The Holy Twins: Benedict and Scholastica

Rating:
Summary: Saints preserve us
Review: I read my first Kathleen Norris book, "Dakota: A Spiritual Geography", in a Humanities class in 1996. Little did I know then that the adept writer would pop up later in my life with the book, "The Holy Twins". Examining the lives of St. Benedict and Scholastica from childhood to their deaths, the book is a careful examination of the path to spiritual enlightenment. To me, this book falls firmly into the category of picture-books-for-adults. The book is a spiritual journey, one that could easily bore children but that contains enough life and verve within its pages to retain interest amongst the older crowd. Illustrated by Tomie de Paola, the book is also bound to garner some interest amongst the "Strega Nona" fans as well.

The story follows the twins, Benedict and Scholastica. As children they played together in the hills of northern Italy. As time passed, however, they were separated and went their different ways. Scholastica joined a convent and Benedict studied, eventually becoming a holy man of sorts. The book mostly examines Benedict and his life, from one near poisoning to another. When the siblings are united their personalities haven't changed much since their days as children and they still react to one another similarly. In the end, Scholastica is the first to pass away and Benedict decrees that he be buried with his twin when he too dies. An author's note at the end (also accompanied by de Paola's illustrations) explains the rule of St. Benedict and gives some additional information about how Benedict influenced monasteries for centuries to come.

As I mentioned before, I personally can't see the little ones put to bed with this as their bedtime story. Certainly the words are simple enough but there's a sophistication to the plot and language that suits an adult reader better. That and the fact that not a whole lot happens in this tale. The book's exceeding interest in Benedict who, as the book itself notes was, "extremely strict and demanding of the monks", and others, is baffling. Why not give us more of a glance on the life of Scholastica? This character obviously has a sense of humor but one minute she's a girl entering a convent and the next she's greeting her grey-haired twin brother. Why the lapse? Benedict's preferential treatment belies the title of the book that would have suggested the tale told the stories of both the characters. Alas that this is not the case.

No objection could possibly ever be made to de Paola's illustrations, by the way. He is just as talented today as he was when he first began illustrating. The use of distance and multiple actions taking place on a single page is impressive. All in all, the tale is given a respect and dignity that a lesser illustrator might have squandered. Such is the beauty of a de Paola book.

Should you wish to teach the tale of two saints from birth to death, this is a good resource to have. But for fun recreational reading, I direct you to look elsewhere. It's a great book, but dry at times and skimpy on the details at others. Altogether an interesting effort.

Rating:
Summary: A DELIGHTFUL AND INSPIRING STORY
Review: Twin brother and sister Benedict and Scholastica were rambunctious youngsters who lived many years ago in Nursia, a small mountain town in northern Italy. They climbed trees, raced each other up and down the hills, and befriended stray cats. They were not only twins but constant playmates and best friends.

When the twins grew older, as was the custom of their day, Benedict was sent to Rome to study while Scholastica went to a nearby monastery to learn to read and write. While Scholastica easily adapted to her new live, enjoying the women she met and the prayers that were said, Benedict was troubled by the poverty and cruelty to slaves that he encountered in Rome. Although he knew that the great city opened many avenues for him and that he was expected to remain there to study, Benedict chose to go to a small village where he joined a small number who spent their days in prayer and labor.

Later, Benedict felt God was calling him to live alone so he found a cave for shelter. It was there that shepherds found him and deemed him to be a holy hermit. As Benedict's reputation spread other clerics became envious and even tried to do away with him.

Eventually the solitary believer went to the peak of Monte Cassino where he founded a monastery, which became a refuge for many.

Scholastica, along with a group of other nuns, would come to the monastery to visit her brother once a year and became a great source of support for him and his work.

Tomie de Paola's delightful, boldly colored acrylic illustrations enliven this inspiring story of faith and devotion.

- Gail Cooke