Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

St. Scholastica

Feast Day of St. Scholastica

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The Feast of Scholastica, the founder of Benedictine life for women, is observed on February 10.

Benedict had a sister, Scholastica, who also dedicated her life to the pursuit of God. She too founded monasteries and became an abbatial figure. The only story we have of Scholastica is told when Benedict was already an abbot of renown. The incident demonstrates clearly that the brother and sister were emotionally close, and, both of them, a spiritual influence on the other till the time of her death.

During one of their annual visits, Scholastica, inspired by the depth of their conversation, asked Benedict to remain overnight in the place where they were meeting in order to continue their talk and reflection on spiritual things. Benedict wouldn’t even think of it. It was getting dark; it was time to get back to the monastery; it was time to get on with the regular routine of the spiritual life.

Unable to persuade him with words, Scholastica put her head down on the table in deep prayer. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a great storm brought flash floods and Benedict realized that he could not possibly return to the monastery that night. And the Dialogues say, “he complained bitterly.”

He said, “God forgive you, sister! What have you done?”

Scholastica answered simply, “I asked you for a favor and you refused. I asked my God and I got it.”

This story is a vein worth mining for a lifetime:

It tells us that law is never greater than love.

It tells us to be intent on pursuing the values of life, not simply its rules.

It tells us that discipline is necessary in the spiritual life but that religious discipline is not enough, that depth is a process and that depth costs.

It tells us that God lurks in strange places. And waits for us. And puts in our paths just what we need in order to become what we are meant to be.

It reminds us that a woman has as much power in the eyes of God as any man and that we must recognize women, too, as spiritual guides.

God fractured Benedict’s rigidity in favor of a greater vision. Has your rigidity been fractured yet?

—from Radical Christian Life, by Joan Chittister (Liturgical Press)

 

 

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Federation of St. Scholastica Celebrates 100 Years

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Benedictine Sisters from 17 monasteries across the United States and Mexico gathered at Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas, from June 15-19 for the Federation of St. Scholastica Chapter. Besides the Sisters conducting their regular meeting, held every four years, to discuss matters of concern, plan for the future, and elect new leaders for this union of autonomous monasteries, they also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Federation’s official approval by the Vatican on February 25, 1922.  Sister Eileen Dunbar was the delegate from our community who attended.

Visiting Sisters were greeted at the Sophia Spirituality Center on the Mount St. Scholastica campus with historic displays coordinated by Elaine Nadeau, who serves as archivist for both the Atchison monastery and the Federation. Photos detailed previous Federation chapter gatherings and presidents, along with artifacts collected over the past century.

Postulant Dorothy Herring from Valley Falls, Kansas, who began her formation at Mount St. Scholastica in January 2022, contributed her artistic talents to a series of banners, featuring photos of the many Federation delegates who have served over the decades.

“It was an honor and a privilege to be tasked with such a large project,” Herring said. “Seeing what the women have done in the past 100 years gives me hope for what impact my generation and future generations of women religious will have not only in the Church but in the world.”

To open the Chapter, Sister Esther Fangman, prioress of Mount St. Scholastica, welcomed the Sister-delegates. A ritual followed, where the delegations presented portraits of their respective monastery’s prioress at the time of joining the Federation, and pledged to “welcome the challenges, questions and opportunities of radical hospitality.”

The Sisters at Mount St. Scholastica embodied that radical hospitality, serving at the hospitality desk, washing dishes, preparing meals and a wide variety of home-made snacks for the delegates to enjoy.

“So much as changed in the past 100 years,” said Sister Esther. “Yet, the Benedictine charism continues to thrive because it adapts to the times. Welcoming the delegates to our monastery offered a chance to enrich each other and look toward the future with hope.”

Sister Judith Sutera, OSB, of Mount St. Scholastica, facilitated a discussion on the role of the portress – traditionally, the Sister who greeted monastery guests – in radical hospitality on June 16. Sister Maricarmen Bracamontes, OSB, of Monasterio Pan de Vida, Torreon, Mexico, looked at radical hospitality in the context of Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti on June 17.

Delegates also met in the evenings after supper, with Sister Judith Ann Heble, a Benedictine Sister of the Sacred Heart, Lisle, Illinois, speaking June 16 on “Creating a Legacy – One Community,” and Sister Lynn McKenzie, Federation president, giving her address on June 17.

The Federation re-elected Sister Lynn McKenzie of Cullman, Alabama, to serve as president. Sisters Elaine Fischer, Atchison, Kansas (first councilor); Maricarmen Bracamontes, Torreon, Mexico; Kimberly Porter, Covington, Kentucky; and Anne Wambach, Erie, Pennsylvania; were re-elected as councilors. Sister Susan Quaintance, Chicago, Illinois, was elected to a term as councilor, as well. The delegates also voted to change the Federation’s name to the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica, to better describe their purpose.

During the Chapter’s closing ritual on Sunday evening, each delegation received a plant and seeds to sow “deep listening and radical hospitality by the mercy and grace of God” upon their return to their respective monasteries.

 

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Saint Scholastic Day

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Saint Scholastica’s Feast Day

The feast day of Saint Scholastica (480-543), twin sister of Saint Benedict, is today February 10th.  Considered the patron saint of Benedictine women and education, her life, like her brother’s, was centered on love and peace.  At a very young age, she devoted herself to God and established a convent about five miles from Benedict’s monastery.  They enjoyed a close relationship, meeting yearly to discuss spiritual matters.

As you may recall, the Benedictine Sisters of Florida refer often to Saint Benedict’s The Rule.  His vision of how to live in community begins with the words “Listen with the ear of the heart.”  The story of what would be Benedict’s last visit with his sister Scholastica illustrates how strong the communication link or dialogue can be between God and His people.  Scholastica, feeling somewhat unsettled, wanted her dear brother to stay the night on this particular visit.  Though she implored him, Benedict insisted on the necessity of returning to his monastery.  Saint Scholastica prayed to God who listened and within minutes, a roar of thunder and heavy rain made it impossible for her brother to leave.  It would be the last time the siblings would share precious time together.  Saint Scholastica died three days later.

The Benedictine Sisters of Chicago remind us that January 24th is the memorial of Francis de Sales who is known as the great saintly communicator.  In that vein, Pope Francis writes on the 56th Annual World Day of Communications about “Listening with the ear of the heart.”  The Pope’s message reads “From the pages of Scripture we learn that listening means not only the perception of sound, but is essentially linked to the dialogical relationship between God and humanity.”

We pray fervently that our patron Saint Scholastica, cradles our hearts so that we truly listen with heartfelt compassion always.

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