Upon hearing that the founder, Father Alberione, wanted Mother Scholastica to “exercise silence, silence, silence,” we might think that her life was utterly calm and free of all surprises. But in reality, Mother Scholastica’s life was anything but predictable!
Born in Guarene in the Italian Piedmont, on July 12, 1897, Ursula Rivata was raised in a loving family. Her early childhood suffered a major heartbreak, however, when her mother passed away suddenly after a short illness. Young Ursula missed her mother dearly as she tried to adjust to life without her. Then Ursula had an encounter that would change her life forever: she met Jesus in the Eucharist. And so was born what would become a life-long love. The young girl began to think about religious life.
When Ursula was twenty, however, her dream of becoming a Sister met a challenge. She received a marriage proposal that promised a prosperous future. At first the young woman felt torn: should she accept? But Jesus won out. After thought and prayer, Ursula surrendered: “You alone, Lord, and no one else!” To the world around her, it might have seemed crazy to turn down an offer of a good future from a good man, but for Ursula Jesus had become Everything.
Soon after that decisive moment, when Ursula was searching for a good book to read, she encountered Father Alberione. They conversed briefly and then the priest, who had already founded the Society of St. Paul and Daughters of St. Paul, surprised her by asking, “When are you coming to Saint Paul?”
The suddenness of the invitation didn’t frighten Ursula, nor did the prospect of doing what was then considered “men’s work,” running printing presses to spread the Gospel. She jumped at God’s surprise summons and on July 29, 1922, joined Father Alberione’s Pauline family.
For two years, Ursula dedicated herself enthusiastically to any task to which she was assigned, believing wholeheartedly that everything, from running the presses to preparing vegetables for dinner, could bring “glory to God and peace to humanity.” But she wasn’t to remain a Daughter of St. Paul for long; God had another surprise in store.
In 1924, Fr. Alberione astonished everyone by announcing that he was establishing a new congregation—the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master—and he handpicked the first Pious Disciples from among the Daughters. Ursula was chosen, and overnight she went from being formed as a Daughter of St. Paul to being formed as a Pious Disciple.
The Pious Disciples (also known as the “Sister Disciples”) were founded to be “entirely dedicated to the Divine Master, and devoting themselves to Eucharistic adoration and the priestly and liturgical apostolate, [to] be a source of grace for the entire Pauline Family, especially those branches involved in the apostolic life.” Ursula embraced her new call fully. Receiving the name Scholastica, she was appointed the first superior of the Sister Disciples.
It took time for the Church (on both the local and world levels) to recognize the Sister Disciples as a distinct congregation, so for a time the new group lived and worked among the Daughters of St. Paul, although Mother Scholastica and her sisters were given latitude to plan for their future as a separate congregation. The founder even sent Mother Scholastica to Egypt for several months, thus giving her an experience of the internationality that Alberione anticipated for the family of institutes that he was forming.
Years passed, and eventually the Sister Disciples received official recognition as a distinct congregation, with diocesan approval (April 3, 1947) and pontifical approval (January 12, 1948). The group was more than ready to grow and flourish, to spread throughout Italy and on to other lands. Their apostolates within the Pauline Family centered around the Eucharist: adoration, reparation, service to priests, especially those of the Society of St. Paul, and evangelization through the design and production of liturgical vestments, sacred vessels and other items of beauty.
In October 1948, no longer bearing the responsibility of leadership, Mother Scholastica was sent as a missionary to Argentina, which became her “second homeland.” Fifteen years later she was called back to Italy in preparation for the congregation’s fortieth anniversary. And in Italy she remained, continuing to live out her burning love for God and for souls. Her joy and enthusiasm were infectious, and she was always ready to listen to the needs of others. She would tuck a newspaper under her arm and bring it to Adoration, presenting the needs of the world to Jesus in the Eucharist.
After a time, Mother Scholastica’s voice began to fail, eventually plunging her into a life of complete silence. But although unable to speak, she continued to live out her promise to offer each day for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Mother Scholastica passed away peacefully on March 24, 1987, at the age of ninety, during the first Vespers of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. She has been declared Venerable, and the cause for her beatification is underway.
