Today is the feast of Saint Rita of Cascia, the patron Saint of impossible causes alongside our buddy, Saint Jude.
And the Good Lord knows we all have about one thousand impossible causes in our lives.
More specifically, Saint Rita is the patron Saint of victims of abuse, troubled marriages, sterility, widows, loneliness, parenthood, and the sick.
Take your pick.
The life of Saint Rita is fascinating, heartbreaking, and glorious. Saints like Rita remind us that, with God, nothing is impossible. In fact, her life witnesses that without God, nothing of substance is possible: "Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Rita bore fruit in her soul and in her life because of her great reliance on God. In the midst of an unhappy marriage, abuse, immense loss, feuds, rejection, and illness, she clung to the Vine. Her hope was unshakable because it was rooted in Christ.
Now she enjoys great glory in Heaven, and she’s tasked with intercession for all of us who are facing impossible circumstances. Personally, I have prayed the Saint Rita novena several times, and she never lets me down. Through Jesus, she pulls off the impossible. But more than that, praying for her intercession leads my heart to a greater surrender to the will of God. Studying her life leads me to greater love of Him. Bringing my impossible causes to Jesus through her prayers encourages me to cling to Him more.
What are the literally impossible causes in your life or the lives of those you love? Where have you lost hope? Tell Jesus and Saint Rita about them, and renew your hope in the One Who brings life and bears fruit.
Her hope was unshakable because it was rooted in Christ.Click to tweet
Look at this beautiful stained-glass window at the national shrine to Saint Rita.
Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky where the sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She is the Blog Manager for Blessed is She and works from home as an editor and social media manager. She likes to binge novels and Netflix while raising her children and laughing with her husband. You can find out more about her here.