May 22 - Saint Rita of Cascia
Born: 1381
Died: 1457
Nationality: Italian
Vocation: married, religious
Attributes: Bees, a single thorn in her head, religious habit, a rose
Patronage: impossible cases, difficult marriages, parenthood
Canonization: by Pope Leo XIII on May 24, 1900
St. Rita of Cascia was born in Roccaporena in central Italy in 1386. Though she wanted to be religious from a young age, her parents arranged her marriage as a teenager to Paolo Mancini, a wealthy man from a powerful family. Paolo was said to have had a violent temper, but Rita persisted in her marriage with love and patience. The couple was married for 18 years and had twin sons.
Over time, his wife’s example changed Paolo’s heart, and he renounced the often bloody feuds his family was involved in. Unfortunately, he was murdered by a rival family. After his death, Rita publically forgave Paolo’s murderers, but her sons and inlaws were determined to avenge his death according to the “law of vendetta.” She earnestly prayed that her sons would not commit a mortal sin. Rita’s prayer was answered, though not how she expected, her sons died soon after from dysentery.
After grieving her sons, Rita sought to enter the local Augustinian convent, Saint Mary Magdalene in Cascia. She was originally refused entrance for fear that Rita’s relation to the ongoing feuds would cause division in the community. Though rejected, Rita went to work to stop the feuding and eventually succeeded in bringing peace to the divided families.
Rita was later admitted to the Augustinians after being mystically transported to the locked chapel in the middle of the night. This was the first of many mystical experiences. She told the Lord that she wanted to share in a piece of his passion. She received on her forehead a wound, like a stigmata, as one thorn in the crown of Jesus Christ. She meditated intensely on the passion of Christ, and cared diligently for the elderly sisters. The last four years of her life she ate little except the Eucharist. She eventually died of tuberculosis at age 70.
Saint Rita of Cascia, pray for us.