Patron Saint of the impossible.
In 1381, high in the hills of the Republic of Cascia, Italy, Antonio and Amata Lotti welcomed their only child, Margherita. In their dialect, the name means “Pearl”. She was known simply as Rita and was baptized in the church of Saint Augustine.
She became attracted to the way of life for the local Augustinian nuns of Saint Mary Magdalene Monastery, but her parents arranged a marriage for her. She obediently married Paolo Mancini at the age of 12 and had 2 sons. He was killed in a brawl and her 2 sons sought to avenge their father but she influenced them with her peacemaking example and pledged to forgive her husband’s killers. It was a steep challenge but she convinced her sons of the same. Within a year though, both children died of a severe illness.
Following these tragedies, she placed her trust in God and sought a religious life in the Augustinian convent. The Sisters were hesitant and refused the request. She was not deterred and tried again but they refused all the more stating that even though she forgave her husband’s killers, her family had not, and there were members of the rival family in the convent. Her presence would be detrimental to community harmony.
With inspiration for her 3 patron saints, she set out to make peace between the families. She went to her husband’s family and exhorted them to put aside their hostility and stubbornness. They were astounded by her overture of peace and agreed. Both families exchanged peaceful embrace and signed a written agreement.
At the age of 36, she was finally accepted into the Augustinian convent and lived a regular life of prayer and contemplation.
10 years later, she had an extraordinary experience during contemplation before an image of Jesus, the Resurgent Christ. She gained a deeper awareness of the physical and spiritual burden of the pain of Christ’s Passion. She expressed a willingness to relieve Christ’s suffering by sharing even the smallest part of His pain, and her offer was accepted with a thorn from his crown penetrating her forehead. The wound remained open and visible until the day of her death.
Later in life she progressively weakened physically and died on Good Friday of 1442.
Her feast day is May 22.
For God’s Glory.
