Nittany Catholic

February 10

Saint Scholastica
Virgin

St. Scholastica lived in modern-day Italy from 480 to 543. She is the patron saint of Benedictine nuns, and the biological sister of St. Benedict, the founder of the Benedictine Order.

She and her brother Benedict would meet once a year in a house close to the Benedictine Abbey of Montecasino to converse about spiritual matters. During the last meeting of their lives, she begged her brother to stay longer. He declined her request saying the Benedictine Rule prohibited it. She began to pray, and a strong storm prevented her brother from leaving. Benedict accused her of causing the storm, to which she replied: “I asked a favor of you, and you refused. I asked a favor of God, and He has granted it.”

Read more:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/02/10/st--scolastica--virgin--sister-di-s--benedetto.html

Saint Scholastica, Virgin, pray for us!

February 5

Saint Agatha
Virgin and Martyr

Franciscan Media:

As in the case of Agnes, another virgin-martyr of the early Church, almost nothing is historically certain about this saint except that she was martyred in Sicily during the persecution of Emperor Decius in 251.

Legend has it that Agatha, like Agnes, was arrested as a Christian, tortured, and sent to a house of prostitution to be mistreated. She was preserved from being violated, and was later put to death.

She is claimed as the patroness of both Palermo and Catania. The year after her death, the stilling of an eruption of Mt. Etna was attributed to her intercession. As a result, apparently, people continued to ask her prayers for protection against fire.

Read more:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/02/05/st--agata--virgin-and-martyr.html

Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us!