Podcast Summary: Catholic Saints – St. Scholastica

Host: Dr. Elizabeth Klein
Guest: Dr. Jessica Murdoch
Date: February 10, 2026
Episode Theme: The Life and Spiritual Legacy of St. Scholastica

Overview

This episode, part of the Augustine Institute’s series on “holy women you’ve never heard of,” spotlights St. Scholastica, the twin sister of St. Benedict of Nursia and a foundational figure in Western monasticism. Dr. Elizabeth Klein and Dr. Jessica Murdoch discuss Scholastica’s biography, her unique impact as a religious leader, and the deeper lessons her story imparts about charity, family, and holiness.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introducing St. Scholastica (00:20 – 01:11)

• Birth and Background:

  • Born c. 480, died c. 542; twin sister to St. Benedict.
  • Raised in a noble family in Nursia, Italy; deeply influenced by Benedict’s example.

  “She loved God intensely from childhood. She was really taken by her brother's holy example.”
  — Dr. Jessica Murdoch (01:08)

2. Scholastica’s Monastic Journey (01:11 – 02:36)

• Following Benedict's Path:

  • Like Benedict, began as a hermit near her brother’s monastery.
  • Attracted other women desiring the monastic life, prompting her to found a monastery.

  “Other women flocked to St. Scholastica, and they began praying together...she was almost forced to found a monastery.”
  — Dr. Jessica Murdoch (02:11)

• Twin Monasteries and The Rule:

  • Used Benedict’s Rule as the foundation for her community.
  • Her monastery was located about five miles south of Monte Cassino.

  “She used her brother's rule...it was like a twin monastery to his.”
  — Dr. Jessica Murdoch (02:23)

3. Saintly Siblings and Spiritual Kinship (02:36 – 03:54)

• Influence of Siblings in Holiness:

  • Discussion about the tradition of holy brothers and sisters, e.g., St. Augustine and his sister, St. Macrina and her brothers.

  “It’s kind of encouraging for us…that holiness can come through, you know, bloodlines, so to speak.”
  — Dr. Elizabeth Klein (02:54)

• Annual Meetings:

  • Scholastica and Benedict met once a year at a neutral farmhouse, as visiting each other’s monasteries was against Benedict’s Rule.

  “They would meet at a farmhouse...pass the days in holy conversation, elevating their hearts to God and urging each other on.”
  — Dr. Jessica Murdoch (03:14)

4. The Legendary Last Meeting (03:54 – 05:14)

• Gregory the Great’s Account:

  • The primary source about Scholastica comes from Pope Gregory’s life of St. Benedict.
  • At their final meeting, Benedict refused to stay overnight; Scholastica prayed for his company, and a storm forced him to remain.

  “Scholastica turned to our Lord and prayed…A very bad storm came by and St. Benedict could not go.”
  — Dr. Jessica Murdoch (04:16)

  • This miracle is interpreted as a reward for Scholastica’s greater love.

  “She who loved more was granted more. Right. So she’s kind of like this patron saint of charity.”
  — Dr. Elizabeth Klein (05:14)

• Final Days:

  • Scholastica dies shortly after the meeting; Benedict sees her soul ascend as a dove.
  • They are buried side by side at Monte Cassino.

5. Lessons in Charity and Spiritual Discernment (05:14 – 09:08)

• Charity Above All:

  • Scholastica’s loving persistence demonstrates that the law of charity can surpass monastic rules in certain circumstances.

  “But charity first…sometimes means not following the rule, because that's actually...he broke his own rule.”
  — Dr. Elizabeth Klein (06:01)

• Relatability for Everyday Life:

  • Application to family and ministry: responding to immediate human need outweighs strict adherence to routine.

  “If someone comes to us and is asking us for spiritual help...we don’t know if this may be their last day on earth.”
  — Dr. Elizabeth Klein (07:56)

  • Connection to St. Augustine: Being open to interruptions is key to serving God and others.

6. The Power of Holy Families (09:08 – 10:49)

• Siblings and Family Influence:

  • The holy collaboration of Benedict and Scholastica serves as a model for Christian families, inspiring future vocations and sanctity.

  “It demonstrates what the sheer effects that holy families can have on the world…the amount of vocations coming out of the monastic family...is amazing.”
  — Dr. Jessica Murdoch (09:08)

• Modern Parallels:

  • The hosts note similar patterns seen in modern saintly families, e.g., St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

  “Maybe if just one of them turns out holy, it could have a really big effect on the rest of the family.”
  — Dr. Elizabeth Klein (09:48)

7. Conclusion and Takeaways (10:49 – 10:53)

• St. Scholastica’s Enduring Legacy:

  • Though little is known, her example highlights the importance of charity, family holiness, and mutual spiritual encouragement.

  “We can be rest assured that St. Benedict's legacy is in part owing to his holy friendship with his sister...So can ask for the intercession of Saint Scholastica.”
  — Dr. Elizabeth Klein (10:35)

  • The episode ends with a prayerful invocation:
    “Pray for us.” — Dr. Jessica Murdoch (10:49)

Notable Quotes

• Dr. Jessica Murdoch (1:08):
  “She loved God intensely from childhood. She was really taken by her brother's holy example.”

• Dr. Jessica Murdoch (2:11):
  “Other women flocked to St. Scholastica, and they began praying together in the same place. And eventually she was almost forced to found a monastery...”

• Dr. Elizabeth Klein (5:14):
  “She who loved more was granted more. Right. So she's kind of like this patron saint of charity...”

• Dr. Elizabeth Klein (6:01):
  “But charity first...and that sometimes means not following the rule, because that's actually...he actually broke his own rule.”

• Dr. Jessica Murdoch (9:08):
  “It also demonstrates what the sheer effects that holy families can have on the world…”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:20 – Introduction to St. Scholastica, her life, and monastic beginnings
• 03:09 – Annual meetings with St. Benedict; spiritual brother-sister bond
• 03:54 – The final meeting: miracle of the storm, Scholastica’s death
• 05:14 – Charity surpassing strict monastic rule
• 09:08 – The effect of holy siblings and families in the Christian tradition
• 10:49 – Closing prayers and final thoughts

Tone and Style

The conversation is warm, scholarly, and conversational—peppered with humor, personal insight, and accessible spiritual reflections, making the story both informative and inspiring for listeners at all stages of their faith journey.

Summary prepared for listeners who want key insights on St. Scholastica and the profound role of charity, sibling holiness, and family life in the Catholic tradition.