05/13/2025
Today we begin 9 days of prayer for a Patron Saint of Abuse Victims, Family Feuds, Mothers + More: Saint Rita of Cascia, pray for us. Rita is short for Margherita Lotti, who was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1900.
Saint Rita's feast day is on May 22, which is the day we celebrate her entry to Heaven, after she died at the age of 77 in 1457. In anticipation of her feast day, for the next 9 days between today May 13th and May 21st we will share reflections of Saint Rita, as we seek to learn more about her and to grow like her. If we want to love someone, it helps to know more about that person. A Saint is someone close to God's heart, and if we want to love God, it helps to know more about the people close to His heart.
Saint Rita was married to an abusive husband Paolo, who took nearly 18 years to amend his ways, before he was killed in a feud between competing families.
Her patience in difficulty, and prayers for her abusive husband's conversion is part of why she is considered a patron saint for abused people. If God is the living God, then his Saints in Heaven are living too, and Saint Rita understands what abuse victims go through and seeks God's intervention on their behalf. Ultimately the hope is people correct their ways and turn to love, and we can pray to Saint Rita for that help.
Near Valparaiso in Chicago is the Saint Rita of Cascia Shrine, and their novena (9 days of prayer) is located here: https://www.stritashrinechicago.com/novena
You can message us if you'd like us to pray for your intentions, especially if all hope seems lost. As Saint Rita is also a patroness of impossible causes, much like Saint Jude.
Why a novena? It's where we model the apostle's prayers for 9 days between when Jesus Ascended into Heaven, and the Holy Spirit's descent at Pentecost.