Life is hard. Sometimes, it feels impossible. Your marriage is falling apart. Your kids are leaving the faith. You have a chronic illness. You are stuck in a dead-end job. You need a specialist.
Enter St. Rita of Cascia (1381-1457). She is one of the most popular saints in the world, known as the "Patroness of Impossible Causes" (along with St. Jude). Why? Because she lived through literally every impossible situation a woman can face:
- Unwanted marriage? Check.
- Abusive husband? Check.
- Difficult children? Check.
- Widolyhood? Check.
- Rejection by religious orders? Check.
- Supernatural stigmata? Check.
And through it all, she didn't just survive. She became a powerhouse of holiness. Here is why you need her on your team.
1. The Reluctant Bride
Rita wanted to be a nun. Her parents said no. They arranged a marriage for her at age 12 (common in 14th-century Italy) to a man named Paolo Mancini. Paolo was... not great. He was rich, but he had a violent temper. He was involved in local political feuds (think Romeo and Juliet but grittier). He treated Rita poorly.
Rita's Response: She didn't fight back with anger. She fought back with kindness. For 18 years, she suffered his abuse patiently. She prayed for him constantly. She was a model wife. Eventually, her love broke him. Paolo had a conversion. He apologized to Rita and left his life of violence. Lesson: You can win a stubborn heart with prayer, not nagging.
2. The Tragedy of Widowhood
Just as things were getting better, Paolo’s past caught up with him. He was ambushed and murdered by a rival family. Rita was devastated. But she did something radical: She publicly forgave his murderers. She brought his bloody shirt to her sons (Giovanni and Paolo Maria) and told them not to seek revenge.
The Problem of the Sons
Her sons didn't listen. They were teenagers. The "Vendetta" code demanded they kill the murderers. They started plotting revenge. Rita faced a mother's nightmare: Her sons were about to become murderers and lose their souls. So, she prayed a terrifying prayer:
"Lord, please take my sons rather than let them commit a mortal sin."
God answered. Both boys caught a fatal illness (dysentery) and died within the year. But they died in a state of grace, having forgiven their father's killers. Rita lost her husband and her children. She was alone.
3. The Rejected Nun
Now a widow, Rita went back to her first love: The Convent. She knocked on the door of the Augustinian Nuns in Cascia. They said no. Why? Because her husband's family was still at war with the rival family (some of whom were related to the nuns!). The convent didn't want the drama. They told her: "Make peace between the families, and then come back."
The Impossible Task: Ending a blood feud in medieval Italy was like stopping the mafia. But Rita did it. She walked into the homes of her enemies. She invoked the name of Jesus. She softened hearts. The families signed a peace treaty. She went back to the convent. They let her in.
4. The Thorn Miracle
Rita lived the rest of her life in prayer. She had a deep devotion to the Passion of Christ. One day, while meditating before a crucifix, she asked Jesus to let her share in His suffering.
"Let me suffer like You."
Suddenly, a thorn from the crown of Jesus on the crucifix detached and flew through the air. It struck Rita in the forehead. It left a deep, open wound. For the next 15 years, she bore this stigmata. It was painful. It smelled bad (the nuns had to keep her isolated because of the odor). Worms would sometimes crawl in it. She never complained. She called the worm "my little angel." It healing only once—when she went on a pilgrimage to Rome—so she wouldn't disturb others. As soon as she got home, it opened up again.
5. The Miracle of the Rose
On her deathbed, in the dead of winter (January), Rita asked a cousin to bring her a rose from her old garden. The cousin thought she was delirious. "It's snowing, Rita. There are no roses." Rita smiled. "Go and look." The cousin went to the garden. Amidst the snow, a single red rose was blooming. She brought it to Rita.
This is why St. Rita is often depicted holding roses. She is the saint who finds life in the winter.
Conclusion: Nothing is Impossible
Rita died on May 22, 1457. Her body is incorrupt (it has not decayed) and can be seen in the Basilica of Cascia today. Thousands of miracles have been attributed to her intercession.
- Tumors disappearing.
- Barren women conceiving.
- Broken marriages reconciled.
If you are facing a "dead end," go to Rita. She knows what it's like to have the door slammed in your face. And she knows how to open it.
Prayer to St. Rita:
"O Holy Patroness of those in need, St. Rita, whose pleadings before thy Divine Lord are almost irresistible... come to my aid. Pray for me in my current desperation [mention request]. Amen."
Is your case impossible? Track your Novena to St. Rita in the MyPrayerTower app.