St. Rita of Cascia
Patroness of Impossible Causes
Feast Day: May 22
Biography
St. Rita of Cascia (1381–1457) is often called the 'Saint of the Impossible' alongside St. Jude. From childhood she longed for religious life, but her parents arranged her marriage at age twelve to Paolo Mancini, a violent and unfaithful man. For eighteen years, Rita endured his cruelty with heroic patience, prayer, and gentleness — and eventually won his conversion. Shortly after, Paolo was murdered in a vendetta. When Rita's two sons swore to avenge their father, she prayed that God would take them rather than let them commit murder; both died of natural causes within a year. Widowed and childless, Rita sought to enter the Augustinian convent at Cascia but was refused three times — partly because of a rule against accepting widows, and partly because the convent feared involvement in the ongoing blood feud. According to tradition, she was miraculously transported inside the convent walls by her three patron saints (St. John the Baptist, St. Augustine, and St. Nicholas of Tolentino). As a nun, she lived a life of intense penance and prayer. In 1443, while meditating on the Passion, she received a wound on her forehead from a thorn of Christ's crown, which she bore for the last fifteen years of her life. The wound was so severe and malodorous that she had to live in isolation, yet she bore it with joy.
Patronages
Symbols
Prayer
O Holy Patroness of those in need, St. Rita, whose pleadings before your Divine Lord are almost irresistible, who for your lavishness in granting favors have been called the Advocate of the Hopeless and even of the Impossible, I come to you with full confidence in your power. Pray for me to our merciful Lord that He may grant my petition. Amen.
Asking for Intercession
Catholics ask saints to pray with us and for us, as we ask friends on earth. St. Rita of Cascia, who lives in God's presence, intercedes before His throne. Speak from your heart: “St. Rita of Cascia, please pray for me…” You may also pray the prayer above or include this intention in your Rosary.