[SIZE=+1]St. Rita of Casia
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May 22 Alban Butler describes Rita as being a child of her parents' old age. She was born in 1377 at Roccaporena, in the central Apennines of Italy. Her peasant parents were pious people and encouraged the development of extreme piety and prayer in their child. While still quite young, Rita decided to dedicate her life to God and wanted to enter the Augustinian convent at nearby Casia.
Her parents insisted that she marry the man they had chosen for her. Rita accepted their decision, feeling that in obeying her parents, she was obeying the will of God for her. Unfortunately, her husband was a very cruel and violent man. They had two sons and Rita watched them develop the same kind of violent personalities as their father.
For eighteen years Rita patiently and forgivingly accepted her husbands infidelities and unkindnesses to her. Eventually he recognized her goodness and begged her forgiveness for all the hurts he had caused her, and promised reform. Unfortunately, shortly after this, he was murdered and Rita never knew if he had been the victim or the aggressor in a vendetta.
Rita not only grieved for her husband, but, also feared for her sons who had made a vow to avenge their father's death. Rita prayed for them and before they could carry out their plans both sons became ill. Her attention and compassionate care impressed them. Both sons were able to forgive their father's murderer as well as ask forgiveness for their own wrongdoing before they died.
Left alone in the world, Rita was again drawn to religious life and after several attempts, was finally accepted into the Augustinian convent of Santa Maria Magdalena in Cascia. Here she was noted for her obedience, humility and compassionate love toward her fellow sisters as well as those who were seen as negligent Christians. Many were persuaded to conversion by her simplicity and profound love for God. She was often seen to be wrapped in an ecstacy of prayer.
In 1441 after hearing a profound sermon on the Crown of Thorns, which Christ suffered, she experienced extreme pain in her head as though a thorn had become imbedded there. She developed an open wound that became so offensive that most of the rest of her life she had to live more or less as a recluse. Later in life she also developed a wasting disease which caused her much pain, but she is said to have accepted all with patience and gentle gratitude for all who cared for her. Her mystical experiences and the stigmata would remain with her for her entire life.
Rita died on May 22, 1447, and her body remained incorrupt. During her life and after her death many miracles were reported to have occurred because of her intercession. Because of so many miracles being attributed to her intercession, she has come to be known as the patroness of impossible or desperate causes, similar to St. Jude. Her persistence in patience and charity amidst great pain and suffering bore much fruit in her marriage and in her religious life.
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May 22 Alban Butler describes Rita as being a child of her parents' old age. She was born in 1377 at Roccaporena, in the central Apennines of Italy. Her peasant parents were pious people and encouraged the development of extreme piety and prayer in their child. While still quite young, Rita decided to dedicate her life to God and wanted to enter the Augustinian convent at nearby Casia.
Her parents insisted that she marry the man they had chosen for her. Rita accepted their decision, feeling that in obeying her parents, she was obeying the will of God for her. Unfortunately, her husband was a very cruel and violent man. They had two sons and Rita watched them develop the same kind of violent personalities as their father.
For eighteen years Rita patiently and forgivingly accepted her husbands infidelities and unkindnesses to her. Eventually he recognized her goodness and begged her forgiveness for all the hurts he had caused her, and promised reform. Unfortunately, shortly after this, he was murdered and Rita never knew if he had been the victim or the aggressor in a vendetta.
Rita not only grieved for her husband, but, also feared for her sons who had made a vow to avenge their father's death. Rita prayed for them and before they could carry out their plans both sons became ill. Her attention and compassionate care impressed them. Both sons were able to forgive their father's murderer as well as ask forgiveness for their own wrongdoing before they died.
Left alone in the world, Rita was again drawn to religious life and after several attempts, was finally accepted into the Augustinian convent of Santa Maria Magdalena in Cascia. Here she was noted for her obedience, humility and compassionate love toward her fellow sisters as well as those who were seen as negligent Christians. Many were persuaded to conversion by her simplicity and profound love for God. She was often seen to be wrapped in an ecstacy of prayer.
In 1441 after hearing a profound sermon on the Crown of Thorns, which Christ suffered, she experienced extreme pain in her head as though a thorn had become imbedded there. She developed an open wound that became so offensive that most of the rest of her life she had to live more or less as a recluse. Later in life she also developed a wasting disease which caused her much pain, but she is said to have accepted all with patience and gentle gratitude for all who cared for her. Her mystical experiences and the stigmata would remain with her for her entire life.
Rita died on May 22, 1447, and her body remained incorrupt. During her life and after her death many miracles were reported to have occurred because of her intercession. Because of so many miracles being attributed to her intercession, she has come to be known as the patroness of impossible or desperate causes, similar to St. Jude. Her persistence in patience and charity amidst great pain and suffering bore much fruit in her marriage and in her religious life.
Every time my spiritual director prays over me he has been saying for years, have hope, don't lose your hope. You would thing I would get it by now. UGH!
look like i might have to pray some novenas. 
