I have to admit, until the age of fifty-five I did not care much for St. Rita. All my life, growing up, she was merely a passing holy card here and there in an old lady’s missal--a picture of a woman in saccharine and sentimental ecstasy, pictured with a thorn in her forehead. I never even gave her a second thought. It wasn’t until my daughter Madeleine read about her when in search of Confirmation saints, and excitedly told me the whole story that I suddenly perked up and listened. It was a fantastical tale of family feuds, vendettas, murders, and violence, with young Rita set down in the center of it all, unable to escape what we would now call, with a sense of dread, the Maffia.
I am glad you told us about her life...today at mass we were told that she was the saint of difficult marriages; she prayed that her sons die before they killed for revenge. Her prayers were answered as they both died of illness before they could take revenge.
As often happens, your writing brought tears, Denise! St. Rita is now on my present list of much-needed patrons, beside St. Dwynwen, St. Dymphna, St. Joan of Arc, and my namesakes.
Just beautiful, Denise. Thank you!
I am glad you told us about her life...today at mass we were told that she was the saint of difficult marriages; she prayed that her sons die before they killed for revenge. Her prayers were answered as they both died of illness before they could take revenge.
As often happens, your writing brought tears, Denise! St. Rita is now on my present list of much-needed patrons, beside St. Dwynwen, St. Dymphna, St. Joan of Arc, and my namesakes.