Saint Rita of Cascia, born Margherita Lotti, is a widely revered Catholic saint known for her piety, patience, and intercessory prayer. She was born in 1381 in the small town of Roccaporena, near Cascia, in the Umbria region of Italy. Rita is often invoked in desperate and hopeless situations and is considered the patron saint of impossible causes, marital problems, and abuse victims.

Rita's early life was marked by a strong desire to become a nun, but her parents arranged for her to marry Paolo Mancini, a man known for his violent temper, at a young age. Despite her husband's abusive behavior, Rita dedicated herself to her marriage and family. She had two sons with Paolo. Over the years, her influence gradually converted her husband into a better man. However, Paolo was eventually murdered due to a family feud. Rita subsequently forgave his murderers, an act that was said to have ended the local cycle of vendettas.

After the murder of her husband and the deaths of her sons, Rita sought to fulfill her early dream of religious life. Initially, she was denied entry into the convent of Saint Mary Magdalene in Cascia because she was a widow and because of her family’s association with the feud. However, after persistent prayer and intervention, she was miraculously transported into the convent and was allowed to join the community.

Saint Rita spent the last 40 years of her life in the convent, performing ordinary duties with extraordinary love and devotion. She is said to have received a stigmata on her forehead, a visible mark of a thorn from Christ’s crown, which caused her great suffering.

Saint Rita died on May 22, 1457, and was canonized by Pope Leo XIII on May 24, 1900. Her body remains incorrupt and can be venerated at the Basilica of Cascia. Saint Rita’s feast day is celebrated on May 22nd, and she continues to be a beacon of hope and solace for many across the world.