ZITA (CITA), SANTA - Enciclopedia Cattolica, Vol. XII, p. 1109

Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.

**ZITA (Cita), Saint.** - A Lucchese virgin, born at Monsagrati (Tuscany) in 1218, died at Lucca on 27 April 1272, as attested by a contemporary Life (cf. Acta SS. cited below, p. 507).

At the age of 12, while in service in the household of the Fatinelli family in Lucca, she suffered from the harshness of her masters and fellow servants; but having later gained their esteem and trust, she was entrusted with the management of the household. Immediately after her death, the reputation of her sanctity, confirmed by numerous miracles, aroused the veneration of the faithful. Her body was laid to rest in the basilica of S. Frediano in Lucca, where it is venerated as almost incorrupt. The cult of the Saint was authorized by Paganello, Bishop of Lucca, about May 1278 (Dante recalls “one of the elders of St. Zita”: *Inferno*, XXI, 34-42); confirmed by Innocent XII on 5 September 1696, it spread throughout Italy, then to Europe and America. The Saint is invoked by domestic servants, of whom she was declared patroness on 26 September 1953. Feast day: 27 April.

Bibl.:** The Life, by a contemporary, partly in *Acta SS. Aprilis*, III, Antwerp 1675, pp. 499-510, is preserved in a 14th-century manuscript copy at Lucca (Government Library). The *Miracula*, recorded by a contemporary notary, in *Acta SS.*, loc. cit., pp. 510-527. Acts of the canonization process, 17th century, in the Episcopal Archive of Lucca. Biographies: A. Guerra, *Istoria della vita di s. Z.*, 2nd ed., Parma 1895; F. P. Luiso, *L’anziano di s. Z.*, Lucca 1927 (cf. review by B. de Gaiffier, in *Anal. Bolland.*, 48 [1930], pp. 229-30); C. Boffa, *S. Z., vergine lucchese*, Alba 1935; G. Casali, *S. Z.*, Lucca 1936; *Martyrologium Romanum*, pp. 158-59; P. Puccinelli, *S. Z., vergine lucchese*, Lucca 1940. Clemente Schmitt