February 9, 2025

Today we joyfully welcome Bishop Michael Woost who will offer the 11:30 Mass today and join us for a small luncheon reception after Mass in the Family Center. Bishop Woost has been to our parish on a number of occasions as a priest to give talks during our Lenten Series and once as a bishop to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. Let us offer our heartfelt welcome by attending the Mass and luncheon and greeting him warmly as he makes his pastoral visit. 

Tomorrow the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Scholastica, the sister of St. Benedict. Just as Benedict founded monasteries for men and is designated the father of Western monasticism, Scholastica founded monasteries for women, which designates her the mother of all female monastics. 

There is a beautiful story written by St. Gregory the Great that recalls a visit that Benedict would make to his sister once a year in a place on the property apart from the monastery. At the conclusion of one of these visits, Scholastica asked Benedict to stay a bit longer. Benedic refused because it was getting late and he didn't want to stay away from his monastery overnight. Scholastica bowed her head on the table and prayed. With that such a bad storm brewed that Benedict found it impossible to leave. Benedict asked her, "Sister, what have you done?" Scholastica answered, "I asked you to stay and you said no. I asked God and he said yes. Go now, brother, return to your monastery if you can." So they spent the night in conversation on spiritual matters. Three days later, Benedict saw his sister's soul rise to heaven in the form of a dove. Both are buried at Monte Cassino. 

St. Gregory reminds us that Scholastica's prayer was answered because of her great love. When love undergirds our prayer, it lends a certain power that cannot be weakened or lessened. As we pray on a daily basis, let our prayer spring out of love because then they will reach the heart of God, who is love itself.