MEDITATION The Story of Saint Rita: Part IX Death; events/miracles following her death, beatification and canonization Having faithfully and lovingly responded to God’s many invitations to her in the course of her seventy-six years, Rita returned to God in peace on May 22, 1457. At the moment Rita died, one of the nuns saw angels taking her soul to heaven (she was 76 years old - 46 years as an Augustinian nun). Then, almost immediately, her cell was aglow with a supernatural light and her body sent forth a sweet odor which filled the whole convent. The worms from the wound in her forehead became pretty lights which twinkled like stars, and her wound shown with the brilliance of a ruby. Her frail, thin body became soft and fresh and Rita appeared peaceful and much younger. Bells rang throughout Cascia - in the convents and churches - as though rung by the angels. The nuns prepared her body for burial and she was placed in the same habit and headdress she had worn since her entrance into the convent. Miracles also occurred as people came to pay their last respects to Rita; one of which was a relative whose arm had been paralyzed for years. It was instantly cured. People broke out in joy and gladness as they praised and thanked God for this miracle. The nuns went to the home of Francis Barbari, a local carpenter, to ask if he could build a coffin for Rita. They found him so sick and feeble that he could not move a hand or a foot. He promised to make the coffin if he could be cured through Rita’s intercession. He was immediately cured and made the coffin which still holds St. Rita’s body. Rita’s body was brought to the centre of the oratory where the crucifix was when Rita prayed and received the wound in her forehead. An altar has been built over her body so people can still see her face. The house in Rocca Porrena where Rita was born and lived later became a Church. St. Rita’s body remains as it was when she died, it has not become corrupted - she appears as in a sound sleep. From time to time, the nuns place pieces of linen or woolen clothes on her body which they then cut into small pieces to be distributed as 2nd Class relics among the faithful. Many healings and miracles have taken place as a result. The bees that first swarmed around Rita as an infant, and again when she entered the convent, are now retired in the convent wall. Every Holy Week they leave the convent until the feast of St. Rita. Oftentimes, during the year they fly through the convent or the garden, only after first flying to Rita’s cell, as if they needed permission to do so for their recreation. They are constant companions of the nuns while they are kneading the dough to make the little loaves of bread of St. Rita. These little loaves of bread are distributed on her feast day after being touched to the body of St. Rita. They are to be eaten in times of serious illness and are used during bad weather. One should recite “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” with their use. There have also been many miracles attributed to the oil from the lamp at St. Rita’s tomb. Her body has also levitated (floated in the air) at times, especially on her feast day, May 22. In 1626, Pope Urban VIII requested a thorough investigation into the life of St. Rita in preparation for her beatification. The nuns sent one of the little white bees, which appeared at Rita’s birth, to the Holy Father. These white bees predicted the sanctity of Rita and would be made known by a pope, who himself would come to be associated with bees (there are three bees on his coat of arms). The pope blessed the bee and sent it back to Cascia. During the beatification ceremonies, the reading of the Apostolic Brief declaring the Servant of God a Blessed is followed by a sung High Mass. During the Gloria, a large picture of the Blessed, which is on the altar, is unveiled. The ceremonies end with the chanting of “Holy God, we praise Thy Name.” In Cascia, on the eve of the feast [i.e., the beatification], when the time came to recite the vespers of the office of the Saint, the secular clergy claimed the right to conduct the function. The Augustinian priests disputed this right with much vigour. The nuns frightened by the commotion implored God, through the intercession of Rita. To their great surprise, the body of the Saint raised itself to the top of the coffin and opened its eyes, which had been closed since the time of the Saint’s death - a period of 171 years. The nuns rang the bells of the convent, and in answer to the call, thousands of people passed before the body of Rita as witnesses to this prodigy. Needless to say, peace was restored between the disputing clergy. Following her beatification, many miracles occurred through St. Rita’s intercession. On one occasion, Sr. Constanza, the superioress of the convent, had run out of wine, and there was no money with which to purchase it. She went with confidence to the tomb of St. Rita. A short time later, there was a knock at the door. A man stood there with a barrel of wine. After placing it in the cellar, he and the donkey pulling the cart of wine just disappeared. A similar thing happened on another occasion when they were again out of wine. This time Rita’s voice was heard to say to the wife of Cascia’s treasurer, “Send some wine to the convent, the nuns have none.” Many times, Rita would send a priest to an ailing or dying nun to administer the Last Sacraments. The list of miracles goes on and on. On May 24, 1900, Pope Leo XIII declared Blessed Rita a Saint and further decreed that perpetual veneration should be given her yearly in the universal Church on May 22. Thus ends this abbreviated account of the life, death, beatification, and canonization of Rita Mancini; maid, wife, mother, widow, and nun. Point for reflection: Having followed the amazing story of the life of St. Rita, it must not be forgotten that the virtues that made St. Rita particularly pleasing to God were the love of neighbour and devotion to Jesus Christ Crucified. These two virtues contain all the wisdom of Christianity which God asks of us all. So let us pray to St. Rita as intercessor in helping us obtain perfection in these two virtues so that we too may enjoy the presence and companionship of God, as does St. Rita, now in Heaven with her Divine Spouse… St. Rita, pray for us! CONT. PRAYER NOVENA PRAYER of PETITION Glorious Saint Rita, patroness of those in need, your intercession with our Lord is most powerful. Through the favors obtained by your prayers you have been called “Advocate of hopeless and even impossible cases.” Saint Rita, humble and pure; patient and compassionate lover of Christ Crucified! We have confidence that everyone who has recourse to you will find comfort and relief. Listen to our petitions and show your power with God on our behalf. Obtain our petitions for us if they are for the greater honor of God, and for our good. We promise, if our petitions are granted, to make known your favor, and to glorify God for His gift. Relying on your power with the merciful Savior, we ask of you... (mention your request in silence) By the singular merits of your childhood, obtain our request for us. By your perfect union with the Divine Will, obtain our request for us. By your acceptance of troubles in your married life, obtain our request for us. By the anguish felt at the murder of your husband, obtain our request for us. By the surrender of your children, rather than have them offend God, obtain our request for us. By your miraculous entrance into the convent, obtain our request for us. By your daily penance and fasting, obtain our request for us. By your courage and joy in bearing the mark of the Crucified Savior, obtain our request for us. By the Divine Love which consumed your life, obtain our request for us. By your devotion in receiving the Blessed Sacrament, obtain our request for us. By the happiness you felt in leaving this life for union with Christ, obtain our request for us. By the example you have given to people of every state of life, obtain our request for us. Pray for us, Saint Rita, That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. Heavenly Father! In Your infinite love and mercy, You heed the prayer of Your beloved servant, Rita. You graciously grant favors through her intercession, which are considered impossible to human skill and effort. Relying on her compassionate love, we ask You to assist us in our trials and difficulties. Let unbelievers know that you are the helper of the humble, the defender of the weak, and the strength of those who trust in You. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Through the intercession of St. Rita, may the Lord bless + us protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen St. Rita of Cascia, pray for us.

Saint Rita pray for me for the things that seem to me impossible, and take my petitions to our heavenly Father, with him and through him all things are possible. I BELIEVE. 🙏🙏🙏.

St. Rita of Cascia please pray for us. St. Rita of Cascia please pray for my son, Daniel Xavier Huidor, me and our loved ones. Thank you. Amen

For our youth . For nephew to reconcile with his son. For families who have left the church.

May God Bless you and us all AMEN

Amen