By the time February rolls around we have a bad case of "the Febs." As in, "How long is this winter going to last?" Or, "If I don't see trees with leaves on them soon, I'm going to scream!"

Luckily for us February also brings, just 10 days in, the Feast of St. Scholastica, foremother for all Benedictine women, and our legendary founder. We also remember our first prioress here in Erie, who was also a Scholastica: Mother Scholastica Burkhard. The name Scholastica, although not well-known even in Catholic circles, is quite well-known in the monastic world.

Annually, as I’ve often given a tour of the monastery and its grounds to groups of collegians who come for their mid-winter break to offer service in our ministries, I always stop at the statue of St. Scholastica. It holds a prominent place in the large garden area set between the two wings of the monastery. I talk about the statues of women saints that they see, or don’t see, in churches, and the primacy of Mary as often the only one—unless the church is named for a woman. Then I point out the book Scholastica has in her hands, the habit she’s wearing and most distinctly, the crozier she’s holding. Sometimes there’s also a dove. “Those are the clues that you’re looking at Scholastica or perhaps one of the other European Benedictine abbess-saints,” I tell them. Finally, I share with them the beautiful chapel that the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have in Clyde, Missouri, the highlight of which is the group of five Benedictine women saints, set along the main aisle, up amidst the pillars, about 10 feet above the floor. Their golden, sparkling habits and veils are truly gorgeous. Well, worth the trip to this off-the-beaten-path monastery to view.