The twin sister of Benedict of Nursia, founder of the Benedictine order, Scholastica is the patron saint of nuns, having dedicated herself to God in her youth.

What we know about her we owe to the Dialogues of Gregory the Great. Although tradition has it that she lived in a large religious community in Plumbariola, there is no evidence that a convent existed there at that time. It is now speculated that she lived in a small hermitage with a few other religious women. Plumbariola was convenient to her brother’s monastery at Monte Cassino, and Benedict regularly visited his sister to discuss the scriptures and spiritual matters.

On one such visit, late in her life, Scholastica—perhaps knowing that her time was short—begged her brother to remain overnight. Benedict refused, as this would violate his own monastic rule. Scholastica then prayed for God’s intervention, and the weather, which was already threatening, turned violent, so that Benedict was trapped. (Ironically, Scholastica is often invoked against heavy rain!) When he reproved his sister, she replied,“See, I asked you, and you would not listen to me. So I asked my Lord, and he has listened to me.” Gregory writes, “It is no wonder that the woman who had desired to see her brother that day proved at the same time that she was more powerful than he was.”

Three days later, after he had returned to his monastery, Benedict saw his sister’s soul, in the form of a dove, ascending to heaven. He had her buried in his own tomb, and when he died he was buried with her.