Saint Rita of Cascia (1381-1457)
Image: Patheos
(CNA) Born in Italy Umbria, Rita’s parents Antonio and Amato Lotti were known as ‘Peacemakers’ of Jesus. From her earliest of days, Rita visited the Augustine Nuns at Cascia and showed interest in a religious life but at the age of 12, she was married off to a violent and hot tempered husband Paolo Mancini, he was murdered some 18 yrs later. Rita forgave his murderers and prayed that her two sons that promised to avenge their father’s death may also forgive. — Rita was given this grace, her son’s who died while young men had reconciled with God.
Subsequent to the death’s of Rita’s sons, she again felt called to a religious life and went to the Augustine Convent at Cascia but initially was refused entry. Rita prayed and sought the intercession of Saint’s Augustine, Mary Magdelene and John the Baptist — Rita was finally permitted to enter the convent and lived a life of prayer, penance and service to the people of Cascia. Over the years, her austerity, prayerfulness and charity became legendary.
When Sister Rita received a stigmata like thorn wound in answer to her prayers to be more profoundly conformed to the passion of the Lord Jesus. Sister Rita’s care for ill Nuns was especially loving and she would counsel lay persons who came to the Monastery.
Sister Rita was bedridden the last 4 yrs of her life, consuming almost nothing except for the Eucharist, she passed away on this day in 1457 at the Augustinian Convent, Cascia of tuberculosis.
In 1627 Sister Rita was Beatified by Pope Urban VIII and Canonized in 1900 by Pope Leo XIII
On the 100th Anniversary of Saint Rita’s Canonization, Pope Saint John Paul II, noted her remarkable qualities as a Christian Woman saying:
“The Saint of Cascia belongs to the great host of Christian Women who have had a significant impact on the life of the Church as well as society — Rita well interpreted well the feminine genius by living it intensely in both physical and spiritual motherhood.”
More here from the Vatican and here from Franciscan Media
Related: National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia, Philadelphia, PA
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