High in the hills of the republic of Cascia, in a tiny Umbrian village called Roccaporena, Antonio and Amata Lotti were well-respected peace makers. In 1381, they welcomed their only child, Margherita who was known simply as Rita.
Baptized in the church of St Augustine in Cascia, Rita became acquainted with the local Augustinian nuns of St Mary Magdalene Monastery and was attracted to their way of life. At the age of twelve, however, she desired to consecrate herself to God in the religious state. Pious though her parents were, their tearful pleadings to postpone her noble purpose prevailed on Rita, and they gave her in marriage, at the age of eighteen, to an impulsive, easily angered young man who over time, was abusive to Rita. Two sons were born to them, each inheriting their father's quarrelsome temperament. Rita continued her accustomed devotions, sanctity and prayers.
In the troubling political climate of the times, there was often open conflict between families. Paolo was the victim of one such conflict, and he was murdered when their sons were still young. The expectation of society at the time was that the boys should avenge the murder of their father to defend family honor. Rita, however, influenced by the peacemaking example of her parents, pledged to forgive her husband’s killers.
Within a year, however, both sons succumbed to a deadly illness leaving Rita not only a widow, but also childless.
Following these tragedies, Rita placed her trust in God, accepting them and relying on her deep faith to find her way. After eighteen years of marriage, Rita felt called to a second but familiar vocation: to religious life in the Augustinian convent.
But the sisters at St Mary Magdalene Monastery were hesitant and refused her request. However, Rita was not discouraged, convinced that she was called to the contemplative community.
There were members of the rival family in the convent; her presence would be detrimental to community harmony.
And so, inspired by her three patron saints (St Augustine of Hippo, St Nicholas of Tolentine and John the Baptist), Rita set out to make peace between the families.
She went to her husband’s family and exhorted them to put aside their hostility and stubbornness. They were convinced by her courage and agreed.
The rival family, astounded by this overture of peace, also agreed. The two families exchanged a peace embrace and signed a written agreement, putting the vendetta to rest forever.
At the age of 36, Rita finally was accepted into the Augustinian convent. She lived a regular life of prayer, contemplation and spiritual reading, according to the Rule of Saint Augustine.
For forty years she lived this routine lifestyle until Good Friday of 1442, when she had an extraordinary experience. In contemplation before an image of Jesus that was very dear to her, the Jesus of Holy Saturday, she was moved by a deeper awareness of the physical and spiritual burden of pain which Christ so freely and willingly embraced for love of her and of all humanity.
With the tender, compassionate heart of a person fully motivated by grateful love, she spoke her willingness to relieve Christ’s suffering by sharing even the smallest part of his pain. Her offer was accepted, her prayer was answer, and Rita was united with Jesus in a profound experience of spiritual intimacy, a thorn from his crown penetrating her forehead. The wound it caused remained open and visible until the day of her death.
Rita died peacefully on May 22, 1457.
Patronage: Abuse victims; against loneliness; against sterility; bodily ills; desperate causes; difficult marriages; forgotten causes; impossible causes; infertility; lost causes; parenthood; sick people; sickness; sterility; victims of physical spouse abuse; widows; wounds.
Symbols and Representation: Nun holding a crown of thorns; nun holding roses; nun holding roses and figs; nun with a wound on her forehead.
A daily prayer to St. Rita
Dear St. Rita, during your entire life on earth you found your happiness by following the will of our heavenly Father. Help me to be as trusting of God in all his designs for me. Help me this day to give myself to him as you did, without limit, without fear, without counting the cost. Help me to be generous in serving the needs of others, patient in all difficulties, forgiving toward all who injure me. Help me to learn more deeply the great mystery of the cross of Jesus, so that by embracing it as you did, I may come to experience its power to heal and to save. Amen.
From: https://stritadacascia.com/story/ and catholicculture.com
