Who is Saint Rita of Cascia?

Saint Rita of Cascia was the only daughter of Antonio Mancini and Amata Ferri. She was born in Italy in May 1381. Her parents loved to pray. During her life and after her death she was a woman of prayer, always praying for the needy. She died from tuberculosis.

After her death, her name was linked to several miracles and from then on she became known as a powerful intercessor. In 1900, St. Rita of Cascia was officially canonized. It took three miracles to prove that the faithful can pray, without any fear, to this powerful saint. St. Rita is popularly known as the "patron saint of impossible causes. Want to know moreabout Saint Rita of Cascia? Check out this article!

The story of St Rita of Cascia

St. Rita of Cascia was always a woman of prayer, concerned about people's needs. Her story serves as an inspiration to all the faithful, for her life dedicated to doing good for others and prayer. Check out more about her story!

The life of St Rita of Cascia

Saint Rita of Cascia had the desire to be a religious, however, her parents arranged a marriage for her, according to the custom of the time. The man chosen to be her husband was Paolo Ferdinando. He was unfaithful to Rita, drank too much and made his wife suffer for 18 years. She had two children with Paolo and was very patient with him. Despite her suffering, she never stopped pleading for his conversion.

Finally, Rita's cries were answered and Paolo was converted. He changed so much that the women of the town came to Rita for counsel. Unfortunately, Paolo created several feuds while he was not converted. One day he was murdered when he went out to work, his two sons swore revenge against the murderer, but Rita prayed that they would not commit this sin. Her sonsthey became mortally ill, but converted. This broke a cycle of hatred that would last for years.

Saint Rita of Cascia in the convent

St. Rita of Cascia, now that she was alone after the death of her husband and two children, wished to enter the convent of the Augustinian Sisters, but they were in doubt about her vocation, since she had married, her husband had been killed and her two children had died of a plague. Because of this, they did not want to accept Rita into the convent.

One night while she was sleeping, Rita heard a voice saying, "Rita. Rita. Rita. Rita." Then as she opened the door, she spotted St. Francis, St. Nicholas and St. John the Baptist. They asked Rita to accompany them and after walking down the street, she felt a slight nudge. She fell into ecstasy and when she came to her senses, she was inside the monastery with the doors locked. The nuns could not deny her and theRita lived there for forty years.

Saint Rita of Cascia and the thorn

While praying at the foot of the cross, St. Rita of Cascia asked Jesus that she might feel at least a little of the pain He felt at the time of the crucifixion. As a result, one of the thorns from Christ's crown stuck itself into her head and St. Rita felt a little of the terrible pain Jesus had suffered.

This thorn caused a great wound in St. Rita, so much so that she had to be isolated from the other sisters. She began to pray and fast even more. St. Rita of Cascia kept the wound for 15 years. She was only healed when she visited Rome in the holy year, but when she returned to the monastery, the wound opened again.

Death of St Rita of Cascia

On May 22, 1457, the convent bell began to ring by itself, without any apparent cause. St. Rita of Cascia was 76 years old and her wound had healed. Her body unexpectedly began to exude a perfume of roses and a nun named Catherine Mancini, who had a paralyzed arm at the time, was healed simply by embracing St. Rita on her deathbed.

In the place of Saint Rita's wound appeared a red spot that exhaled a heavenly perfume and this impressed everyone. A short time later, a crowd came to see her. With that, they had to take her body to the church and there it is until today, exhaling a soft perfume that impresses everyone.

Devotion to Saint Rita of Cascia

In Rome, in the year 1627, Saint Rita of Cascia was beatified by Pope Urban VIII. Her canonization was made in the year 1900, more specifically on May 24, by Pope Leo XIII and her feast day is celebrated annually, on May 22. In the Northeast region of Brazil, in Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, she is its patron saint.

Santa Cruz is the city that possesses the biggest catholic statue of the world, with 56 meters of height. Santa Rita de Cássia is considered the Godmother of the Hinterlands. In Minas Gerais, there is the City of Cássia, where Santa Rita is also patroness and her birthday is also celebrated on May 22.

The symbolism of the image of Saint Rita of Cascia

Saint Rita of Cascia is represented by the faithful with some objects, like a stigma on the forehead, holding a crucifix and a crown of thorns. Each one of them has a symbolism. We will understand what they mean next!

The Crucifix of Saint Rita

In the image of St Rita of Cascia, the crucifix represents her passion for Jesus. She spent hours meditating on Christ's passion, on the scorn and insults He suffered as He walked the road to Calvary carrying the cross. She ardently longed to share in the sufferings of Christ crucified.

She offered the 18 years of living with her violent husband for his conversion and to participate in the sufferings of Christ. She spent 18 years being humiliated by her husband, who came to die after her conversion. After that, her two sons died, also after having been converted. Saint Rita of Cascia carried her cross with faith and a great love.

The crown of thorns of St Rita

The crown of thorns present on the image of Saint Rita of Cascia, makes a direct allusion to one of her practices. One of her prayers was to be able to contemplate Christ in his sufferings on behalf of all humanity. Her passion for Jesus was so great that one day she asked Jesus to allow her to feel a little of his pains.

She had her request granted and received one of the stigmata of the crown of Christ on her forehead. Saint Rita of Cascia went beyond, her faith and love for Christ were such that she made this request. She still remained for a long time with a wound on her forehead, which served as a testimony of her great faith and how much Christ suffered for us.

The stigma of Santa Rita

The stigma of St. Rita symbolizes the suffering shared with Jesus. In a deep moment of prayer, one of the thorns of Jesus' crown detached itself and pierced the forehead of St. Rita of Cascia. The stigma lasted about 15 years, until her death. A wound opened on her forehead, causing terrible pain, like the pain Jesus felt at his crucifixion.

St Rita of Cascia had to remain in isolation for a time, away from the sisters, due to the smell that her wound caused. On one occasion, she made a visit to Rome and the wound disappeared completely. However, when she returned to the monastery, the wound opened again.

The Roses of Santa Rita

The roses on the image of St. Rita of Cascia symbolize a rose bush that she planted in the convent. Some images of the saint are adorned with many roses. In the year 1417, Sister Rita planted a rose bush in the convent garden. During a period when she was ill, the sisters brought her some roses.

The interesting thing about this fact is that the roses had sprouted miraculously, because it was winter. This rose bush continues giving roses in every winter until the present day. The roses also symbolize the intercession of Saint Rita of Cascia for the conversion of all the sinners and for the goodness to appear in their hearts.

The habit of St. Rita

The habit on the image of St. Rita of Cascia represents her religious life. The presence of the black veil represents her perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The white part represents the purity of Rita's heart. The habit of St. Rita of Casia reveals a miracle. After St. Rita of Casia was widowed and the Lord took her two sons, she asked to enter the convent of the sistersAugustinian Nuns and succeeded in a miraculous way.

The nuns refused to accept her because she was a widow and her husband had been murdered, but one night St. Nicholas, St. John the Baptist and St. Francis appeared to her. Rita was ecstatic on the spot, and even though the doors were closed, the saints brought her into the convent. The sisters recognized God's will and admitted her.

Miracles of Saint Rita of Cascia

Undoubtedly, St. Rita of Cascia performed many miracles in life and even on her deathbed. Her life of faith and devotion to Christ serves as an example for all believers. Check below, more information about the miracles of St. Rita of Casia!

The miracle vine

To test St Rita's obedience, the superior of the convent ordered her to water a dry branch of the vine every day. Rita did not question and did as she was told. Some sisters watched her with irony. This lasted for about a year.

On a certain day, the sisters were amazed. Life reappeared on that withered branch and shoots appeared on it. Moreover, leaves appeared and that branch became a beautiful vine, giving delicious grapes in due time. This vine still remains in the convent today bearing fruit.

The perfume of the body of the saint

This miracle happened in a singular and impressive way. On May 22, 1457, unexpectedly, the convent bell began to ring by itself. St. Rita of Cascia's wound, when she was 76 years old, simply healed and began to exude an indescribable perfume of roses.

Another impressive fact was that in the place of the wound a red spot appeared, which spread a heavenly perfume throughout the entire environment and this enchanted everyone. When this occurred, a crowd gathered to see her. Then they took her body to the church, where it is to this day, exuding a soft perfume that impresses all who approach.

Miss Elizabeth Bergamini

Another of St. Rita of Cascia's miracles happened to Elizabeth Bergamini. She was a young girl who was in danger of losing her sight due to smallpox. Her parents accepted the advice of the doctors, who said that the child's condition was critical and that there was nothing they could do. Finally, they decided to send Elizabeth to the Augustinian Convent of Cascia.

They fervently prayed to Saint Rita to free their daughter from blindness. When they arrived at the convent, the child wore a costume in honor of the saint. After four months, Elizabeth was finally able to see. She began to thank God together with the nuns.

Cosimo Pelligrini

Cosimo Pelligrini suffered from chronic gastroenteritis and hemorrhoids so severe that there was no longer any hope of recovery. On returning from church one day, he became very weak with a new attack of his illness. This almost led to his death. The doctors ordered him to receive the last sacraments.

He received them in bed, with all the appearance of approaching death. Suddenly he saw St. Rita of Cascia, who appeared to greet him. Soon his old strength and appetite returned, and within a short time he was able to do the work of a young man, although he was over seventy years old.

How to connect with St. Rita of Cascia

There are some ways to connect with Santa Rita de Cássia, the saint of impossible causes. As well as there are specific prayers and sympathies so that you can have access to the miracles made by God through Saint Rita. Check them out below!

The day of St Rita of Cascia

May 22 is the day of St. Rita of Cascia, who became known as the "patroness of impossible causes," protector of widows and the saint of roses. Unlike many other Catholic saints, St. Rita of Casia has a peculiarity: it is possible to know many details of her life.

It is already known that she was born in an Italian town called Roccaporena, a kind of village located about 5 km from Cascia, in 1381, and died on May 22, 1457. Therefore, May 22 was designated to the celebration of St. Rita of Cascia. She was a woman of faith and always seeking to do good.

The prayer of Saint Rita of Cascia

"O Mighty and Glorious Saint Rita of Cascia, behold, at your feet, a helpless soul who, needing help, appeals to you with the sweet hope of being attended to by you who have the title of Saint of impossible and desperate cases. O dear Saint, take an interest in my cause, intercede with God to grant me the grace, which I so much need, (make the request).

Do not allow me to have to stray from your feet without being attended to. If there is any obstacle within me that prevents me from obtaining the grace I beg for, help me to remove it. Envelop my request in your precious merits and present it to your heavenly Spouse, Jesus, in union with your prayer. O Saint Rita, I place all my trust in you. Through you, I hope with tranquilitySaint Rita, advocate of the impossible, pray for us.

Triduum to Saint Rita of Cascia

Begin by praying a Glory to the Father as an opening prayer each day:

"God, who deigned to bestow on St. Rita such a grace that, since she imitated you in love of her enemies, she bore in her heart and forehead the signs of your charity and suffering, grant, we beseech you, that through her intercession and merits we may love our enemies and, with the thorn of compassion, perennially contemplate the pains of your passion and merit to receive the promised rewardto the meek and humble of heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."

1st day

"O mighty Saint Rita, advocate in every urgent cause, benignly hear the supplications of a distressed heart and deign to obtain for me the grace I so much need" (Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory be to the Father).

2nd day

"O mighty Saint Rita, advocate in desperate cases, trusting in the power of your intercession, I turn to you. Deign to bless my firm hope of obtaining, through your intercession, the grace I so desperately need." (Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory be to the Father).

3rd day

"O mighty Saint Rita, help at the last hour, to you I turn full of faith and love, since you are my last refuge in this affliction. Intercede for me, and I shall bless you for all eternity" (Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory be to the Father).

Sympathy to St. Rita of Cascia for prosperity

The sympathies are continuously connected to the superstition and magic. They are practiced habitually by most of the Brazilians. To receive the help of Saint Rita of Cascia in order to have prosperity, start praying one Hail Holy Queen in her praise. After that, light a bunch of white candles on a saucer, in the morning.

Finally, make the following prayer: "With the help of God and of Saint Rita of Cascia, the Saint of the Impossible, I will overcome what I need. Amen". Throw the rest of the candles in the garbage and use the saucer normally.

Sympathy to Santa Rita de Cassia for the impossible

To perform this sympathy, you must hold an image of Saint Rita of Cascia, it can even be a paper saint, and pray with faith the following prayer: "O glorious Saint Rita of Cascia, you who were prodigiously partaker of the sorrowful passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, obtain for me the grace to suffer with resignation all the sorrows of this life and protect me in all myneeds. Amen."

Carry the picture always with you. Only then will the sympathy take effect and you will see the impossible cause you asked for being accomplished before your eyes.

Why is Saint Rita of Cascia the saint of impossible causes?

Saint Rita has a trajectory full of miracles. Her own entrance in the convent was miraculous. Because she was a widow and a mother, she could not be admitted in religious orders at the time. She even tried three times before she could get in. According to the religious tradition, in a certain night, she saw three saints.

In a moment of ecstasy, they led Rita into the convent at dawn, with the door locked. This was the definitive proof of divine intervention, so she was accepted. She is not the patroness of impossible causes by chance.

This title has to do with her life story. St Rita lived about 40 years in the religious order and dedicated her life to prayer and the name she received also has to do with the fact that she got everything she asked God for because of her prayer routine.