Zita of Lucca | |
|---|---|
 Arnould de Vuez, Sainte Zite (1696), Hospice Comtesse | |
| Virgin | |
| Born | c. 1212 Monte Sagrati, near Lucca, Italy |
| Died | April 27, 1272 (aged 59–60) Lucca, Italy |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Canonized | 5 September 1696 (confirmation of cult) by Pope Innocent XII |
| Major shrine | Basilica di San Frediano, Lucca |
| Feast | 27 April |
| Attributes | depicted with a bag, keys |
| Patronage | Domestic servants, homemakers, lost keys, people ridiculed for their piety, single laywomen, waiters, waitresses, Lucca |
Zita (c. 1212 – 27 April 1272), also known as Sitha or Citha, is an Italian saint, the patron saint of maids and domestic servants. She is often appealed to in order to help find lost keys.
Zita entered domestic service at the age of 12, and served the same family for almost 50 years. Through her diligence and fidelity, she became a trusted and valued servant. She spent her days doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. Zita was known for her kindness and generosity to the poor.