St. Scholastica
Patron of nuns, convulsive children, protection against storms
Saint Scholastica (c. 480–547) was the twin sister of Saint Benedict and the first nun of the Benedictine tradition. She governed a community of women at Plumbariola, a short distance from Monte Cassino, and met her brother once a year in a farmhouse between their monasteries. At their last meeting she begged him to stay and continue their conversation about heavenly things; when he refused as the rule required, she folded her hands and prayed, and a violent thunderstorm broke that made the journey impossible. 'God forgive you, sister,' Benedict said; 'what have you done?' She answered, 'I asked a favor of you and you would not listen; so I asked it of God and he listened.' Three days later Benedict saw her soul rise to heaven in the form of a dove.