Saint Rita of Cascia - Her Life Story

Saint Rita of Cascia (1381) was born in the Italian town of Roccaporena. Her parents, Antonio Lotti and Amata Lotti, are already old when she was conceived and because of this, her parents were very grateful to the Lord – and considered Rita as His gift to them.

In her younger years, Saint Rita of Cascia was inclined to enter and join the community of the Augustinian nuns. Unfortunately, Saint Rita’s parents promise to Paolo Mancini their daughter’s hand in marriage. St. Rita dutifully obeyed the wishes of her parents and fully accepted her fate to marry Paolo.

Their marriage was gifted with twin sons, and St Rita content herself in doing the daily matters as wife and mother. Unfortunately, Paolo, who works as a watchman, considered a job exposed to danger, was ambushed and killed on his way home.

Because of Paolo’s death, Rita became concerned about the safety of her sons. She was worried that her sons would seek revenge for their father’s death, and ultimately suffer the same fate. St Rita prayed hard for her sons. Eventually, her twin sons died early of natural death. St Rita’s prayers spared them of the feeling of hatred and revenge and the possible commission of murder. Instead, they died in peace and for this St Rita was thankful to the Lord.

With her husband and sons all gone, Rita again expressed and worked on her wishes to join the Augustinian Nuns. Initially, she was not accepted to the community but with her persistence and fervent prayers – as well as requests for assistance from her favorite saints Augustine, Nicholas, and John the Baptist – she was finally able to secure entry to the Augustinian community.

The next 40 years of her life saw St Rita devoting herself to a life, prayer, and works and deeds of charity as dictated by the rules of St Augustine.

At age 60, while meditating before the cross, a wound seeming afflicted by a thorn appeared on her forehead. St Rita began boring the sign of stigmatization which is considered being one with Jesus. Because of the stigmata, she suffered in pain for the next 15 years which she courageously accepted.

In her last years, one meaningful miracle attached to her was when she requested for a rose from her parent’s garden. The person whom St Rita told about this request went and indeed saw the rose blossoming in the garden of St Rita’s parents. Immediately, she picked up the flower and brought it to St Rita. Hence, Saint Rita of Cascia is also known as the Saint of the Rose.

Saint Rita died on the 22nd of May, 1457. Her intact body is kept and honored in the shrine at her hometown on Cascia.

Saint Rita Medal and novena booklets are available in most Catholic Churches in your area - feel free to visit your church and secure for yourself a Saint Rita Medal.