NOVENA TO SAINT RITA OF CASCIA, PATRONESS OF IMPOSSIBLE CASES: DAY 4 – (For those who experience discord and hatred in the family)

O God, come to my aid+
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

1. O Santa Rita, a faithful wife and caring mother
You showed the way for us to live our daily lives
In holiness and zeal, in loving surrender
To all that God wills: true Christian model!

Chorus:
We sing with joy through Santa Rita’s praises
To God our loving hearts we raise
Till all our days be filled with God’s wonders
Such rose in Rita’s hands blossoms in every season

2. O Santa Rita, a widowed spouse yet pure of heart
You paved the way for us to see heaven’s glory
By your pains and sufferings
By your prayers with the thorns
Share in the Cross of Christ: grant us our wishes.
Such Rose in Rita’s hands blossoms in every season.

DAILY PRAYER TO SAINT RITA

O Holy Patroness of those in need, Saint Rita, whose pleadings before thy Divine Lord are almost irresistible, who for thy lavishness in granting favours hast been called the Advocate of the hopeless and even of the Impossible.

Saint Rita, so humble, so pure, so mortified, so patient and of compassionate love for thy Crucified Jesus that thou couldst obtain from him whatsoever thou askest, on account of which all confidently have recourse to thee, expecting, if not always relief, at least comfort; be propitious to our petition, showing thy power with God on behalf of thy suppliant; be lavish to us, as thou hast been in so many wonderful cases, for the greater glory of God, for the spreading of thine own devotion, and for the consolation of those who trust in thee.

MEDITATION

(The Story of Saint Rita: Part IV)

Peacemaker

Now alone in the world and without family responsibilities, Rita once more turned her thoughts to the desired vocation of her youth, that of joining the Augustinian Nuns of Saint Mary Magdalene Monastery. Some of the religious of the community, however, were relatives of the members of the political faction considered responsible for Paolo’s death, and so as not to tempt the harmony of the convent, Rita’s request for admission was denied. However, Rita was not discouraged but convinced that she was called to the contemplative community. She returned and asked for entry again, but the sisters even more firmly refused, citing that although Rita had forgiven her husband’s killers, her family had not.  There were members of the rival family in the convent; her presence would be detrimental to community harmony. And so, inspired by her three patron saints (St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Nicholas of Tolentine, and John the Baptist), Rita set out to make peace between the families.  She went to her husband’s family and exhorted them to put aside their hostility and stubbornness. They were convinced by her courage and agreed.  The rival family, astounded by this overture of peace, also agreed. The two families exchanged a peace embrace and signed a written agreement, putting the vendetta to rest forever. A fresco depicting the scene of the peace embrace was placed on a wall of the Church of Saint Francis in Cascia, an enduring reminder of the power of good over evil and a testament to the widow whose forgiving spirit achieved the impossible.

Points for reflection:

St. Rita was a peacemaker. The length at which she went in order to restore peace is highly commendable. And so, we could apply the beatitude to her: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons (and daughters) of God.” (Mat. 5:9). Today, let us pray to St. Rita, asking her to obtain for us the grace of becoming instruments of peace; forgiving our “enemies” who hurt us so much.

Chorus:
Lord, Make us instruments of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let your love increase
Lord, make us instruments of your peace,
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
When we are your instruments of peace.

1. Where there is hatred, we will show his love
Where there is injury, we will never judge
Where there is striving, we will speak his peace
To the millions crying for release,
We will be his instruments of peace
(Chorus)

2. Where there is blindness, we will pray for sight
where there is darkness, we will shine his light
Where there is sadness, we will bear their grief
To the millions crying for relief,
We will be your instruments of peace.
(Chorus)

DAY 4 PRAYER

Glorious St Rita, you brokered peace between your husband’s family and the family of his murderer. We ask you to intercede anywhere in our lives where there are discord and hatred, and for all families affected by animosity.

Relying then upon thy merits before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray thee obtain for us our request for those who experience discord and hatred in the family (now, mention your particular intention).

We honour thy perfect union with the Divine Will, thy heroic sufferings during thy married life, the consolation thou did experience at the conversion of thy husband, the sacrifice of thy children rather than see them grievously offend God, thy miraculous entrance into the convent, thy severe penances and thrice daily bloody scourgings, thy suffering caused by the wound thou did receive from the thorn of thy Crucified Saviour, thy divine love which consumed thy heart, that remarkable devotion to the Blessed Sacrament on which alone thou did exist for four years, the happiness with which thou did part from thy trials to join thy Divine Spouse, the perfect example thou gave to people of every state of life.

LITANY OF SAINT RITA 
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us!
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us!
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us!
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us!
Immaculate Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother of pure love, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Queen of all saints, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Model of life for Saint Rita, pray for us.
St. Rita, our advocate and protectress, pray for us.
St. Rita, beloved by the Lord, pray for us.
St. Rita, given special grace from heaven, pray for us.
St. Rita, remarkable in childhood, pray for us.
St. Rita, model of obedience to God’s Will, pray for us.
St. Rita, the peacemaker, pray for us.
St. Rita, of untiring patience, pray for us.
St. Rita, model of Christian mothers, pray for us.
St. Rita, mirror for Christian spouses, pray for us.
St. Rita, heroic in sacrifice, pray for us.
St. Rita, generous in forgiving, pray for us.
St. Rita, martyr in penitence, pray for us.
St. Rita, embracing humility and poverty, pray for us.
St. Rita, exemplary as a widow, pray for us.
St. Rita, prompt to answer the divine call, pray for us.
St. Rita, patient in suffering, pray for us.
St. Rita, mirror of religious observance, pray for us.
St. Rita, mystical rose of every virtue, pray for us.
St. Rita, enamoured of the Passion of Christ, pray for us.
St. Rita, pierced with a thorn, pray for us.
St. Rita, in ecstasy before the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.
St. Rita, consumed with Divine Love, pray for us.
St. Rita, received into heaven with joy, pray for us.
St. Rita, incorrupt in your chaste body, pray for us.
St. Rita, advocate of impossible cases, pray for us.
St. Rita, persevering in prayer, pray for us.
St. Rita, help of those in need, pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Leader: Lord, you have signed your servant, Rita.

All: With the marks of Your love and Passion.

Let us pray: 

O God, who bestowed on St. Rita such grace that she loved her enemies, and bore in her heart and on her forehead the mark of Your love and Passion, grant us, we beseech You, through her merits and intercession, a love for our enemies. Through our contemplation of Your Son’s sufferings and Passion, may we merit the reward promised to the meek and the suffering. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Our Father…3 Hail Marys… Glory be… (For the intentions of the Church, the Holy Father, Pope Francis; and for peace in Nigeria)

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Glorious St. Rita, by the singular merits of your childhood, obtain our request for us.
By your perfect union with the Divine Will, obtain our request for us.
By your acceptance of troubles in your married life, obtain our request for us.
By the anguish felt at the murder of your husband, obtain our request for us.
By your miraculous entrance into the convent, obtain our request for us.
By your daily penance and fasting, obtain our request for us.
By your courage and joy in bearing the mark of the Crucified Saviour, obtain our request for us.
By the Divine Love which consumed your life, obtain our request for us.
By your devotion in receiving the Blessed Sacrament, obtain our request for us.
By the happiness you felt in leaving this life for union with Christ, obtain our request for us.
By the example you have given to people of every state of life, obtain our request for us.

Pray for us, O holy St. Rita, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

May the Divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. 

Blessing+

Through the intercession of St. Rita, may the Lord bless + us protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen

(If possible, kindly accompany this novena with the Holy Rosary at any hour of the day, either 5 or 10 or 15 or 20 decades…)

Great job praying Day 4! Click here for Day 5 Prayers

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Sources:

• My Catholic Prayers and Devotions
• Life of Saint Rita
• www.SaintRitaShrine.Org

© Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Paroquia Nossa Senhora de Loreto, Vila Medeiros, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com

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PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?