isn’t about being liked or remembered (after all, there is very little that is remembered about St. Scholastica!). Rather, it’s about glorifying God and living out Christian charity. Is there an elderly couple who needs help with groceries or getting to appointments? Does a new mom need meals? Is there an opportunity to start a weekly Bible club? Maybe it’s time to invite some ladies over for tea. We don’t know until we decide to be a friend and trust that whoever shows up is exactly who was meant to. Whatever the situation is, leaning into charity helps us to prudently understand what we are capable of giving and provides us with eyes to see where love is needed. 

St. Scholastica reminds us that loving the people around us is a beautiful way to give glory to God. Good community first starts with our communion with God.

St. Scholastica, you and your brother shared a holy friendship rooted first in love of God. Pray for me, that I may be a friend to others as I journey through life. St. Scholastica, pray for me!

Ann Burns is the founder of The Feminine Project, an organization dedicated to restoring the joy of womanhood. She is a writer and speaker, and strives to uphold what is truly good and beautiful. Most of all, she is a wife and mother, and loves to share the joy in living each day well.