St. Scholastica Medals | Benedictine Sister Necklace

Q: What is the story of the storm that St. Scholastica prayed down?

The story comes from Book II of the Dialogues of Pope St. Gregory the Great, written within living memory of the events. At what would prove to be their final annual meeting, Scholastica asked Benedict to stay and continue their conversation through the night rather than return to Monte Cassino; when he refused, citing his obligation to the Rule, she bowed her head in prayer — and within moments a violent thunderstorm erupted so suddenly and so fiercely that no one could step outside. Benedict, understanding what had happened, said to her: 'God forgive you, sister — what have you done?' and she replied: 'I asked a favor of you and you refused it; I asked it of God and he has granted it.' Three days later she died, and Benedict saw her soul ascending to heaven in the form of a white dove, one of the most tender images in all of Christian hagiography.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is St. Scholastica and what is she the patron saint of?

St. Scholastica is a fifth-century Italian consecrated woman who founded the first Benedictine monastery for women and is recognized as the patron saint of Benedictine nuns, children suffering from convulsions, and those seeking protection from storms and lightning. She was born around 480 AD in Nursia as the twin sister of St. Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism, and she dedicated her entire life to God from childhood. Her feast day is celebrated on February 10, and she is venerated throughout the Catholic Church as a model of contemplative prayer and bold intercession.

Was St. Scholastica really the twin sister of St. Benedict?

Yes — St. Scholastica and St. Benedict were twins, born around 480 AD in Nursia, Italy, to a noble family. Their parallel vocations are one of the most remarkable facts in the history of monasticism: Benedict founded the great monastery at Monte Cassino and wrote the Rule that would govern Western monastic life for fifteen centuries, while Scholastica established her own community of consecrated women just five miles away at Plombariola. Though the Rule of St. Benedict prevented women from entering his monastery, the twins met once each year at a farmhouse between their communities to pray and discuss the things of God together, maintaining a bond of spiritual kinship until her death.

What is the story of the storm that St. Scholastica prayed down?

The story comes from Book II of the Dialogues of Pope St. Gregory the Great, written within living memory of the events. At what would prove to be their final annual meeting, Scholastica asked Benedict to stay and continue their conversation through the night rather than return to Monte Cassino; when he refused, citing his obligation to the Rule, she bowed her head in prayer — and within moments a violent thunderstorm erupted so suddenly and so fiercely that no one could step outside. Benedict, understanding what had happened, said to her: 'God forgive you, sister — what have you done?' and she replied: 'I asked a favor of you and you refused it; I asked it of God and he has granted it.' Three days later she died, and Benedict saw her soul ascending to heaven in the form of a white dove, one of the most tender images in all of Christian hagiography.

When is St. Scholastica's feast day and how do Catholics celebrate it?

St. Scholastica's feast day falls on February 10 each year and is observed throughout the universal Roman Catholic calendar as a memorial. Benedictine monasteries around the world celebrate her feast with special Mass, the chanting of the Divine Office, and community gatherings that honor her as the mother of Benedictine women religious. For laypeople, February 10 is a beautiful occasion to wear or gift a St. Scholastica medal, pray for her intercession, or read the moving account of her final meeting with Benedict in Gregory the Great's Dialogues.

Who typically wears or gives a St. Scholastica medal?

St. Scholastica medals are most commonly worn by Benedictine sisters and nuns as a sign of their patron and foundress, and by Benedictine oblates who have formally affiliated themselves with a monastery under the Rule. Parents who seek her intercession for children suffering from convulsive disorders also turn to her medal as a devotional expression of trust in her patronage. Beyond those specific communities, any Catholic drawn to the contemplative tradition, to the spirituality of the Rule of St. Benedict, or to the witness of consecrated women will find her medal a fitting devotional companion for daily life.

Are the St. Scholastica medals at rosarycard.net made in the USA, and what guarantee comes with them?

Every St. Scholastica medal necklace sold at rosarycard.net is manufactured in the United States by Bliss Manufacturing, one of the most respected names in Catholic medal production, known for precise detail, durable construction, and consistent quality across decades of craftsmanship. Each medal is available in sterling silver, 14kt gold filled, or 14kt solid gold, ensuring that you can choose a material appropriate for everyday devotional wear or a lasting heirloom gift. All medals come backed by Bliss Manufacturing's lifetime guarantee, and orders over $40 ship free — so you can invest in a piece of American-made Catholic craftsmanship with complete confidence.

The Story of St. Scholastica

St. Scholastica was born around 480 AD in Nursia, in the Umbrian region of central Italy, the twin sister of the man who would become the father of Western monasticism, St. Benedict. From her earliest years she dedicated herself to God, and while Benedict traveled to Rome for his education and then withdrew to the cave at Subiaco, Scholastica founded a community of consecrated women at Plombariola, approximately five miles south of Benedict's great monastery at Monte Cassino. Because the Rule forbade women from entering the monastery, the twins met once a year at a farmhouse midway between their two communities, spending the day in prayer, sacred reading, and theological conversation. Their final meeting, recorded in loving detail by Pope St. Gregory the Great in Book II of his Dialogues, became the most celebrated episode of her life. As evening approached and Benedict prepared to return to Monte Cassino, Scholastica clasped her hands in prayer and begged God to keep him with her. Within moments a fierce thunderstorm broke over the countryside — rain so torrential that neither Benedict nor his monks could take a single step outdoors. They spent the night in conversation about the joys of heaven. Three days later, Benedict saw a white dove rise from the valley and ascend into the sky — the soul of his sister, who had died peacefully in her cell. He sent monks to bring her body to Monte Cassino, where he had prepared a tomb for them both. He died weeks later and was laid beside her.

Why Catholics Wear a St. Scholastica Medal

The spiritual tradition of wearing a St. Scholastica medal draws from two distinct streams of Catholic devotion. The first is the Benedictine charism itself — the ancient way of life shaped by prayer, work, and community that Scholastica embodied as the first Benedictine abbess. Women religious in the Benedictine family, oblates of Benedictine monasteries, and laypeople drawn to contemplative spirituality wear her medal as a sign of their connection to that tradition. The second stream is intercessory: Scholastica is invoked against convulsions and storms, and parents of children who suffer seizure disorders have long sought her protection. The medal itself typically depicts Scholastica in the habit of a Benedictine nun, holding a crozier or book — symbols of her authority as abbess and her devotion to lectio divina. Some versions include a dove near her figure, referencing the vision Benedict received at her death. Wearing her medal is a daily reminder of the kind of bold, trusting prayer she modeled in that farmhouse — the prayer that moved heaven to send a storm.

Our St. Scholastica Medal Collection

Rosarycard.net carries St. Scholastica medal necklaces in three metals — sterling silver, 14kt gold filled, and 14kt solid gold — so every devotee and every budget is served. Each medal is stamped and finished by Bliss Manufacturing in the United States, a company with decades of experience producing Catholic medals to the highest standards of detail and durability. Every piece is backed by Bliss's lifetime guarantee, which means you are investing in a medal that can be passed from one generation to the next. Chain lengths range from 18 to 24 inches, and several medal sizes are available for those who prefer a smaller, understated piece or a larger devotional centerpiece. Orders over $40 ship free. Whether you are outfitting a Benedictine community, shopping for a religious sister's feast day, or seeking a medal for personal devotion, you will find the right option here. Pair a St. Scholastica medal with our St. Benedict medals for a meaningful twin-saint gift set, or explore our guardian angel medal collection for another beloved protective devotion. Browse all patron saint medals to discover the full catalog.

Giving a St. Scholastica Medal as a Gift

The most natural moment to give a St. Scholastica medal is her feast day, February 10, when Benedictine monasteries and communities around the world celebrate her memory with special liturgies and gatherings. A medal presented on that day carries the weight of the entire tradition behind it. The second primary occasion is a religious sister's first profession of vows or solemn profession — a milestone that mirrors Scholastica's own lifelong consecration and deserves a gift of lasting significance. Oblates of Benedictine monasteries also make ideal recipients, particularly when they make their oblation or renew it on her feast. Parents who have prayed for a child struggling with convulsive conditions sometimes give a St. Scholastica medal as a gesture of intercession and hope, a tangible expression of faith placed around the child's neck. Each medal from rosarycard.net arrives in gift-ready packaging, and orders over $40 ship free — making it easy to send a meaningful, USA-made gift directly to a monastery, a family member, or a beloved sister in religious life. For more inspiration, see our patron saint of Confirmation medals for young Catholics beginning their journey of mature faith.