NOVENA TO SAINT RITA OF CASCIA, PATRONESS OF IMPOSSIBLE CASES: DAY 9 – (For my intention which seems quite impossible)

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

Glorious name; our own Saint Rita,
glorious name: sweet name of love,
through countless years thy name forgotten
thy children now thy grace implore.
O glorious name: our own Saint Rita.
O glorious name: sweet name of love.

In faith we cast our heart’s petitions
o hear us as thou hast before.
Forgotten years of fragrant roses
for wanderers on this lonely shore.
O glorious name: our own Saint Rita.
O glorious name: sweet name of love.

Through death to life, thy name shall guide us,
at Jesus feet may we adore.
Our loyal hearts shall sing thy praises,
today, tomorrow, evermore.
O glorious name: our own Saint Rita.
O glorious name: sweet name of love.

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 IX)

 Death; events/miracles following her death, beatification and canonization

(The Image of St. Rita being received by Our Lord and Our Lady in Heaven. The images rest upon a cabinet which holds many of St. Rita’s relics and other items associated with her)

Having faithfully and lovingly responded to God’s many invitations to her in the course of her seventy-six years, Rita returned to God in peace on May 22, 1457. At the moment Rita died, one of the nuns saw angels taking her soul to heaven (she was 76 years old – 46 years as an Augustinian nun). Then, almost immediately, her cell was aglow with a supernatural light and her body sent forth a sweet odor which filled the whole convent. The worms from the wound in her forehead became pretty lights which twinkled like stars, and her wound shown with the brilliance of a ruby. Her frail, thin body became soft and fresh and Rita appeared peaceful and much younger. Bells rang throughout Cascia – in the convents and churches – as though rung by the angels. The nuns prepared her body for burial and she was placed in the same habit and headdress she had worn since her entrance into the convent.

Miracles also occurred as people came to pay their last respects to Rita; one of which was a relative whose arm had been paralyzed for years. It was instantly cured. People broke out in joy and gladness as they praised and thanked God for this miracle.

The nuns went to the home of Francis Barbari, a local carpenter, to ask if he could build a coffin for Rita. They found him so sick and feeble that he could not move a hand or a foot. He promised to make the coffin if he could be cured through Rita’s intercession. He was immediately cured and made the coffin which still holds St. Rita’s body.

Rita’s body was brought to the centre of the oratory where the crucifix was when Rita prayed and received the wound in her forehead. An altar has been built over her body so people can still see her face.

The house in Rocca Porrena where Rita was born and lived later became a Church. St. Rita’s body remains as it was when she died, it has not become corrupted – she appears as in a sound sleep. From time to time, the nuns place pieces of linen or woolen clothes on her body which they then cut into small pieces to be distributed as 2nd Class relics among the faithful. Many healings and miracles have taken place as a result.

The bees that first swarmed around Rita as an infant, and again when she entered the convent, are now retired in the convent wall. Every Holy Week they leave the convent until the feast of St. Rita. Oftentimes, during the year they fly through the convent or the garden, only after first flying to Rita’s cell, as if they needed permission to do so for their recreation. They are constant companions of the nuns while they are kneading the dough to make the little loaves of bread of St. Rita. These little loaves of bread are distributed on her feast day after being touched to the body of St. Rita. They are to be eaten in times of serious illness and are used during bad weather. One should recite “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” with their use.

There have also been many miracles attributed to the oil from the lamp at St. Rita’s tomb. Her body has also levitated (floated in the air) at times, especially on her feast day, May 22.

In 1626, Pope Urban VIII requested a thorough investigation into the life of St. Rita in preparation for her beatification. The nuns sent one of the little white bees, which appeared at Rita’s birth, to the Holy Father. These white bees predicted the sanctity of Rita and would be made known by a pope, who himself would come to be associated with bees (there are three bees on his coat of arms). The pope blessed the bee and sent it back to Cascia.

During the beatification ceremonies, the reading of the Apostolic Brief declaring the Servant of God a Blessed is followed by a sung High Mass. During the Gloria, a large picture of the Blessed, which is on the altar, is unveiled. The ceremonies end with the chanting of “Holy God, we praise Thy Name.”

In Cascia, on the eve of the feast [i.e., the beatification], when the time came to recite the vespers of the office of the Saint, the secular clergy claimed the right to conduct the function. The Augustinian priests disputed this right with much vigour. The nuns frightened by the commotion implored God, through the intercession of Rita. To their great surprise, the body of the Saint raised itself to the top of the coffin and opened its eyes, which had been closed since the time of the Saint’s death – a period of 171 years. The nuns rang the bells of the convent, and in answer to the call, thousands of people passed before the body of Rita as witnesses to this prodigy. Needless to say, peace was restored between the disputing clergy.

Following her beatification, many miracles occurred through St. Rita’s intercession. On one occasion, Sr. Constanza, the superioress of the convent, had run out of wine, and there was no money with which to purchase it. She went with confidence to the tomb of St. Rita. A short time later, there was a knock at the door. A man stood there with a barrel of wine. After placing it in the cellar, he and the donkey pulling the cart of wine just disappeared. A similar thing happened on another occasion when they were again out of wine. This time Rita’s voice was heard to say to the wife of Cascia’s treasurer, “Send some wine to the convent, the nuns have none.”

Many times, Rita would send a priest to an ailing or dying nun to administer the Last Sacraments. The list of miracles goes on and on. On May 24, 1900, Pope Leo XIII declared Blessed Rita a Saint and further decreed that perpetual veneration should be given her yearly in the universal Church on May 22.

Thus ends this abbreviated account of the life, death, beatification, and canonization of Rita Mancini; maid, wife, mother, widow, and nun.

Point for reflection:

Having followed the amazing story of the life of St. Rita, it must not be forgotten that the virtues that made St. Rita particularly pleasing to God were the love of neighbour and devotion to Jesus Christ Crucified. These two virtues contain all the wisdom of Christianity which God asks of us all. So let us pray to St. Rita as intercessor in helping us obtain perfection in these two virtues so that we too may enjoy the presence and companionship of God, as does St. Rita, now in Heaven with her Divine Spouse… St. Rita, pray for us!

DAY 9 PRAYER

Glorious St Rita, you are the saint of things despaired of. I pray that you intercede for me in this thing which seems impossible. I promise to use this favour, when granted, to better my life, to proclaim God’s mercy, and make you widely known and loved for the glory of God the Father.

Relying then upon thy merits before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray thee, obtain for us, my intention which seems quite impossible (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 powerful Saint Rita, at your feet is a helpless soul in need of help, coming to you with the sweet hope of being attended by you, who have the title of “Saint of the Impossible and desperate cases.” O dear saint Rita, take an interest in my cause, intercede to God to grant me the grace I so need (now, make your request). Do not allow me to have to walk away from your feet without being attended to. If there is an obstacle in me that prevents me from reaching the grace I crave, help me to keep it away. Wrap my request in your precious merits and present it to your heavenly spouse, our Lord Jesus Christ. O Saint Rita, I place my trust in you. 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 9! May the good Lord hear your humble prayers. Amen!

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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?