Today is the Feast of St. Rita of Cascia

What a great saint! She lived in 14th century Italy, a time when great factions engaged in open violence. Her husband, watchman for the town, was attacked and killed one night by a rival faction. Afraid that her twin teenage sons would avenge their father's death, she prayed for peace and that God would prevent them engaging in a vendetta killing. Both boys died a short while later from natural causes. While Rita mourned the loss of her husband and sons, she was at peace knowing the sin of murder was not on their consciences.

Rita wished to enter the Augustinian order but there were many sisters of the opposite faction so she was refused. She set about working to establish peace between the two groups and was so successful all objections to her entry were removed.

She is one of the saints to pray to for what seem like impossible causes. In that vein, let us pray that she will intervene in our poor divided nation to bring about peace.

While we can never ignore differences based on morality or pretend that evil is really good, we can treat every person with whom we come in contact with respect and charity. Sinners will never be won over by hate and condemnation. Jesus gave us the way when he asked the woman taken in adultery, "Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you. Go in peace, but from now on avoid this sin." We too, while we recognize certain behavior as sinful, can love the sinner and pray for his strength against temptation. After all, hasn't each of us struggled against temptation" It is only by God's grace that the enemy can be defeated. St. Rita, pray for us. For more about St. Rita go here.

St. Rita, Patronness of the Impossible

Most Catholics are familiar with St. Jude as the patron saint of impossible causes. But today's saint, Rita of Cascia, also has that reputation. One feature of St. Rita's life is particularly appropriate to this week when we saw Catholics deeply divided over President Obama speaking at Notre Dame because she was known as a reconciler who brought peace. Let us ask her intercession to bring about a true reconciliation of all Catholics to the truths of the faith. There can be no reconciliation between good and evil, but love for our enemies can become like a magnet drawing them to Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.

St. Rita was born near about three miles outside the village of Cascia, Italy. Although she wished to be a nun, her parents arranged a marriage when she was twelve. St. Rita's husband, Paolo, was a contentious and abusive man who was unfaithful to his young wife and feuded with other families in the city. He also associated with some very unsavory characters. St. Rita bore him two sons who grew up imitating their father. Fearful of the bad environment, St. Rita finally persuaded Paolo to move to a smaller town where life would be quieter. Unfortunately, because of his past associations, Paolo was brutally murdered. Before he died, he begged St. Rita for forgiveness and was reconciled to God.

St. Rita's two sons were determined to take revenge on their father's murderer. When she couldn't convince them to abandon the idea, she prayed that the Lord would take them both before they could commit such a grave sin. Within a year both died of natural causes. What a mother who cared so much more about the eternal salvation of her children than their physical lives.

Despite so many difficulties, St. Rita was able to bring about peace among the feuding families and to finally achieve her tremendous desire to live a consecrated life.

Read more about St. Rita here.