St. Rita of Cascia

St. Rita was born in 1381 in Roccaporena in Umbria, Italy. She lived with a brutal husband with whom she had two sons. After the violent murder of her husband, she urged forgiveness, in contrast to the customary "vendetta" of her day. After the death of her sons, Rita became an Augustinian nun and spent nearly 40 years in prayer, contemplation, and service to the sick and poor. Toward the end of her life, she received a wound from a thorn from the crown of thorns. She died in 1457. She is the patron of Christian mothers and of those in desperate situations.

The tradition of blessing roses on Saint Rita's feast day originates from a visit her cousin made to her at the convent. Rita was very ill. On taking her leave, her relative asked Rita if she could do any favor for her. "Yes, cousin," said the saint, "bring me a rose from the garden of my old home in Roccaporena." The request was surprising, since it was midwinter and exceedingly cold. Nevertheless, to humor the saint, her cousin told her that she would try to fulfill the request, though she thought it impossible to find a rose. St. Rita said, "My dear cousin, there is nothing impossible to God." In fact, to her great amazement, her cousin found in the garden, on a sapless and leafless rosebush, a beautiful red rose in full bloom. She plucked the rose, and brought it to Rita. The saint received the rose with joy and she gave thanks to God as she contemplated her sweet Jesus crowned with thorns.