Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin
She was born in 480 in Norcia to pious parents - Eutropius and Claudia Abondantia Reguardati. She was a twin sister of St. Benedict. When her brother went to the desert in his youth, he relinquished his property to his sister, but after the death of her parents she too wanted to devote herself to serving God.
Scholastica, from childhood was under the spell of St. Benedict. She also accompanied him on his travels and imitated his lifestyle devoted to God. When Benedict founded the first monastery in Subiaco, she founded a similar monastery for women. To this day, there are two monasteries there on the nearby hills: in Subiaco, the male monastery of St. Benedict, and in Plombariola - the nunnery of St. Scholastica. You can also see the grotto, where they met for holy talks. The same happened at Monte Cassino.
When they met for the last time on this earth, their conversation extended to the night. Benedict was about to leave with his companions, but his sister begged him to stay. But when he firmly resisted it and was about to leave, at the request of Scholastica it began to rain so hard that it forced him to stay all night. Benedict made a gentle excuse to his sister: "What You have done, my sister? I cannot go back to my brothers who will be surprised that I will not come back for so long." Saint Scholastica said: "I asked you and you did not want to listen to me. So, I turned to God and was heard". And then sweetly defiantly added, "If you're in such a hurry, go now." She spoke these words while the downpour raged outside.
Scholastica died three days later, on February 10, 547. According to the account of St. Gregory the Great, recorded in his "Dialogues", on the third day after the last meeting, when St. Benedict looked at the world from his cell, and at the monastery where St. Scholastica lived, he saw her soul in the form of a white dove rising to heaven. He immediately sent the brothers for her body and laid it in the tomb which he had prepared for himself in the church of his monastery. Her relics were in Fleury Abbey, where they were transferred after the Lombards invaded the Monte Cassino monastery and destroyed it in 587. They are now in Le Mans. Monte Cassino received some of them.
Reflection on Today’s Gospel
Some funeral directors are able to make such cosmetics of the deceased that she/he looks alive in the coffin. It looks alive, but it is dead. The Lord Jesus tells us in today's Gospel: First of all, take care that you have life in you, and not what you look like. For what if you seem righteous if your heart is full of pride, fornication, greed, deception, and hatred? So, what if your family is seen by people as a harmonious and loving family, and you really keep arguing, and maybe even everything that was good between you has already burned out and turned into mutual indifference?
What is inside a person is essential - Jesus tells us today. It is good that you are kind to one another. But the most important thing is that you should be kind to one another in your hearts. The hypocritical showing of kindness brings the seeds of death and decay to human relationships. " Woe to you - said the Lord Jesus on the same subject on another occasion - scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence." (Mt 23:25).
Whatever you look at, the same principle should apply everywhere: let us make sure that truth, good and love reign in our interior. Only under this condition what is revealed outside will be authentic. After all, we sometimes cannot love even our own children authentically. St. Augustine has asked the question more than once: "Consider whether you really love your children if you cannot love yourself. After all, you - whether you like it or not - radiate what you are inside on your children. If you really care about your children's well-being, you must take care that there is truth and good within you.
The most important thing is what is inside you - the Lord Jesus tells us today. Do not pretend that you are good, but really be good. Do not pretend to be a pious person, but really entrust yourself to God. Do not pretend to be a good father or mother, but really love your children. Do not pretend to be concerned about the common good but let the common good be truly your concern.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george