St. Rita of Cascia, Patron Saint of Impossible Cases

Basilica of St. Rita of Cascia

Saint Rita was a widowed woman with two sons. After her husband was assasinated around 1406, she worried that her sons might resort to violence against the family that murdered her husband. She prayed that they would not avenge his death. Her sons died not long after, possibly of the plague. Saint Rita joined the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in 1407 where she remained until her death in 1457. In 1442, as she was praying and contemplating on the love of Christ for humanity, she prayed to participate in his suffering. It was then that a piece from the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ pierced her forehead which stigmata she had to endure for the rest of her life.

The colorful frescoes at the Basilica were the works of Luigi Montanarini, Luigi Filocamo, Silvio Consadori, Gisberto Cerracchini and Cesarino Vicenzi.

A screen separates the coffin of Saint Rita from the rest of the church.

St. Rita of Cascia

Prayer to St. Rita

"O Glorious Saint Rita, patroness of those in need, your intercession with our Lord is most powerful. Through the favors obtained by your prayers, you have been called 'Advocate of hopeless and even impossible cases.' Saint Rita, humble and pure; patient and compassionate lover of Christ Crucified! We have confidence that everyone who recourse to you will find comfort and relief. Listen to our petitions and show your power with God on our behalf. Obtain our petitions for us if they are for the greater honor of God, and for our good.“

Construction work on the Basilica began in 1937. It was completed in 1947. Several professionals collaborated on the construction from the plan laid out by the engineer, Maria Spirito Chiapetta and two architects, Giuseppe Calori and Giuseppe Martinenghi.

These reliefs of the life of St. Rita frame the main portal of the Basilica. Eros Pellini sculpted these reliefs.

Porticoes of Cascia

Uphill climb to the Basilica from Hotel delle Rose.

The Monastery where St. Rita lived for forty years as an Augustinian nun.

St. Rita was asked by the Mother Superior to water a dried up brushwood. She did as was asked and a lush vine thrived from the dried brushwood. The vine we see today is not the original one but rather a symbol of obedience and humility.

This was St. Rita’s coffin in the 15th century.

Cascia

Link to my YouTube video of St. Rita of Cascia: https://youtu.be/DshQ1E36La0?feature=shared

How to get to Cascia from Rome:

Take the train from Tiburtina Station in Rome to Treni. The fare is €9. At Treni, there is a bus that goes to Cascia. Check the bus schedule so you can time your arrival in Treni and don’t have to wait too long for your connection. Alternatively, there is a taxi service to Cascia for €150. as of August 2025. The taxi will take you to your hotel whereas the bus will drop you off at their terminal. If your hotel is up on the hill or if you plan to go directly to the Basilica, you will have to take a series of escalators, elevators and stairs to reach the top of the hill. If you would rather take a day tour to Cascia, check GetyourGuide or Viator for their tours.

Where to stay:

Hotel delle Rose is right beside the Basilica. It’s a short walk downhill from the Basilica and quite convenient. They’re popular with groups. Make sure to reserve early. Contact them through this link: https://hoteldellerose.com/#. I was able to get a room at this hotel through booking.com.

Sanctuary hours:

https://santaritadacascia.org/preghiere/?lang=it

If you have issues walking uphill or downhill: Ask your tour guide or hotel to drop you off in front of the Basilica. There is a ramp on the side of the Basilica if you can’t go up the stairs or if you’re using a wheelchair.

Dont miss a visit to Rocca Porrena

Just ten minutes away by car is the village of Rocca Porrena, the birthplace and home of Saint Rita. Her former home as a married woman has been converted into a beautiful chapel. Spend some time here and enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains.

Rocca Porrena

Stay connected

******

Images by TravelswithCharie unless otherwise noted

Brașov was once called Stalin City

White Tower Brașov is a city nestled in the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania. Remnants of its medieval fortifications and bastions are added attractions to this buzzing city. The White Tower along with the Black Tower are two of the remaining watchtowers still visible today. During the Communist period, Brașov was called Orasul Stalin or Stalin City after the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin. Black Church This is such a storied Gothic church which was originally the Catholic Church of St. Mary before it was converted to a Lutheran Church. It was believed to have been affected by fire in 1689 which blackened its exterior walls and roof. But a new 21st century study reveals that this wasn’t the case at all. The only reason for its blackened state according to the study is environmental pollution caused by the industrialization of Brasov in the 19th century. The walls have since been cleaned but there are traces of black spots on the roof. Republicii Street This long pede...

The Gold of Ancestors: Pre-Colonial Philippine Treasures

Openwork basket, Surigao, 10th-13th century What a wonderful surprise this exhibition is! These gold objects, about a thousand of them, add a rich layer to Philippine history. This collection which was found in various sites in the Philippines, date back to the 10th-13th centuries. It demonstrates the well developed culture of pre colonial Philippines which the Spaniard, Antonio Pigafetta, recorded in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan landed in the islands. A thriving interchange between the Philippines and its Asian neighbors existed prior to the arrival of Magellan as attested by some of these gold accouterments which show for example, images from Hindu mythology. The motifs and curvilinear ornamentation of the openwork basket (shown above) intimate Chinese designs found in their ceramics and textiles. Torso ornament, 10th-13th century Weighing four kilos of gold, this sash is worn across the chest similar to the upavita (sacred thread) style in Hindu culture. This sash w...

The Art of Carlos Botong Francisco - Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

Pre-colonial period Pag-unlad ng Panggagamot sa Pilipinas (The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines) is a group of four large-scale paintings depicting healing practices in the Philippines from pre-colonial times to the modern period. Carlos Botong Francisco was commissioned in 1953 by Dr. Agerico Sison who was then the director of Philippine General Hospital (PGH) together with Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing of the National Museum, Dr. Florentino Herrera, Jr. and Dr. Constantino Manahan. These oil on canvas paintings measure 2.92 meters in height and 2.76 meters in width (9.71 ft x 8.92 ft) and were displayed at the main entrance hall of PGH for over five decades. Owing to its location, the artworks were in a state of "severe deterioration" at the beginning of the 21st century from exposure to heat, humidity, dirt, dust, smoke, insect stains, grime, termites and an oxidized synthetic resin used in an earlier restoration. These canvases were restored three times, the last was...

TravelswithCharie

Search This Blog