St. Rita was born at Spoleto, Italy in 1381. At an early age, she begged her parents to allow her to enter a convent. Instead they arranged a marriage for her. Rita became a good wife and mother, but her husband was a man of violent temper. In anger he often mistreated his wife. He taught their children his own evil ways. Rita tried to perform her duties faithfully and to pray and receive the sacraments frequently. After nearly twenty years of marriage, her husband was stabbed by an enemy but before he died, he repented because Rita prayed for him. Shortly afterwards, her two sons died, and Rita was alone in the world. Prayer, fasting, penances of many kinds, and good works filled her days. She was admitted to the convent of the Augustinian nuns at Cascia in Umbria, and began a life of perfect obedience and great charity. Sister Rita had a great devotion to the Passion of Christ. Please let me suffer like you, Divine Saviour, she said one day, and suddenly one of the thorns from the crucifix struck her on the forehead. It left a deep wound which did not heal and which caused her much suffering for the rest of her life. She died on May 22, 1457. She is the patroness of impossible cases. Her feast day is May 22 Saint Rita of Cascia Santa Rita Cascia.jpg Patron Saint of the Impossible, abused wives and widows (note the accurate portrayal of her Medieval religious habit, brown and white veil with brown ribbon borders). She is holding a thorn from the crown of Christ that pierced her forehead as a sign of penance Mother, Widow, Stigmatist, Consecrated Religious Born 1381 Roccaporena, Perugia, Umbria, Italy Died May 22, 1457 Cascia, Perugia, Umbria, Italy Honored in Roman Catholic Church Aglipayan Church Beatified 1626 by Pope Urban VIII Canonized May 24, 1900, Vatican City, Rome by Pope Leo XIII Major shrine Cascia, Italy Feast May 22 Attributes Forehead wound, Rose, Bees, grape vine Patronage Lost and impossible causes, sickness, wounds, marital problems, abuse, mothers Controversy Spousal abuse, Feud, Family honor also is a Incorruptible saint
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 17:53:54 +0000
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