On Monday, February 10th,  Benet Hill community will celebrate and honor our patron, Saint Scholastica, the twin sister of Saint. Benedict.  We invite you to visit Our Lady of Peace Chapel at the monastery to see the beautiful stained glass window of Saint. Scholastica. She was born in 480 A.D. and consecrated to God in early childhood.

This feast honoring her comes at the same time our church sets aside a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2^nd. The feast is also known as Candlemas Day, the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all people. Our Benet Hill  community strives to be a light of justice and hope, like Saint Scholatica to all who come to our Monastery or Missions.

Our community will join with other consecrated religious of the Colorado Springs Diocese for a Mass with Bishop Michael Sheridan on Saturday, February 8^th at Mount St. Francis. This gathering will be a time to pray and thank God for the gift of consecrated persons for the whole Church.

Saint Scholastica is remembered for her deep love of God and as an advocate for justice in her own time and in her own way. She collaborated with her brother in creating a culture of justice for all.  Saint Scholastica had a following of dedicated women who were recognized for their prayer and good works in the Italian regions of Norcia, Subiaco and Monte Cassino. Today, the Benet Hill community carries on the spirit and example of Scholastica in community prayers and our outreach ministries, “That In all things,God may be glorified.” (Benedictine  motto).

Our community will celebrate the feast of Saint Scholastica with a special Mass and meal on Monday, February 10^th.

As we celebrate this feast, join us in this prayer:

Nurturing God of Hope,

we thank you and praise you for sending

Jesus to bring hope to our broken world.

As Saint Scholastica was peacefully

And prayerfully persuasive

in her relationship with her brother,

may we grasp the art of mutual agreement.

Inspire us to be advocates for the hopeless,

The sick and infirm, the poor and powerless.

Help us to know how to be a “Light of Hope”

In advocating Justice for the common good.

We ask this Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

(Used with permission from Benedictine Health System)

For further background on Saint Scholastica :  www.dialogues of St. Gregory.org –  Book 2 Chapters 33 & 34

Blessings,

Rose Ann Barmann, OSB