Murals of the Basilica

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"Funeral of St. Scholastica"

The mural of "The Funeral Procession of St. Scholastica" shows six monks carrying a bier on which rests the dead Scholastica. Three other monks follow, chanting prayers or psalms.

The cortege is met by Benedict, who stretches his hands toward the procession, and a group of monks. The two monks holding candles are acolytes, and another holds a processional cross. Next to the monks is a holy water bucket and the aspergillum used to sprinkle the blessed water.

Present in both murals is a raven, the iconographical symbol frequently associated with Benedict. It appears with the figure of Benedict in the apse of the church and in the south transept window.

The symbol of the raven is taken from Book II of the Dialogues of Pope Gregory I the Great in which the life and miracles of Benedict are presented. A wicked priest, jealous of Benedict's reputation for holiness, poisoned a loaf of bread and sent it to Benedict. Benedict, aware at once of the fact that it was poisoned, instructed a raven to carry it out of harm's reach.

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