From an Italian widow to later becoming an Augustinian nun, Saint Rita of Cascia is widely known among Catholic faithfuls as the Patroness of Impossible Causes. Such title was bestowed on her during the ceremony of her canonization in 1900. Aside from being the patron saint of seemingly hopeless and desperate circumstances, she also came to be known as the Patroness of loneliness, difficult marriages and parenthood, the widows, the abused, and the sick, especially those with bodily ills and wounds. This is because of the many pains, trials and sufferings she had endured and overcome throughout her lifetime as a wife, mother, widow and nun. All her struggles, almost impossible ones, she resolved with much love in her heart, a deep sense of faith in God, prayer and penance.
Born as Margherita in the city of Roccaporena, Cascia, Italy in 1381, she was the only child of an aging couple, Antonio and Amata Lotti. Even as a child, Saint Rita had always wanted to join a convent and become a nun but her parents opposed to it. They insisted and arranged for her to marry a man, a common practice at the time. In obedience to her parents, Saint Rita entered the married life at the age of twelve, and so began a very painful time in her life as well. Her husband, Paolo Mancini, a rich town official, was known as a cruel, harsh, quick-tempered and physically abusive man. They had two children, twin boys named Giangiacomo Antonio, and Paulo Maria. It was a truly difficult marriage that’s almost impossible to bear. But Saint Rita endured the cruelty of her husband and met it with kindness, patience, and intense prayer to God for his conversion. Eventually, Saint Rita, not giving up on her Catholic virtues, was able to win him over and convert him to a better person. There are differing stories regarding this. Some accounts say that her husband’s conversion occurred close to his death after eighteen years of marriage while some say it happened long before and their married life together saw some peaceful years.
They lived at a time in Italy when wars between families were viciously rampant, to which her husband was not spared. He was murdered, which Saint Rita mourned by praying deeply for his soul. Her focus now turned to her two beloved sons who talked about avenging their father’s death. She knew that such evil intention would only lead to death and eternal loss of their souls. Unable to dissuade them from taking revenge, Saint Rita’s only hope was her earnest prayer to God to protect her children by any means possible before they could commit a mortal sin. As it happened as an answered prayer, God took the lives of the twin boys as they died of natural cause from dysentery, in state of grace, removing them from physical danger and spiritual death in Hell.
After the passing of her husband and sons, Saint Rita was all alone in the world. Once more, she heard the familiar call to another vocation. This time, she sought to fulfill her desire of becoming a religious sister. But the road to this calling was again not easy for Saint Rita. The nuns of the Augustinian Monastery of Saint Mary Magdelene turned her away from entering the convent partly because she was a widow, but mostly because of her family’s association in the feuds. Some of the sisters were also relatives of her husband’s killers. The nuns felt that letting her in would endanger peace in the convent unless there was some way that Saint Rita would be able to reconcile her family with the murderers’ families.
The thought of not becoming an Augustinian nun was very disappointing for Saint Rita, but the idea of establishing peace among warring families was almost inconceivable- yet another impossible thing to happen. Saint Rita’s only hope and recourse was her faithful petition to God and earnest prayer for the intercession of her three patron saints- St. John the Baptist, St. Augustine of Hippo, and St. Nicholas of Tolentino. Indeed, nothing is impossible with God. Peace eventually came upon the warring families, an answered prayer once more of Saint Rita. Thus, at the age of thirty-six, she was allowed to enter the convent.
And there, in the Augustinian monastery, Saint Rita spent the final forty years of her life in cloister, with a deep prayer life, much penance, and works of charity. Often seen meditating on the sufferings of the crucified Christ, she was definitely an inspiration to the rest of the nuns on being joyful, faithful, and patient despite the many sufferings in this life on earth.
Fifteen years before her death, Saint Rita received a wound on her forehead, a mark of thorn from the Crown of Thorns of Jesus, which served as a physical reminder of her union with the Lord and her suffering for the love of Him. This is why Saint Rita’s icon typically features a forehead wound, a thorn, and a crown of thorns. In most icons also, the color of Saint Rita’s habit is shown to be black, which is the traditional habit color of Augustinian nuns. Back in those days however, the religious sisters of her monastery wore brown-colored habits and white veils with edges of brown ribbons. Roses are likewise commonly included in her iconography as inspired by the story of the single rose in bloom found in the garden of her old home. Already gravely sick and bedridden at that time, someone asked Saint Rita if there was anything she desired from their old house. A rose from the garden was her only response. It was wintertime in January and nobody expected to see a fresh flower due to the season. But what seemed impossible proved to be possible when there, in the snow-covered barren garden, was found one blooming rose. When the flower was handed over to Saint Rita, she felt much gratitude in her heart believing that it was a sign that God heard her prayers for the souls of her husband and sons and she would one day reunite with them in heaven.
After years of serious illness, Saint Rita died in the year 1457, on May 22, and it later became her feast day. Her body was found to be incorrupt and is now venerated in a glass encasing in the Basilica di Santa Rita in Cascia.
Some reflections on the holy life and example of Saint Rita:
There are situations or occurrences in a person’s life that problems and tribulations seem impossible to ever be resolved, which can lead him or her into despair. With the holy life of Saint Rita of Cascia, here are some points that we can all learn from her:
Never lose your trust in God even when life seems impossible.
The goings-on in life may seem impossible but that doesn’t mean that there is no God, or that He doesn’t care about you, unlike what many people usually say to defend their unbelief in God. Our Lord says that He cares about the great things down to the smallest details of your life.
“My wanderings you have noted; are my tears not stored in your flask, recorded in your book?” – Psalm 56:9
As you suffer, be consoled knowing that Jesus is suffering with you. Saint Rita prayed devotedly for many years for the conversion of her husband and her sons. For a long time, her prayers for her husband remained unanswered, that it seemed impossible he’d change towards her. But her confidence in God never wavered. She knew that God would not abandon her pleas. You need to put your full trust in God that when you pray ardently, it never happens that He wouldn’t send graces, help and aid. Now that Saint Rita is in heaven to intercede for us, know that our problems in life caused by the most impossible people and the most impossible situations could be answered through our patient, earnest and humble prayers.
During desperate times, turn to sacredness, not to self-sabotage.
Some people shun from being sacred and would rather turn to self-sabotaging acts when they feel that times are too desperate and there’s nothing more that they can do. Saint Rita, even though she knew that she was ‘stuck’ with her unkind, violent husband, did not resort to ruining her husband, her family, or her own self. Instead of leaving him and her family, she turned to God, by loving her husband and praying for him all those years. I’ve heard many stories of husbands or wives who had found out about extramarital affairs of their other halves and took revenge by committing adultery themselves. By doing that, not only they hurt their own children with their scandals, but they hurt themselves, and their very souls. You can’t heal a wound by inflicting another wound. In the same way, many people faced with problems like depression, are said to mask their issues and pains by not opening up and pushing away the very people who love them and care for them. They instead resort to addictions or hanging out with bad friends, and find reasons to defend themselves for sticking with those vices or people. That’s a self-damaging way of coping; and if you ever find yourself or your loved one at the brink of such action, be reminded that God’s way, which is sacredness, is the only way- by which anyone can get through in this temporary life on earth, and preserve one’s soul for the eternal life.
Be prudent in your choices when faced with tough situations
All those years that her husband treated her badly and unkindly, Saint Rita chose to love him with kindness and offered prayers for him. She also prevented her sons from making the immoral choice. When others treat us unjustly, we should not choose to avenge ourselves. At times of tough situations faced, you may be tempted to take some form of revenge against those who hurt you by hurting them too in words and actions. Let God serve His justice, and deal with your enemies according to His will. That’s especially true when the problems are our loved ones themselves. If you want them converted to have the same virtues and to love as you do, God may will it that it doesn’t happen overnight, but gradually instead. Each day, be a kind example to them. You can deal with them with peace by being prudent in making small choices of returning their cold-hearted acts to you with simple acts of love, understanding, kindness and compassion. This is how as Catholics we bear the crosses in daily life. Through your prayers, trust in God’s grace and mercy that sooner or later, He will touch their hearts, soften their hardened spirits, and allow them to be converted, to honor and love you.
Over the years, Catholics in various countries have been witness to Saint Rita’s intercession and attributed numerous miracles to her. Many continue to ask for her help, especially in their seemingly hopeless and impossible circumstances.
St. Rita of Cascia, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
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Please pray that my enemies will be removed from my son’s school. they are giving me hard time . I am desperate and anxious. please intercede for us,
Please pray for my sister Marie that God will spare her in His Glory and give her the gift of healing!