Today in particular we celebrate with the female side of the Benedict family as they celebrate the feast day of their foundress, St. Scholastica. She was the sister of St. Benedict and establised a community of nuns. After her brother went to Monte Cassino, where he established his famous monastery, she took up her abode in the neighborhood at Plombariola, where she founded and governed a monastery, about five miles from that of St. Benedict, who, it appears, also directed his sister and her nuns.
For almost 16 centuries women have continued that tradition. Here in the diocese of Richmond we have a community of Benedictine Sisters in Bristow, Virginia and Trappistines (who are an off-shoot of the Benedictines) in Crozet, Virginia.
Today we pray in a special way for these communities, and in a special way for all women who have embraced the consecrated life. Let us pray that more women will open there hearts, and have the courage to embrace this form of total self-giving to God.
