Saint Rita Catholic Church

   8709 Preston Highway   Louisville, KY  40219   (502) 969-4579

   
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             Saint Rita Catholic Church    

 

 

         Our Patron Saint | Mission Statement | History of St. Rita | Holy Sacraments | Directions to St. Rita    

 
 
  Saint Rita of Cascia

Antonio and Amata Lotti lived in the small village of Roccaporena,
near Cascia, in the province of Umbria, Italy.  They served as the
official peacemakers or reconcilers among their fellow citizens. 
Because of the devotion to Christianity and good ability to resolve
issues, they were known as the Peacemakers of Jesus.

For many years they prayed that they might have child.  In 1381,
their prayers were answered when Amata gave birth to Rita. 
They looked upon their only child a very special gift from God
since they were already getting on in their years.

   
The Lottis, being devout Christian people, offered their daughter the witness of strong faith
in God and a practical example of Gospel living.  Rita shared her parents’ strong faith and
religious devotion.  She wished to dedicate her life to God as a nun.  But, at the time, the civil
and ecclesiastical climates were not healthy.  Rita’s parents, fearful for her wellbeing, believed
that she would be far safer under the protection of a good husband than she would be behind
the unguarded walls of a convent.  They arranged for her marriage to Paolo Mancini.  Despite
being initially disappointed,   Rita understood this choice to be the expression of God’s will
for her and consented to the marriage.

Paolo turned out to be a corrupt, mean, and unfaithful husband.  For eighteen years Rita stood
by his side despite the abuse.  The marriage was blessed with two sons, perhaps twins.  Through
her prayers, gentleness, and goodness, Rita finally won Paolo’s heart.  He apologized to Rita,
repented with God and began to attend Church regularly.

Rita’s happiness over her husband’s conversion did not last long.  He still had enemies, who
one evening took vengeance against Paolo and killed him on his way home from work.  Despite
being shocked and heart-broken, she forgave the murderers, and tried to make her two sons
forgive them too.  Instead the boys were determined to avenge their father’s death.  Rita prayed
that they would die rather than commit murder.  Within several months, both boys became
seriously ill.  Rita nursed them lovingly. During their illness, she persuaded them to forgive
and to ask for God’s forgiveness for themselves.  They did and both died peacefully.

Now alone, Rita gave herself to works of charity and to more intense life of prayer.  Eventually
the desire to enter the convent once more grew in here, but her request for entrance among the
Augustinian Nuns of Cascia was refused, not once but three times.  Though Rita was known
to the nuns of the Monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene, her good character and religious spirit
were outweighed, in the judgment of the community, by the violence that surrounded Paolo’s
death.  The nuns were afraid of tempting the peace of convent life, possibly because one of their
members belonged to the family responsible for Paolo’s murder.  But Rita felt deeply that this
was the vocation to which she was called and she turned to her three patron saints,
          (Saint John the Baptist,Saint Augustine, and Saint Nicholas of Tolentino)
to intercede for her.  After the third refusal of the nuns, Rita recognized that she herself must put
their fears to rest.  She approached Paolo’s family as well as their rivals, and persuaded them to
put an end to their hostility and to live in peace.

The example of her own forgiving sprit was an inspiration to them.  The families were reconciled. 
They signed a document to this effect, and when Rita presented the document to the nuns, they
allowed her to join the convent.  And so, in 1413, Rita Lotti Mancini became Sister Rita.
   
She lived the life of an Augustinian Nun, according to
the Rule of the saint she had chosen years before as her
spiritual father, Saint Augustine of Hippo.  His was a
gentle Rule which invited the members of the community
to strive in every way possible to achieve communion of
mind and heart with God and one another.  Her days were
spent in prayer and contemplation, in service to the sick
and the poor, and in activities necessary to support the life
of the small community.

In 1441, she heard a sermon on the Crown of Thorns.  Soon
afterward while praying, she asked Jesus to let her share
some of his pain.  A thorn from this crown of thorns pierced
her forehead and made a sore that never healed.  The wound
because so unattractive and gave off such an odor that Rita
was secluded from the others.  The wound healed enough for
her to attend a pilgrimage to Rome in 1450, but it reappeared
after her return and remained with her until her death. 
She was happy  to suffer to show her love for Jesus.
   

Despite being confined to her bed the last four years
of her life and eating little more than the Eucharist
she continued her teaching and direction to the younger
sisters.  A couple of months before her death, a visitor
from her home town asked if Rita would like anything;
Rita’s only request was a rose from her family’s home. 
Even though it was January and thinking there was no
hope of finding the flower, the visitor did as asked. 
Sure enough, sprouted on an otherwise bare bush, was
a single, brightly-colored rose blossom which the person
promptly returned to Rita.

   
At the age of 76, Rita’s life came to an end on May 22, 1457.  People flocked to the convent to pay their
last respects to this much-loved lady.  Innumerable miracles took place through her intercession, and
devotion to her spread far and wide.  Saint Rita’s body was preserved perfectly incorrupt for several
centuries, and at times it gave off a sweet fragrance.

Saint Rita was canonized on May 24, 1900 by Pope Leo XIII.  She is the patron of those in desperate
situations, parenthood, and against infertility.  She is also known as the patron saint of desperate
causes, particularly matrimonial difficulties.
 
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Prayers & Hymns to Saint Rita

Prayer to Saint Rita

Dear Rita, model Wife and Widow, you yourself suffered in a long illness showing patience out
of love for God. Teach us to pray as you did. Many invoke you for help, full of confidence in your
intercession. Deign to come now to our aid for the relief and cure of [name of sufferer]. To God, all
things are possible; may this healing give glory to the Lord.

Amen.


Prayer to Saint Rita

Holy Patroness of those in need, Saint Rita, you were humble, pure and patient. Your pleadings
with your divine Spouse are irresistible, so please obtain for me from our risen Jesus the request
I make of you: [mention your petition].  Be kind to me for the greater glory of God, and I shall honor
you and sing your praises forever. Glorious Saint Rita, you miraculously participated in the
sorrowful passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for me now the grace to suffer with
resignation the troubles of this life, and protect me in all my needs.

Amen.


Hymn to Saint Rita of Cascia

Come, virgins chaste; pure brides, draw near: Let Earth exult and Heaven hear The Hymn that
grateful accents raise, Our song of joy in Rita's praise.

By fast her sinless frame is weak; Her livid flesh the scourges streak. In pity for her Savior's woes,
Her days and even nights are closed.

The thorn-wound on her brow is shown, The crimson rose in winter blown, and full-ripe figs on
frozen tree at Rita's wish the wonders see.

The widowed spouse and wedded wife the way to heaven see in her life; the way secure our Rita
trod, in life's dim day,
through paint o God.

Praise to the Father and the Son, praise to the Spirit, Three in One; O grant us grace in heaven to
reign through Rita's  prayer and life-long pain.

Thou hast signed thy servant Rita with the sign of thy Love and Passion.

O God! Who didst deign to confer on St. Rita for imitating Thee in love of her enemies, the favor of
bearing her heart and brow the marks of Thy Love and Passion, grant we beseech Thee, that through
her intercession and merit, we may, pierced by the thorns of compunction, ever contemplate the
sufferings of Thy Passion, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.
 
 
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