Today, May 22, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Rita of Cascia (1386-1456), the patron saint of impossible causes. Saint Rita’s life was one of hardship, difficulty, and disappointment, but she never lost faith in the Lord, praying ceaselessly throughout what seemed like endless days filled with harsh conditions, and was delivered from them. Known as a “Peacemaker of Jesus” for her charity and love of others, Saint Rita is a model of Christian virtue, obedience, and steadfast endurance.
Because of her many trials and sacrifices throughout her life Rita the Saint is known as Rita Patron Saint of Impossible Causes and desperate situations. She's often entreated by those suffering the afflictions of abuse, sickness, desperate causes, difficult marriages, widows and wounded people.
The life of Saint Rita of Cascia reminds us that sometimes life is hard. We may feel as if we cannot handle all the struggle that has been given to us. We may feel like we are alone. We may feel as if we are a lost cause, that holy lives are impossibilities. Yet, we are never alone, and with the Lord, all things are possible. Saint Rita’s forbearance and endurance, her obedience, and her faith all inspire us look to the Lord in our moments of weakness, hopeless, and despair. We are never alone. Nothing is impossible with God.
Oremus/ Let us pray :
O God, Who in Thine infinite tenderness hast vouchsafed to regard the prayer of Thy servant, Blessed Rita, and dost grant to her supplication that which is impossible to human foresight, skill and efforts, in reward of her compassionate love and firm reliance on Thy promise, have pity on our adversity and succor us in our calamities, that the unbeliever may know Thou art the recompense of the humble, the defense of the helpless, and the strength of those who trust in Thee, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
