SaintsforSinners.com

Rita’s story took place long ago. She was born in Cascia and fervently wanted to devote her life to serving the Lord. When Rita was 12 years old, her parents announced she would marry Paolo Mancinin. At age 18 she married and had two sons. Her husband was very abusive and he was ultimately assassinated. Rita’s sons also died. After their deaths, Rita again tried to enter an Augustinian Monastery. She was denied entry because her husband’s killers had family already enrolled there and they didn’t want to create a fuss! At age 36, Rita’s fierce determination helped her become a Nun in the Monastery of Mary Magdalene. She was committed to the Passion and she prayed to Jesus asking is she could suffer as He had. Soon thereafter, Rita received a chronic head wound, believed to be caused by a crown of thorns. It bled for 15 years. A friend from Cascia came to see Rita as she lay dying whereupon Rita asked for a rose from her family garden. But is was winter and no roses should have been blooming in Cascia. Still, the man went to there and found one single rose blooming in Rita’s garden and brought it to her before she died.

© 2006