Saint Rita was born at Spoleto, Italy, in 1381. From her early youth, Rita liked to visit the Augustinian nuns at Cascia, and begged her parents’ permission to enter the convent. However, when she was 12, they betrothed her to the town watchman, a man who struggled with a violent temper. Rita obediently married him and bore twin sons.
Rita put up with her husband’s mistreatment as best she could, praying and receiving the sacraments frequently. Unfortunately, her sons learned from their father’s violent ways. After eighteen years of marriage, her husband was stabbed to death by an enemy, but repented on his deathbed, thanks to Rita’s prayers. Rita’s sons were determined to avenge their father, but through Rita's prayers, they forgave his murderers, and shortly thereafter died themselves.
Rita put up with her husband’s mistreatment as best she could, praying and receiving the sacraments frequently. Unfortunately, her sons learned from their father’s violent ways. After eighteen years of marriage, her husband was stabbed to death by an enemy, but repented on his deathbed, thanks to Rita’s prayers. Rita’s sons were determined to avenge their father, but through Rita's prayers, they forgave his murderers, and shortly thereafter died themselves.
Rita then applied for admission to the convent of Saint Mary Magdalene at age 36. However, the mother superior was reluctant to admit her as she had been married and was no longer a virgin. After some delay, Rita was admitted to the convent, but to test her faith and loyalty, the mother superior asked her to tend a dead stick planted in the ground. Rita obediently watered the dead stick daily. Many years the stick sprouted a grape vine, which to this day continues to supply the grapes used to make the wine for the Pope!
Rita lived 40 years in the convent, in great prayer and charity, working for peace in the area. She had a deep devotion to the Passion of Christ, and begged to suffer for others as Jesus had. One day, a thorn from the crucifix pierced her forehead, causing a deep wound which did not heal. After suffering 15 years, Saint Rita died on May 22, 1457. Amazingly, her body did not decay and has remained incorrupt to this day in Cascia, where it can be seen in a glass coffin in the basilica of Saint Rita.
Saint Rita is a patron of desperate, seemingly impossible causes and situations. This is because she lived through so many stages of life—wife, mother, widow, and nun—but always as a beloved child of God. J
Saint Rita, Pray for Us
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