Rita, santa de lo imposible

St. Rita of Cascia, born in the year 1381 in the verdant countryside of Umbria, Italy, was baptized Margherita Lotti. Her early life, marked by piety and a deep yearning for the divine, saw her espouse a life of religious devotion from a tender age. Despite her inclinations towards monastic seclusion, Rita was betrothed to a man named Paolo Mancini, whose tempestuous nature contrasted starkly with her serene disposition.

Married at the age of fourteen, Rita faced years of marital tribulations with unwavering fortitude. Her devotion to her husband and children, even amidst adversity, mirrored her profound Christian virtue. After the untimely demise of her spouse and the subsequent tragic end of her two sons—who perished while seeking vengeance for their father’s death—Rita's heartache was tempered by her steadfast faith.

In the aftermath of her familial trials, Rita sought refuge in the convent of the Augustinian nuns in Cascia, a sanctuary she had long aspired to join. Her entrance into the convent, in the year 1406, marked the beginning of a new chapter wherein she devoted herself to a life of prayer, penance, and compassionate service.

Rita's sanctity was illuminated by numerous miraculous occurrences, including the a unique version of the famed stigmata—a singular thorn from Christ’s crown that appeared on her forehead, a mark of her profound union with the sufferings of Christ. Her death in 1457 was the culmination of a life steeped in divine grace and unswerving devotion.

Canonized in 1900, St. Rita’s legacy endures as a paragon of resilience, forgiveness, and the transformative power of faith. Her veneration continues to inspire countless souls seeking solace and strength through trials and tribulations.

Saint Rita Novena

Day 1: We honor you, O Saint of Cascia, for your fidelity to your baptismal vows. Intercede for us with the Lord so that we may live with joy and coherency in our vocation to holiness, overcoming evil with good.

Day 2: We honor you, O glorious Saint Rita, for your testimony of love for prayer in all the ages of life. Help us to remain united to Jesus because without Him we cannot do anything, and only by invoking his name can we be saved.

Day 3: We honor you, O saint of forgiveness, for the strength and courage that you have demonstrated in the more tragic moments of your life. Intercede for us with the Lord so that we may overcome every doubt and fear, believing in the victory of love even in the most difficult situations.

Day 4: We honor you, O Saint Rita, expert of family life, for the example of virtue that you have left us: as a daughter, spouse, and mother, as a widow and nun. Help us so that every one of us may value the gifts received from God, sowing hope and peace through the fulfillment of our daily duties.

Day 5: We honor you, O saint of the thorn and the rose, for your humble and true love for Jesus crucified. Help us to repent of our sins and to love him with facts and in the truth.

Day 6: We honor you, O Saint Rita, for your purity of heart and faithfulness. Help us to keep a pure and faithful heart, especially when nothing seems possible.

Day 7: We honor you, O saint of patience, for always trusting in God’s way of doing things and not that of the world. Through your intercession, give us the patience that we need daily, especially when waiting on God to answer our prayers. Teach us, “Thy will be done”.

Day 8:  We honor you, O glorious Saint Rita, for your forgiveness of those that have done you wrong. Teach us how to forgive, especially when forgiveness seems impossible. Give us a spirit of charity.

Day 9:  We honor you, O Saint Rita, for your infinite trust in God’s mercy and love for all mankind, especially for those who are the most difficult to love. Teach us to see one another with the eyes of Jesus.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was, in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end

Amen.

Lord Jesus, today, through the hands of Saint Rita,

we present you with our personal situations and

our immense desire for the good of our families

and our communities.

Send upon us, O Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit,

so that our attitudes and our words,

like those of Saint Rita, may be inspired by your Gospel

and guided by your grace.

You are God and live and reign with the Father

and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen

By the intercession of Saint Rita, may God bless us,

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.