The story of the meeting St. Scholastica and St. Benedict, in a location away from her convent and his monastery, for spiritual discussion is quite a famous meeting. They, of course were real life brother and sister, as well as brother and sister in the "school of St. Benedict." They met therefore in a small room near Monte Cassino – the very first Benedictine Monastery – because according to the rule – women were not allowed in the monastery.
The story goes that when after a moderate amount of time was spent together, Benedict announced that he would have to be getting back to the monastery, Scholastica begged him to stay for further discussion. When he replied negatively she bowed her head and prayed. Suddenly a violent thunderstorm arose and Benedict was unable to leave; they spent the night, then, discussing the joys of heaven! Three days later Scholastica died, and in his cell, Benedict is said to have seen her soul rise to heaven in the form of a dove!
What is a very important lesson for us today from all this is that "spiritual discussions" are needed more than ever! and at least one of them, if not more of them, ought to be very specifically: "The Joys of Heaven!"
I just received a note from someone today relating that the Blessed Mother has recently revealed a message which said: "Fall in love with eternity!" – and how can we fall in love with it, unless we learn more about it, and discuss it!
As Benedict and Scholastica knew, and as we come to know through "Catholic Education," earth with its trials and tribulations (and some small happinesses) truly is only our temporary home and that heaven and its never-ending experience of deep and real joy and contentment is not only a dream – but it is a reality waiting for us! Yes, the joys of heaven are meant for us too – and it would do us all a lot of good "to talk it up" about them as much as we can.
We can learn a great deal about these joys from many who are experiencing them now – beginning at the feet of Jesus – just as Mary did in the gospel passage. Perhaps Jesus was telling Mary about the "joys of the heavenly kingdom" right in the gospel passage today. But, Mary, the Mother of God, who lives now with Jesus in that kingdom, and all of the saints, even our relatives who have gone before us can also influence our thoughts, through prayer and discussion, and tell us that these joys are real, they are worth the effort in learning about them, and they will be beyond our wildest imaginings once we finally experience them like they do!
The joys of heaven are really the joys of love! Not even death itself can tamper with them. If we set a seal of love on our heart – then flames or floods will not be able to sweep love away, sweep joy away, sweep our place in heaven away! This God has promised! and thus shall it be!
St. Benedict, St. Scholastica pray for us today! Help us to "fall in love with eternity!"
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