RITA OF CASCIA, Saint - Panorama of Cascia with the new Sanctuary.
de John Wesley, Bruxelles 1927; G. Gangele, Recital, Roma 1929; G. Swarts, Salut par la foi et conversion brusque, Parigi 1931; A. E. Payne, The evangelical revival and the beginnings of the modern missionary movement, in Congreg. Quart., 21 (1943), pp. 223-36; C. Algermissen, La Chiesa e le Chiese, trad. it., 2a ed., Brescia 1944, pp. 656-77, 698-99, 713, 720-21. Leone Cristiani
RITA OF CASCIA, Saint. - Augustinian mystic of the 15th century, born in Roccaporena, a village in the mountains of Cascia in Umbria, around 1380, died in Cascia on 22 May 1457. From her parents Antonio and Amata Mancini she inherited a genuine religious sense, which would lead her even to heroism.
As a young woman, her desire was to consecrate herself entirely to the Lord. But compelled by obedience, she submitted to the yoke of marriage. Married to a certain Ferdinando, a young man of choleric and harsh temperament, she endured with saintly resignation the nature of her husband, who was too fond of quarrels and brawls. Two children were born: Giacomo Antonio and Paolo Maria. After several years of marriage, her husband Ferdinando was murdered, but R. knew how to forgive his killers and sought to instill Christian piety in the souls of her children. However, when she saw in them the first stirrings of vengeance for their father’s death, she preferred that God should take them rather than see those innocent hands stained with blood. The children died. Then her longing to consecrate herself to God in the religious life returned. Having entered the Augustinian monastery in Cascia, she became a model of religious perfection. She was also granted a special grace (she asked Jesus for one of the thorns from His crown; and the thorn pierced her forehead, causing her the most acute pains). In 1450, eager to go to Rome for the Jubilee, the wound closed, only to reopen as soon as she returned to Cascia. She was canonized by Leo XIII on 24 May 1900. Feast day: 22 May.