When I was in Italy this past September, the final full day of the trip included a daylong visit to the Monastery of St. Benedict and the Monastery of St. Scholastica in Subiaco, just an hour’s bus ride from Rome. It was a beautiful day, filled with awesome sights and spiritual inspiration. So today, on the Feast of St. Scholastica, I thought I’d share some photos from the monastery that bears her name.
The entrance to the monastery, which is still a working monastery, is marked by the words that remain at the heart of the Benedictine mission: “Pax,” which means peace, and “Ora et Labora,” which means “work and pray,” part of the Rule that Benedictines live by.
The bell tower:
Inside the Gothic cloister:
Inside the Comatesque cloister:
A fresco of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica during their last visit, shortly before St. Scholastica died:
Outside view:
The start of an amazing meal served at the monastery:
In the gift shop. Jellies and grappa and limoncello, oh my:
One last look:
