From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   May 22nd - St. Rita of Cascia   
      
   Rita Lotti was born in 1381 in the tiny hamlet of Roccaporena, near Cascia,   
   in the Province of Umbria, Italy. Her parents Antonio and Amata looked upon   
   their only child as a very special gift from God since she was born to them   
   as they were already getting on in years.   
      
   The Lottis were a devout Christian couple, offering their daughter the   
   witness of strong faith in God and a practical example of Gospel living,   
   especially in their role as official peacemakers or reconcilers among their   
   fellow citizens. It should not have been surprising then that Rita, who   
   shared her parents strong faith and religious devotion, would have desired   
   to dedicate her life to God as a nun. Unexpected, rather, was the response   
   of Antonio and Amata, who preferred to see Rita married, and who, in fact,   
   had arranged a suitable husband for her.   
      
   Though initially disappointed, Rita understood this choice to be the   
   expression of God's will for her and so she consented. Both the civil and   
   ecclesiastical climates at the time were not healthy ones - frequent   
   conflicts and family rivalries were routinely settled by the rule of   
   vendetta on the social level - and the scandal of antipopes and their rival   
   bishops dominated the life of the Church. The only child of aging parents   
   would have been far safer under the protection of a good husband, they   
   thought, than she would be behind the unguarded walls of a convent.   
      
   Thus Rita was married to Paolo Mancini, a good man though of strong and   
   impetuous character. Their marriage was blessed with two sons, perhaps   
   twins, and Rita's days were soon filled with the typical concerns of wife,   
   mother and housekeeper, while Paolo was employed as a watchman for the town.   
   As a minor civil servant, Paolo often found himself drawn into the conflicts   
   that existed between rival political factions, and this may account for the   
   tragedy which eventually touched the Mancini family. One day as he was   
   returning from work Paolo was ambushed and killed. The pain which this   
   unexpected and violent death inflicted upon Rita was only compounded by the   
   fear that her sons would seek to avenge their father's death.   
      
   Her example of forgiveness, her words of instruction and pleading, her   
   prayers for their change of heart, were unable to move the two boys to   
   forego any act of retaliation, and so Rita entrusted the cause totally to   
   God, asking him to handle the situation which was beyond her control. As it   
   happened, both sons died within the year.   
      
   Now alone, Rita gave herself to works of charity and to a more intense life   
   of prayer. Eventually the desire to enter the convent once more grew in her,   
   but her request for entrance among the Augustinian Nuns of Cascia was   
   refused, not once but three times. Though Rita was known to the nuns of the   
   Monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene, her good character and religious spirit   
   were outweighed, in the judgment of the community, by the violence that   
   surrounded Paolo's death. The nuns were afraid of tempting the peace of   
   convent life, possibly because one of their members belonged to the family   
   responsible for Paolo's murder. But Rita felt deeply that this was the   
   vocation to which she was called and she turned to her three patron saints   
   to intercede for her. After the third refusal of the nuns, Rita recognized   
   that she herself must put their fears to rest. She approached Paolo's family   
   as well as their rivals, and persuaded them to put an end to their hostility   
   and to live in peace.   
      
   The example of her own forgiving spirit, no doubt, was an inspiration and -   
   perhaps an embarrassment - to them. The families were reconciled. They   
   signed a document to this effect, and when Rita presented the document to   
   the nuns, they no longer had reason to refuse her. Rita Lotti Mancini now   
   became Sister Rita.   
      
   For the next forty years Rita lived the life of an Augustinian Nun,   
   according to the Rule of the saint she had chosen years before as her   
   spiritual father, Saint Augustine of Hippo. His was a gentle Rule which   
   invited the members of the community to strive in every way possible to   
   achieve communion of mind and heart with God and one another. Her days were   
   spent in prayer and contemplation, in service to the sick and the poor, and   
   in activities necessary to support the life of the small community.   
      
   After twenty-five years of religious life, Rita was given what she   
   considered a most treasured and singular gift from God. Always devoted to   
   Jesus crucified, her desire constantly grew to share in his great act of   
   love for her and for all humanity by helping to carry his cross. One day as   
   she knelt in prayer, her forehead was pierced by a violent wound, a thorn   
   from the crown that covered Jesus' own head. She bore this wound for fifteen   
   years until the day of her death.   
      
   For the last several years of her life Rita was confined to bed. The last of   
   the many crosses she was presented in life was now the humbling condition of   
   an invalid, totally dependent upon the charity of her sisters. Finally, on   
   May 22,1457 Rita's life on earth came to an end. The various crosses she had   
   born as wife, widow, mother and nun were now put aside once and for all as   
   she met the embrace of her Risen Lord.   
      
   She is patron of those in desperate situations, of parenthood, and against   
   infertility   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Although tares, or impure vessels, are found in the church, yet this is not   
   a reason why we should withdraw from it. It only behooves us to labor that   
   we may be vessels of gold or of silver. But to break in pieces the vessels   
   of earth belongs to the Lord alone, to whom a rod of iron is also given. Nor   
   let any one arrogate to himself what is exclusively the province of the Son   
   of God, by pretending to fan the floor, clear away the chaff, and separate   
   all the tares by the Judgment of man. This is proud obstinacy and   
   sacrilegious presumption, originating in a corrupt frenzy.   
   - St. Cyprian   
      
   Bible quote:   
   But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and   
   keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely   
   live, he shall not die.   
   - Ezekiel 18:21   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer to St. Rita:   
      
   O powerful St. Rita, rightly called Saint of the Impossible,   
   I come to thee with confidence in my great need.   
   Thou knowest well my trials, for thee thyself were many times   
   burdened in this life. Come to my help, speak for me,   
   pray with me, intercede on my behalf before the Father.   
    I know that God has a most generous heart and that   
   He is a most loving Father. Join thine prayers to mine and   
   obtain for me the grace I desire   
      
   (here mention your request).   
      
    Thou who wast so very pleasing to God on   
   earth and are so much more so in heaven,   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)