Scolastica

Scolastica is a feminine form used in Italian to refer to the adjective scholastic as well as to a female given name. It derives from the Latin scholasticus, itself from the Greek skholastikos, meaning “belonging to a school” or “scholastic.”

In Catholic tradition, Santa Scolastica refers to Saint Scholastica (circa 480–543), the Benedictine nun and sister of Saint Benedict. She is venerated as the founder of a nearby monastery for women at Monte Cassino. Her feast day is February 10 in the Western liturgical calendar. The story of her annual meeting with Benedict and her death at his side is part of Benedictine hagiography.

As a given name, Scolastica is attested in Italian-speaking communities and may appear in historical and contemporary records, often chosen for religious or cultural reasons. The form is related to other feminine names such as Scholastica in Latin, and similar forms in other Romance languages.

In secular contexts, the term scolastica generally appears as the feminine form of the adjective “scholastic” in Italian, used to describe things related to schools, education, or scholarship.