Whether you need a moment of sanity while raising a houseful of crazy kids, want a little extra heavenly help with your marriage, or just plain can’t sleep because of your upcoming final, St. Rita—patron of impossible causes, difficult marriages, and parenthood—is your gal. Throughout her life, St. Rita went through trial after trial, but she never ceased to trust God with whatever came her way. Here are a few awesome tidbits about this saint that might help remind you that God has everything under control.
1. St. Rita and the bees
When Rita was an infant, the day after she was baptized, she was surrounded by a swarm of peaceful white bees. Instead of freaking out, her family knew she was marked to be full of virtue and devoted to the Lord.
2. She dealt with an abusive marriage
Although Rita begged to be allowed to join the convent when she was young, her parents married her off to Paolo Manici, a man who abused Rita both physically and emotionally. Rita responded to her husband’s cruel treatment with patience, love, and prayer. Unfortunately, soon after his change of heart, Paolo was murdered due to a family feud. Poor Rita was devastated, but she understood that she should accept her husband’s death as Gods plan, and even forgave the men who killed him in a public pardon.
3. St. Rita had two sons
Rita was the mother to two boys. She raised them to be particularly invested in the Corporeal and Spiritual works of mercy. However, after the death of their father, the boys’ uncle encouraged them to become invested in the feud that killed their father. Rita, ever trusting, begged God to protect her sons from becoming murderers, even to the point of asking God to take them before they could avenge their father’s death. God heard Rita and both of her sons died of dysentery.
4. She joined a convent
After her sons died, finally Rita joined the Augustinian monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in Cascia, just as she had begged her parents to allow her many years prior. Rita faithfully performed her duties at the St. Mary Magdalene’s and remained there until her death.
5. St. Rita had the Stigmata
Rita received the stigmata when she was 76 – five years prior to her death. While contemplating His Passion, Rita expressed her willingness to Jesus to share in His suffering and she was rewarded with a nail mark on her forehead.
6. Her body is incorruptible
Shortly after Rita died, the crippled carpenter who was to make her coffin commented on Rita’s piety. He said, “If only I were well. Then I would have prepared a place more worthy of you.” Upon saying this, he was healed, marking St. Rita’s first miracle. Rita’s burial was delayed by the amount of people that wished to come visit her, and it did not take long before it was clear that her body would not decay, but was incorruptible.
