Saint Rita of Cascia, Patron Saint of Marriages and Impossible Causes

Among the few married saints that Christian history can enumerate, Saint Rita of Cascia is perhaps the most beloved. Invoked as the protector of marriages and lost causes, she was a wife and mother before taking religious vows.

Not all saints are born with a vocation. Or rather, not all dedicate their lives to God and the Church from a young age. Take Saint Rita of Cascia, who, before taking the veil and entering the Augustinian convent of Saint Mary Magdalene in Cascia, was a wife and mother of two sons. Indeed, it may be precisely this life experience as an ordinary woman that has fuelled the people’s devotion to her, as they felt her to be closer and more relatable than other religious figures who became saints.

The story of Saint Rita of Cascia was full of tragedy, plagued by many thorns—like the roses she loved dearly and which became one of the symbols of her devotion. She lived in a time marked by continuous wars and bloody feuds between families that spanned generations. Although little is known about Saint Rita’s life before becoming a nun, we do know she was born around 1371, and her parents, Antonio Lotti and Amata Ferri, were landowners who had been appointed by the town of Roccaporena, near Cascia in the province of Perugia, as Peacemakers of Christ. Their role was to maintain peace between Ghibelline families (Cascia was largely under their influence) and Guelf families.

The Guelfs and the Ghibellines were two historically opposing factions, dating back to 1125 when, upon the death of Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, the Bavarian and Saxon houses opposed the Swabian line in claiming the crown. The Guelfs (Welfen) supported the Bavarians and Saxons, sided with the Pope, built castles with square battlements, and bore the cross of Saint George. The Ghibellines (Waiblingen) supported the Hohenstaufen Swabians, were more loyal to the Emperor than the Pope, built castles with swallow-tailed battlements, and fought under the banner of the cross of Saint John the Baptist.

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St Rita of Cascia wooden statue painted

St Rita of Cascia wooden statue made in Val Gardena Italy.

Rita was married to Paolo di Ferdinando di Mancino, a Ghibelline officer, by the will of her parents. He was a proud and violent man who, for her sake, managed to abandon his belligerence and devote himself to his family, working as a miller. They had two children, possibly twins, and for a time lived in happiness and peace. But the ghosts of Paolo’s turbulent past came back to claim their due, and one night, while returning home, he was brutally murdered—perhaps by his former comrades.

Rita, a pious and gentle woman, did not seek revenge. On the contrary, she immediately forgave her husband’s killers in her heart and prayed to God that her sons would never sully their hands seeking vengeance. Her prayers were answered, albeit in the most painful way: both sons fell ill and died.

Left alone and abandoned even by her husband’s relatives—whom she had persuaded not to pursue any vengeance—she was eventually granted permission to enter the convent of Saint Mary Magdalene in Cascia as an Augustinian nun. According to hagiographic legend, her three patron saints—Saint Augustine, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Nicholas of Tolentino—carried her in flight over the convent walls by night.

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Saint Rita ring in 925 silver with shaking hands

Saint Rita ring in 925 silver with shaking hands and internal punching as warranty.

Saint Rita of Cascia lived for another forty years in contemplation, penance, and prayer. Moved by an infinite love for Christ, she wished to share in His Passion: she regularly mortified her flesh, wore a hairshirt, and underwent long periods of fasting and solitude. Her prayers were answered again, and on Good Friday evening, 18 April 1432, Saint Rita was struck on the forehead by one of the thorns from the crown Jesus wore on the cross. This stigmata never disappeared and remained with her until her death, earning her the title Saint of the Thorn.

Speaking of thorns, we mentioned Saint Rita’s love of roses. She is also known as the Saint of the Rose. As she lay dying, she asked a cousin to bring her a rose and some figs from the garden of her childhood home in Roccaporena. It was deep winter, snow blanketed everything, but the cousin went to the garden and found a freshly blossomed red rose and two ripe, juicy figs. The rose thus became one of the symbols of Saint Rita. Staying within the natural theme, bees were also particularly dear to this saint: it is said that when she was a baby, white bees flew around her cradle, and when she lay dying, black bees kept her company.

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Saint Rita of Cascia print on canvas 25×20 cm

This traditional image from Fratelli Bonella’s archives is given a sense of spirituality by the artistic effect of canvas.

Saint Rita is also remembered as the Saint of the Impossible, or Saint of Lost Causes. From the day of her death, miraculous healings and wonders began to occur, stirring amazement and deep devotion among those who already loved and regarded her as a living saint.

The convent where Saint Rita lived for over forty years is still home to Augustinian nuns, who, like her, live in seclusion, dedicated to prayer, silence, and service to others.

Saint Rita, Protector of Marriages

Due to her personal story and tragic widowhood, Saint Rita of Cascia is also considered the patron saint of marriages, particularly those facing difficulties. Couples in crisis or going through hard times pray to her, especially women suffering in painful or oppressive marriages.

Here is a prayer to Saint Rita of Cascia for grace, especially for brides or couples in distress:

O glorious Saint Rita,
Obtain for us from the Lord the strength we need
to remain faithful to God and to each other.

Take care of us,
bless our path,
so that everything may serve to glorify God
and for our mutual benefit.

May nothing ever disturb our harmony.
May our home be prosperous,
O Saint Rita; may it be assisted by the angels of peace,
may all evil discord depart,
may charity reign supreme,
and may the love that unites two hearts,
that binds two souls redeemed by the most pure Blood of Jesus,
never fail.

Amen

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Wedding

Here you can find gift ideas, favours, sacred icons and beautiful headboard rosaries.

Donating a Wedding Dress to Saint Rita

For over sixty years, a unique and commendable practice has developed around the Monastery of Saint Rita of Cascia. Brides who no longer need their wedding dress may choose to donate it to the monastery. The cloistered nuns, expert seamstresses, restore the gowns and offer them to girls who cannot afford a new wedding dress. By contacting the monastery, one can obtain information about dress sizes and the donation process. And if the bride prefers a civil wedding, the nuns will not disapprove—they are ready to help even those who choose not to marry in church!

The Devotion of the Fifteen Thursdays of Saint Rita

The devotion of the Fifteen Thursdays of Saint Rita of Cascia was established to commemorate the fifteen years during which the saint bore the stigma of the thorn on her forehead, with which Jesus marked her as His faithful and beloved servant. The devotion involves dedicating the fifteen Thursdays preceding the celebration of her liturgical feast on 22 May to particular acts of piety. Devotees wishing to express their love and invoke the saint’s help should approach Confession and Communion and devote a moment of the day to meditating on an episode from Saint Rita’s life or an aspect of her faith. Since 1919, those who practise the devotion of the Fifteen Thursdays of Saint Rita of Cascia have been granted a plenary or partial indulgence, to be applied to the souls in Purgatory.

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Saint Rita of Cascia white candle 13×5 cm

Candle in white wax with image of Saint Rita of Cascia.