NOVENA TO SAINT RITA OF CASCIA, PATRONESS OF IMPOSSIBLE CASES: DAY 6 – (For the grace of perseverance in prayer)

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

The widowed spouse and wedded wife
The way to heaven was seen in her life;
The way secure our Rita trod,
In life’s dim day, through pains o God.

Praise to the Father and the Son,
Praise to the Spirit, Three in One;
O grant us grace in heaven to reign
Through Rita’s prayer and life-long pain.

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 VI)

– A prayerful Rita; challenges/difficulties in the convent; pilgrimage to Rome

While in the convent, Rita realized many miracles through her prayerful intercession. One of which was in favour of a mother of a sick child who could not be healed through medical science. She sought Rita’s help. Rita told her to have faith and to go home, where she would find her daughter healed. Rita went immediately to the chapel to pray. Upon the mother’s arrival home, she found the child miraculously healed.

On another occasion, a woman who had for years been possessed by an evil spirit and was cruelly tormented sought Rita’s prayers. Rita raised her eyes to Heaven, praying and making the sign of the cross on the woman’s head, at which the evil spirit left her.

Rita herself was tormented by evil spirits many times throughout her lifetime. But she showed no fear and drove them out with the Sign of the Cross.

Rita continued to bear the pain of the thorn on her forehead, and the pain increased daily. At one occasion, the pain was so intense that Rita fell into a swoon. She would have died right there had Jesus not preserved her life. Unfortunately, the wound became so ugly, foul-smelling and revolting, that Rita became an object of nausea to many who saw it. As a result, Rita asked permission to spend most of her time alone in her cell, but she was happy. Little worms fed themselves on the open wound, thus giving her new occasion to practice patience.

The year 1450 was proclaimed by Pope Nicholas V as a Jubilee Year, thus providing many indulgences for those who would go on pilgrimage to Rome. Several of the sisters were given permission to go. At the feet of her superior, St. Rita also asked permission to go. Fearful that those who might observe the ugly and foul-smelling wound might be scandalized, the superioress denied her permission to go unless the wound would disappear. Rushing to the feet of the image of our Lord Jesus Christ, Rita humbly sought God’s will, asking Him to take away the wound, but to continue to allow her to suffer the pain from the wound. The wound disappeared at once. Rita gave thanks and rushed to her superioress, who was surprised and astonished – and Rita was granted permission to accompany the other nuns to Rome. However, when they returned from Rome, the wound reappeared and the irritation continued.

Points for reflection:

St. Rita so persevered in prayer that on many occasions God heard her cry and she became a great intercessor for many. How seriously do you take your prayer life? Even in this Novena to St. Rita, do you grow so weary that you often forget to say the prayers allotted to each day? Ask St. Rita to obtain graces for you to remain firm in your prayer life.

Rita was also the object of ridicule and shame as a result of the foul smell of the wound that irritated everyone. She remained firm in her love of God and neighbour and continually sought the will of God. When found in irritating situations as a result of ill health, do you persevere in prayer and resort to the will of God or run around in search of miracles, signs, and wonders? St. Rita remains a shining example of one who seeks the will of God in bearing suffering and pain patiently.

DAY 6 PRAYER

Glorious St Rita, you persevered in prayer and always sought the will of God in difficult situations. Help us all to persevere in prayer for our intentions and trustingly accept God’s will no matter the outcome.

Relying then upon thy merits before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray thee obtain for us our request for the grace of perseverance in prayer (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

O Holy Patroness of those in need, St. 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; St. Rita so humble, so pure, so mortified, so patient and of such 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 the 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. Relying upon thy merits and power before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray: (mention your request).  Grant that as we go to bed tonight, we may be filled with joy and peace of one who has already received favours from God through your intercession. We promise, if our petitions are granted, to make known your favour, and to glorify God for His gift. Amen.

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 6! Click here for Day 7 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?