Rita of Cascia, O.S.A. | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of St. Rita, detail of the chest that contained the body, Sanctuary of Cascia. | |
| Widow and Religious | |
| Born | 1381 Roccaporena, Perugia, Papal States |
| Died | 22 May 1457 (aged 75–76) Cascia, Perugia, Papal States |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 1626 by Pope Urban VIII |
| Canonized | 24 May 1900, St. Peter's Basilica by Pope Leo XIII |
| Major shrine | Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia, Cascia, Perugia, Italy |
| Feast | 22 May |
| Attributes | Forehead wound, rose, bees, grape vine |
| Patronage | Lost and impossible causes, sickness, wounds, marital problems, abuse, mothers |
| Controversy | Spousal abuse, feud, family honor, loneliness |
Rita of Cascia, OSA (born Margherita Ferri Lotti; 1381 – 22 May 1457), was an Italian widow and Augustinian nun. After Rita's husband died, she joined a small community of nuns, who later became Augustinians, where she was known both for practicing mortification of the flesh[1] and for the efficacy of her prayers. Various miracles are attributed to her intercession, and she is often portrayed with a bleeding wound on her forehead, which is understood to indicate a partial stigmata.
Pope Leo XIII canonized Rita on 24 May 1900. Her feast day is celebrated on 22 May. At her canonization ceremony, she was bestowed the title of "Patroness of Impossible Causes," while in many Catholic countries, Rita came to be known as the patroness of abused wives and heartbroken women. Her bodily remains lie in the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia.