NEGOTIATING HELL: a sequel to CS Lewis' "Screwtape Letters." Ch18-the calm before the firestorm
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The worldwide devotion to Saint Rita is symbolized by the rose.
It is to be hoped that the life of everyone devoted to her
Will be like the rose picked in the garden of Roccaporena
the winter before the saint’s death.
That is, let it be a life sustained by passionate love for the Lord Jesus.
A life capable of responding to suffering and
to thorns with forgiveness and the total gift of self,
In order to spread everywhere the good odor of Christ (cf. 2 Cor 2:15)
through a consistently lived proclamation of the Gospel.
-Feast of St Rita, address from Saint John Paul II,
Feast Day: May 22
Did you know St. Rita has her own Triduum? On May 20, we begin her 3-day novena. She is our patroness for hopeless causes, widows, mothers, abused women, marital problems, infertility and illness. Margherita (1381-1457) was the daughter of Antonio and Amata Lotti. Her thirst for Jesus at their church led her parents to build a small, home oratory. Rita befriended the Augustinian nuns at Cascia, Italy, and expressed deep interest in their vocations. Meanwhile her parents betrothed her at age 12 to town watchman, Paolo Mancini. He was rumored to be ill-tempered and abusive. Disappointed but obedient, Rita married him and soon found herself the mother of twin sons.
In those times, vendettas were common. The Mancini and neighboring Chiqui family were brutal enemies. St. Padre Pio says, "prayer is the key to forgiveness." Rita knew this and prayed for an end to the killing. Her prayers were answered in their 18th year of marriage. Rita's peaceful and prayerful disposition softened his heart. He was tired of the weight of anger and the burden of hate. He sought Phil 4:7: "the peace that surpasses all understanding." He resolved to end the feud with an invitation to negotiate. When the distrustful Chiqui family agreed, they jumped him upon arrival and stabbed him to death. At Paolo’s funeral, Rita publicly forgave her husband’s murderer and sought familial peace. Having just buried his brother, Rita’s brother-in-law, Bernardo was not having it. He agitated his twin nephews with demonic fantasies of revenge. The boys' hatred grew. The sorrowful Rita begged them to consider advantages of the families working together. Meanwhile, her prayers became bold. Even if it meant death for her boys, she asked God to preserve their souls from grave, murderous thoughts. Rita’s prayers materialized: both boys died of dysentery before taking familial revenge.
Upon the deaths of her sons, Rita again felt the call to religious life. However, some of the sisters at the Augustinian monastery were of Chiqui blood and she was denied entry. Rita prayed through Saint John the Baptist, Saint Augustine of Hippo, and Saint Nicholas of Tolentino to have God mute the anger, sufficient for enough peace. Finally, she was accepted into the monastery of Saint Mary Magdalen. At age 36, she became Christ's bride, the desire of her youth.
St Rita lived 40 years in the convent, spending her time in prayer and charity, and working for regional peace. She was devoted to the Passion, and in a request to suffer as Christ, she received a chronic head wound. It is claimed to be from her Spouse's crown of thorns, which bled for 15 years. Rita was confined to bedrest for her final 4 years, surviving on the Eucharist and mentoring the younger sisters. In less than 1 minute, we can tour her sanctuary here. Near death, a friend from Cascia asked if she’d like anything; Rita’s only request was a rose from her family estate. It was winter, but for His bride, it appears that Christ sprouted a single rose blossom on an otherwise bare bush. Rita's body is said to be incorrupt and is interred at the Basilica of Cascia, Italy. She buried her entire family prior, making her a heavenly cheerleader for wives, mothers and widows. Steeped in mafia-level wrath and murder, she emerged as a cheerful, regional peacemaker. She obeyed God's will to marry first and loved her 3 male souls into the faith: both twins and her spouse. Despite her postponed dreams of becoming a nun, she never lost her faith in God or her desire to be with Him. St. Rita of Cascia, pray for us!
Source
CatholicSaints.Info | Saint Rita of Cascia
Saint Rita of Cascia - My Catholic Life!
Science cannot explain suffering. As Lay Passionist and nurse, she challenges modern health care assumptions; contraception, abortion, euthanasia, herd immunity and more. Behind every health dilemma, God asks us to abide in Him. Author of 7 books & >20 peer-reviewed nursing journal articles; she also writes as "The Catholic Nurse" on Substack, see "Archives." She is a veteran of the Army Nurse Corps. Her primary charism is mercy through which she explores redemptive suffering, spiritual healing and the joy of bringing of souls to God.
