St. Rita of Cascia
"Let me, my Jesus, share in your suffering, at least of your thorns." St. Rita of Cascia
I am currently in the midst of a truly remarkable book titled ‘Voices of the Saints: A 365-Day Journey,’ crafted by the talented author Bert Ghezzi and published by Word On Fire. Each day presents the life and story of a different saint, creating a rich tapestry of faith and inspiration. The journey begins with the life of Mary, the revered Mother of God, and elegantly concludes with the inspiring story of Carlos Acutis. There are numerous ways to engage with this book, but I have chosen to read the life of a different saint each day as part of my date with God. After I immerse myself in the story, I take a moment to write a small note or prayer on a sticky note, which I then place on the corresponding page in the book. As I prepared for the upcoming Wisdom of the Saints blog, I thumbed through the calendar of saints for this month and found myself particularly drawn to the inspiring life of St. Rita of Cascia.
St. Rita of Cascia is known as the "Saint of the Impossible."
Rita was born as Margherita Lotti in Roccaporena, Italy. A miracle occurred shortly after her birth: the day after her baptism, bees flew in and out of her mouth without hurting her. Her family viewed this as a sign of God's blessing. In her youth, Rita wanted to join a convent but was forced to marry at the age of 12 to a violent man. They had twin sons, and after 18 years, her husband was murdered. Her sons died young too, and she wished to enter the Augustinian convent of St. Mary Magdalene in Cascia, Italy. This is why she is the patron saint of difficult marriages.
Rita, eager to become a nun, was initially refused entry to the Augustinians at Cascia due to her widowhood and the requirement for virginity. In 1413, after appealing to St. John the Baptist, St. Augustine of Hippo, and Nicholas of Tolentino. Some legends hold that “she was transported into the monastery of Saint Magdalene through levitation at night by the three patron saints she appealed to” (Catholic.org). she was accepted and gained fame for her austerity, devotion to prayer, and charity. During the sacred observance of Holy Week in the year 1442, St. Rita of Cascia received the profound gift of the stigmata, which are bodily wounds that closely resemble the wounds of Christ. This miraculous event marked a significant moment in her life and devotion, symbolizing her deep connection to the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus.
On the centenary of her canonization, St. Pope John Paul II called us to consider the profound and timeless message of St. Rita of Cascia: to live humbly, embodying virtues of compassion and grace, and to conform our lives to the teachings and example of Christ.
What can we learn from St. Rita:
“But what is the message that this saint passes on to us? It is a message that flows from her life: humility and obedience were the path that Rita took to be ever more perfectly conformed to the Crucified One. The mark which shines on her forehead is the verification of her Christian maturity. On the Cross with Jesus, she is crowned in a certain way with the love that she knew and heroically expressed within her home and by her participation in the events of her town.” St. Pope John Paul II
St. Rita of Cascia, Pray for us!
For the full story please refer to the YouTube video below.
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Keep at it! Keep praying. Love the Lord.
Peace and Grace.
