February 10, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Second from right: Austrian commemorative coin showing the twin saints; center, cartoon of the twins at their last meeting;
and extreme right, statue of St. Scholastica in Monte Cassino.
ST. SCHOLASTICA (480-542), VIRGIN
The twin sister of St. Benedict, the only information about her comes from Gregory the Great's account of Benedict's life. They were born to
wealthy parents, and Scholastica is thought to have been attracted to the consecrated life earlier than her brother. Gregory says that when
Benedict was established in Monte Cassino, Scholastica lived at a woman's monastery five miles away; that they made it a point to meet once
a year in order to discuss their spiritual life; and that one of these visits came the day before she died, when she begged him to stay longer.
He refused because it was against his rule to stay away from his monastery overnight. A storm came down which prevented Benedict and
his companions from leaving, and Scholastica told her brother, "You refused, and I prayed to God". Three days later, while at prayer, Benedict
saw a dove flying upwards and concluded it was the soul of his sister. He announced her death to his monks and then buried her in the tomb
he had prepared for himself.
Readings for today's Mass: www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021013.cfm
AT THE VATICAN TODAY
Sunday Angelus - Reflecting on today's Gospel from St. Luke, the Holy Father recalled St. Augustine's observation
on the two Gospel stories in which the Lord specifically orders the apostles to cast their net for fish - before
the Passion, as recounted in today's Gospel, and after the Resurrection. The first image recalls the Church today,
when it must cast its net for everyone, good and bad, whereas the second image is of the net after the resurrection
of the dead, when only the good remain. He also greeted the peoples of the Orient who celebrate the Lunar New Year
today, and called on the Catholics in those nations to live the Year of Faith guided by the wisdom of Christ. Finally,
he expressed his closeness to all the sick and the afflicted, reminding the faithful that tomorrow, on the Feast of
Our Lady of Lourdes, the observance of the World Day for the Sick will be centered at the Marian shrine of Altoetting
in his native Bavaria.
The Vatican published the text of the homily that Cardinal Angelo Sodano was to deliver this afternoon at the funeral
Mass for the late Cardinal Giovanni Cheli, in St. Peter's Basilica. The cardinal, former President of the Pontifical
Council for Migrants and Itinerant Workers, died Thursday at age 94.
@Pontifex 2/10/13
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 10/02/2013 16:59]