In the Gospel today, Jesus goes to the home of Martha and Mary. While in their home, Martha begins to cook dinner while her sister Mary, sat by the feet of Jesus listening to them. Martha became upset because her sister was not helping, and asked Jesus to tell her to help. But Jesus admonishes Martha saying, that Mary had chosen the better part. In another words, it is better to be with Jesus, then it is to do things for Jesus.

Over the centuries many religious men and women have chosen the better part, by living a cloistered life and spending their time with Jesus alone. Some religious sisters who are not cloistered are both contemplative and active. They too sit at the feet of Jesus, but they called to do active work as their apostolate. But others life their life in total seclusion in a cloister. The Benedictine nuns and monks over the centuries have given their life to do as Mary, to sit quietly at the feet of Jesus.

Today we remember St. Scholastica, the sister of St. Benedict, who consecrated her life to God from her earliest youth.

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 of nuns, about five miles from that of St. Benedict, who, it appears, also directed his sister and her nuns. She visited her brother once a year, and as she was not allowed to enter his monastery, he went in company with some of his brethren to meet her at a house some distance away. These visits were spent in conferring together on spiritual matters.

On one occasion they had passed the time as usual in prayer and pious conversation and in the evening they sat down to take their reflection. St. Scholastica begged her brother to remain until the next day. St. Benedict refused to spend the night outside his monastery. So, she joined her hands together on the table, in prayer, and laid her head upon her hands, and began to pray. Suddenly there were brilliant flashes of lightning and thunder, and it began to rain very hard. It rained so hard, her brother was unable to leave. St. Benedict told his sister, “May God forgive you sister. What have you done?” She answered, “Well, I asked you, and would not listen; so I asked my God, and He did listen.” “So now go off, if you can, leave me and return to the place where you stay.” But he was unable to leave, and so the brother and sister talked all night long, about Jesus, and sacred things. St. Scholastica’s prayer was answered by God, so her and her brother could talk about holy things.

They spent the night in spiritual conferences. The next morning they parted to never meet again on earth. Three days later St. Scholastica died, and her holy brother beheld her soul in a vision as it ascended into heaven. He sent his brethren to bring her body to his monastery and laid it in the tomb he had prepared for himself. She died about the year 543, and St. Benedict followed her soon after. Her feast day is February 10th.

So, if you ever want rain, pray to St. Scholastica. And not only will she answer your prayer for rain, she will help you to grow closer to Jesus and may even give you advice in spiritual matters.