For the past few years I have been praying the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. Starting my day by entering into the great prayer of our Church anchors me in peace, a gift of the Spirit I need throughout the remaining hours of my day.
Every February I look forward to reading the Second Reading in the Office of Readings for the Feast of Saint Scholastica, the sister of Saint Benedict. It is a story that has helped me understand the importance of intercession, especially for our siblings.
The Second Reading in the Office of Readings is often a homily, letter, or excerpt sourced from the Church Fathers. These readings fill the soul with both wisdom and knowledge. Throughout the past few years of praying the Office, the Readings have challenged me to grow in virtue. The Fathers’ holy witness, so close in historical proximity to the life of Christ, is full of verve and passion for the faith. Their words inspire and motivate me daily.
Sibling Saints
On Saint Scholastica’s Feast we read from the books of Dialogues by Pope Saint Gregory the Great. Born in 480 in Nursia, Italy, Saint Scholastica, twin sister of the Father of Monasticism, Saint Benedict, gave herself fully to Christ from her youth. Saint Scholastica followed her brother’s lead and founded a religious order, settling just five miles from Saint Benedict’s monastery. They would visit one another annually.
In the Dialogues, Pope Saint Gregory writes about one of their visits:
“One day she [Saint Scholastica] came as usual and her saintly brother went with some of his disciples; they spent the whole day praising God and talking of sacred things. As night fell they had supper together. Their spiritual conversation went on and the hour grew late.”
Pope Saint Gregory continues that Saint Scholastica begged her brother to stay for the night, to continue to talk about the beauty of the spiritual life. After Saint Benedict declined, Saint Scholastica began to pray. Suddenly a great storm came. Perplexed, Saint Benedict asked his sister what she had done. Scholastica replied, “I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and He did listen.”
She Loved More
Pope Saint Gregory summarizes this great scene as he articulates, “It is not surprising that she was more effective than he; since, as John says, God is love, it was absolutely right that she could do more, as she loved more.”
Three days after his departure, Saint Scholastica died. Benedict, back in his cell, saw his sister’s soul departing from her body in the form of a dove. He thanked God, singing hymns of praise.
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Three Lessons from Scholastica
This story recorded by Pope Saint Gregory the Great highlights three important things regarding our sibling relationships:
- the importance of praise in our conversation with our siblings
- the importance of interceding for our siblings
- the importance of our time and presence with our siblings
Uplift the Conversation
Saint Scholastica and Saint Benedict teach us that all of our conversations, especially those within our own family, the cell of society, should always speak truth with love for God and for others.
How often do our conversations turn into gossip, or complaining, comparison, or judgment rather than praise for God and His creation?
Whenever our conversations with our siblings start to become base, let us elevate the conversation with an uplifting message or story, with praise and thanksgiving, and with joy and charity.
The Power of Intercession For Our Brothers and Sisters
Pope Saint Gregory tells us that Saint Scholastica’s prayer was effective because it was infused with love. When we intercede, offer prayer and petition, for our brothers and sisters, we must enter into the Heart of Christ with love. If we are struggling to show charity to our siblings, even in prayer, we should ask Jesus to give us His Heart of Love.
In the First Letter of John we are told that, “If any one says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
Though written for our spiritual brothers and sisters in general, how much more for our physical brothers and sisters with whom we share our blood and name? We must love our brothers and sisters. And to do this, we need God’s grace. It is available for us. Let us ask God to fill us with His love, to lend us His heart, that we may minister in prayer to our siblings.
Our Presence Matters
Just three days after their night spent together in prayer, Saint Scholastica died. That evening was the last encounter on earth that Saint Benedict had with his sister. We truly never know the last time we will encounter others, for each moment is a pure gift given to us by our Creator.
Our siblings are a gift from God. Our presence, their presence, matters. It is important. Their presence, and ours to them, has helped form them, and has created us and them into the men and women we are now.
If you have a wound, or many wounds from a sibling, ask God to be present with you and with them. Seek healing. Do not live in fear and chains. Rather, ask God to be present to you in your pain and to heal you with His forgiving love.
Whether your time spent with your siblings is full of joy and praise, or instead, you are estranged and hurting, ask the intercession of Saint Scholastica and Saint Benedict.
These two sibling Saints show us that Christ is present when we invite Him—within our hearts, our relationships, our conversations, our family, our prayer, and our brothers and sisters.
Claire Couche is a wife, etiquette instructor, blogger, homeschooling mother, and registered nurse. She is passionate about sharing content that helps her community live a beautiful and virtuous life. Using her degrees in theology and history, Claire shares about the Catholic faith often on her IG account @findingphilothea and her website, Finding Philothea. You can often find her reading a good book in a beautiful dress! Learn more about Claire and all things etiquette here.
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