medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I've been in the monastery for thirty-three years and, of course, have been
interested in the history of our order and its founder. And I must say that
I've never heard that story in all my days here either. The legend sounds
like a feminine response to the story of Benedict's rolling around in the
thorn bush when he was tempted. Here's a site dealing with Saint Scholastica
http://www.osb.org/gen/scholast.html; there may be some useful information
here.
Thomas Sullivan, OSB
-----Original Message-----
From: Marjorie Greene [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 7:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [M-R] Fwd: Re: Saint Scolastica and the Trinity
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Brenda,
This was part of the reaction from a Benedictine to
your query:
> > Absolutely and positively never in my life heard
> of
> > such a thing ever in all my born days. Sounds like
> > MODERN (gasp!) Freudian balderdash.
I'll be interested to hear/see if anyone else
responds.
MG
> > > > > A year or more ago I heard this story in a
> > sermon.
> > > > > Now I want to make use of it and wonder if
> any
> > of
> > > > > you can tell me where it comes from. I esp
> > would
> > > > > like to know if it is a genuine piece of
> > mediaeval
> > > > > myth-making or a later (Romantique ?)
> > fabrication
> > > > > ... [Or even - let's not be narrow-minded! -
> > the
> > > > > unvarnished truth.]
> > > > >
> > > > > I am re-telling what I remember in my own
> > words.
> > > > > (Thus are legends perpetuated .)
> > > > >
> > > > > "Saint Scholastica, sister of Saint Benedict
> > of
> > > > > Nursia, was the abbess of the first nunnery
> of
> > > > > Benedictine nuns. One cold winter's night
> she
> > woke
> > > > > in her cell to hear strange music and see a
> > > > strange
> > > > > light coming through the bars of the
> shutters.
> > She
> > > > > got up, opened her shutter and looked out
> into
> > the
> > > > > cloister-garth. In the bright (moon ?) light
> > she
> > > > saw
> > > > > three beautiful but naked men dancing in the
> > > > > cloister, and one of them was singing like a
> > bird.
> > > > >
> > > > > "St Scholastica closed her shutter, knelt by
> > her
> > > > > bedside and prayed. She prayed firstly, that
> > if
> > > > > those she had seen were mortal men, they
> would
> > > > > speedily find shelter and warm clothing; but
> > > > > secondly if, as she feared they were demons
> > sent
> > > > to
> > > > > annoy her, that they would just as speedily
> go
> > > > back
> > > > > where they belonged. Then she went back to
> be
> > with
> > > > a
> > > > > clear conscience and fell asleep.
> > > > >
> > > > > "In the morning, remembering her disturbed
> > night,
> > > > > she went out into the cloister-garth, and
> > there,
> > > > in
> > > > > spite of it being mid-winter, all her rose
> > tress
> > > > > were in bloom. Then she realised that what
> she
> > had
> > > > > seen was a vision of the Holy Trinity."
> > > > >
> > > > > OK, folks. Where does this come from ? I
> must
> > say
> > > > I
> > > > > warm to Scolastica's aplomb in the face of a
> > > > > disconcerting experience ....
> > > > >
> > > > > BTW, I have checked Med-Rel Archives before
> > > > posting
> > > > > this and found nothing, nor does my
> Dictionary
> > of
> > > > > the Saints give any clues.
> > > > >
> > > > > Brenda M.C.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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> >
>
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