Daily Archives: October 15, 2024

St. Rita of Cascia

St. Rita of Cascia

St. Rita of Cascia

Feast dayMay 22
Death1457

St. Rita of Cascia (1381–1457) is a beloved saint in the Catholic Church, known as the “Saint of the Impossible” and a powerful intercessor for difficult situations. Born in Roccaporena, near Cascia, Italy, she faced many challenges throughout her life but is celebrated for her deep faith, patience, and devotion to God.

Key Aspects of St. Rita’s Life:

  • Marriage and Family Life: At a young age, Rita was married to an abusive man named Paolo Mancini, with whom she had two sons. Despite her husband’s harsh treatment, she maintained a peaceful and forgiving attitude, eventually leading to Paolo’s conversion before his death. After Paolo was murdered in a feud, Rita forgave his killers, even though her sons initially sought revenge. Through her prayers, they also came to forgive, and both died of illness soon after.
  • Religious Life: Following the deaths of her husband and sons, Rita sought to enter the Augustinian convent in Cascia. Initially, the nuns refused her due to her past association with a violent family feud. However, through prayer and persistence, Rita was eventually accepted. Her life as a nun was marked by deep humility, charity, and mystical experiences.
  • The Stigmata: Toward the end of her life, Rita received a partial stigmata, specifically a wound on her forehead, said to resemble the wound of Christ from the crown of thorns. She bore this wound for the remaining 15 years of her life, offering her suffering for the love of Christ and the Church.
  • Legacy: St. Rita is invoked as a patroness of impossible causes, marital difficulties, and those suffering from physical or emotional wounds. Her feast day is celebrated on May 22. Pilgrims visit her shrine in Cascia, and many attest to her miraculous intercessions.

St. Rita’s life is an inspiring example of forgiveness, endurance in suffering, and faith in God’s providence, even in seemingly impossible circumstances.


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Daily mass readings for Oct 23,2024

Daily mass readings: Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : EPH 3:2-12

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation,
as I have written briefly earlier.
When you read this
you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
which was not made known to human beings in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace
that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.
To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who created all things,
so that the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known through the Church
to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.
This was according to the eternal purpose
that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness of speech
and confidence of access through faith in him.

Responsorial Psalm : IS 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6

R. (see 3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Alleluia : MT 24:42A, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : LK 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: 
“Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly. 
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”


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