St. Rita de Cascia

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This year is the year of the Centennial Celebration of the Canonization of St. Rita of Cascia, Augustinian.

The Life of St. Rita de Cascia

Also known as Margarita of Cascia, Rita La Abogada de Imposibles

Born Rocca Porena in the Diocese of Spoleto, Umbria, Italy, 1386.

Died Augustinian convent of Cascia, 1456.

Feast May 22nd.

Representation Nun holding roses, or roses and figs, and sometimes with a wound in her forehead.

Patronage abuse victims, against loneliness, against sterility, bodily ills, desperate causes, difficult marriages, forgotten causes, impossible causes, infertility, lost causes, parenthood, sick people, sickness, sterility, victims of physical spouse abuse, widows, wounds

Nationality 14th-15th century Italian

According to the "Life" (Acta SS., May, V, 224) written at the time of her beatification by the Augustinian, Jacob Carelicci, from two older biographies, she was the daughter of parents advanced in years and distinguished for charity which merited them the surname of "Peacemakers of Jesus Christ". She was christened Margarita.

Rita's great desire was to become a nun, but, in obedience to the will of her parents, she, at the age of twelve, married a man extremely cruel and ill-tempered.

She was a model wife and mother.H er somewhat desperate marriage lasted for some 18 years, during which she displayed stoic patience. In time he was converted, becoming considerate and God-fearing. But St. Rita was to undergo another great sorrow when her husband was brought home dead, the victim of a vendetta killing. St. Rita then found that her two sons were entertaining thoughts of avenging their father's murder. She tried in vain to dissuade her twin sons from attempting to take revenge; she feared they would put their desires into effect in accord with the evil custom of the Vendetta. With heroic love for their souls, she begged God to take them from this life rather than allow them to commit this great sin. Not long afterward they both died, after preparing themselves to meet God.

Bereft of spouse and children, St. Rita devoted herself to prayer, penance and works of charity. After a time she applied for admittance to the Augustinian Convent in Cascia. Being a widow, she was refused, but after praying to her three special patron saints ­ St. John the Baptist, St. Augustine and St. Nicholas of Tolentino ­ she miraculously entered the convent and was allowed to remain. By continued entreaties, and, as is related, by Divine intervention, she gained admission, received the habit of the order and in due time her profession. This took place around the year 1411. Thus, Rita entered the religious life at Cascia, a small town in the Appenines not far from Norcia, the birthplace, many centuries before, of Benedict and Scholastica. She gave herself to constant prayer and penance, and, like several others, received the marks of Christ's Passion. So that she might share in the pain of His Crown of Thorns, Our Lord gave St. Rita a thorn wound in her forehead. It was very painful and gave off a disagreeable odor, yet she considered it a very great grace. She prayed, "O loving Jesus, increase my patience according as my sufferings increase." The wound lasted the rest of her life. As a religious she was an example for all, excelled in mortifications, and was widely known for the efficacy of her prayers. Urban VIII, in 1637, permitted her Mass and Office.

She died of tuberculosis on May 22 at the age of 76 and was at once the object of devotion, although her formal canonisation did not come until 1900. People flocked to the convent to pay their last respects. Innumerable miracles took place through her intercession, and devotion to her spread far and wide. She was solemnly canonized 24 May, 1900. A whole religious centre, including hospital and orphanage, was opened by the place of her tomb in 1946. On account of the many miracles reported to have been wrought at her intercession she received in Spain the title of La Santa de los impossibiles.

St. Rita's body was preserved perfectly incorrupt for several centuries, and at times it gave off a sweet fragrance. At the beatification ceremony, the body of the Saint raised itself up and opened its eyes. God has heard St. Rita's prayers for others on countless occasions, and certainly she will gladly intercede once again, on behalf of those who pray to her now ­ thus continuing to perceive the truth of her great name:  

Prayer to Saint Rita
Dear Rita, model Wife and Widow, you yourself suffered in a long illness showing patience out of love for God. Teach us to pray as you did. Many invoke you for help, full of confidence in your intercession. Deign to come now to our aid for the relief and cure of {name of sufferer}. To God, all things are possible; may this healing give glory to the Lord. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Rita
Holy Patroness of those in need, Saint Rita, you were humble, pure and patient. Your pleadings with your divine Spouse are irresistible, so please obtain for me from our risen Jesus the request I make of you: {mention your petition}. Be kind ot me for the greater glory of God, and I shall honor you and sing your praises forever. Glorious Saint Rita, you miraculously participated in the sorrowful passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for me now the grace to suffer with resignation the troubles of this life, and protect me in all my needs. Amen.

Novena to Saint Rita Saint of the Impossible

O HOLY PATRONESS of those in need, St. Rita, whose pleadings before thy Divine Lord are almost irresistible, who for thy lavishness in granting favors hast been called the Advocate of the Hopeless and even of the Impossible; St. Rita, so humble, so pure, so mortified, so patient and of such compassionate love for thy Crucified Jesus that thou couldst obtain from Him whatsoever thou askest, on account of which all confidently have recourse to thee, expecting, if not alwavs relief, at least comfort; be propitious to our petition, showing thy power with God on behalf of thy suppliant; be lavish to us, as thou hast been in so many wonderful cases, for the greater glory of God, for the spreading of thine own devotion, and for the consolation of those who trust in thee. We promise, if our petition is granted, to glorify, thee by making known thy favor, to bless and sing thy praises forever. Relying then upon thy merits and power before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray:

(here mention your request).
Obtain for us our request

By the singular merits of thy childhood,
Bv thy perfect union with the Divine Will,
By thy heroic sufferings during thy married life,
By the consolation thou didst experience at the conversion of thy husband,
By the sacrifice of thy children rather than see them grievously offend God,
By thy miraculous entrance into the convent,
By thy severe penances and thrice daily bloody scourgings,
By the suffering caused by the wound thou didst receive from the thorn of thy Crucified Saviour,
By the divine love which consumed thy heart,
By that remarkable devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, on which alone thou didst exist for four years,
By the happiness with which thou didst part from thy trials to join thy Divine Spouse,
By the perfect example thou gavest to people of every state of life.
Pray for us, 0 holy St. Rita, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Saint of the Impossible!
Let us pray

O GOD, Who in Thine infinite tenderness hast vouchsafed to regard the prayer of Thy servant, Blessed Rita, and dost grant to her supplication that which is impossible to human foresight, skill and efforts, in reward of her compassionate love and firm reliance on Thy promise, have pity on our adversity and succor us in our calamities, that the unbeliever may know Thou art the recompense of the humble, the defense of the helpless, and the strength of those who trust in Thee, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

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