This Thursday, February 10, Abbot Matthew Stark offered the following brief homily, inspired by St. Gregory the Great, recounting a famous encounter between Scholastica and her brother Benedict. We present the homily here to honor this important Benedictine feast.

Abbot Matthew preaches at conventual Mass, February 10, 2022

Saint Gregory the Great, in his Dialogues, in recounting the life of Saint Benedict tells us of the incident, the meeting, that Scholastica and her brother Benedict had every year. And the one that was to prove the last one went on as usual. But then when it became late, Saint Benedict and his monks were going to go back to the monastery. She said: No, let’s stay and talk and pray further. And he said: Sister, I can’t stay out of the monastery at night. And then she prayed. Saint Gregory says that she put her head down clasped her hands and prayed, and a storm suddenly came up that prevented Benedict from leaving where they were meeting. Although he was upset about it, they could continue there talking and praying throughout the night. Reluctant, says Saint Gregory, as he was to stay of his own will, he remained against his well. So it came about that they stayed awake the whole night, engrossed in their conversation about spiritual life. He said: May God forgive you, Sister, for what you have done. Well, she answered, I asked you and you would not listen, so I asked my God and he did listen. So now go off, if you can in this storm, and return to your monastery. Then Pope Gregory says that it is not surprising that she was more effective than he, since, as John says, God is love: “It is absolutely right that she could do more, as she loved more.” I guess that’s the thing we should keep in mind. And it seems Saint Paul is right, for he says there are three things that abide – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love. And Virgil says: “Amor vincit omnia”: love conquers all.

(Additional homilies from Portsmouth Abbey)