Thursday's With Saint Rita of Cascia

I came across the Fifteen Thursday Devotion while studying about Saint Rita of Cascia, the Saint of the Impossible. Traditionally this series of prayer and petitions are offered the fifteen weeks preceding St. Rita's feast day, which is May 22nd, however I have decided to begin this devotion now. This devotion has been practiced in remembrance of the fifteen years that St. Rita received and endured with the gift of the thorn.

I was not able to find a listing of the prayers anywhere on-line so I purchased this little book that fortunately included them. This devotion seems to be one that used to be quite popular, but is now less known, with the exception to some places in Europe and at St. Rita's shrines around the world.

Each Thursday devotion consists of a preparatory prayer, a short reading on St. Rita's life, a reflection, and then a closing prayer. I will be posting just a sampling of the prayers and reflections, but it will be enough to follow the devotion along. However, I would recommended highly getting, "Saint Rita, Saint of the Impossible," if you are interested in this devotion. The book is quite reasonable as I have never seen it for more than $4.00.


FIRST THURSDAY

Preparatory Prayer

O my God, whose splendor fills heaven and earth, I believe You are present here. I know You are near me and in me. Immersed in my unworthiness, I deeply adore You.

I thank You for the many graces You have accorded me and for all the graces, spiritual and material, You in Your fatherly goodness have prepared to straighten my weakness.

I ask You to forgive the many faults I have committed in the past. I beg the help of your grace to keep me from offending You in the future and to remain faithful to the promises I have made to You many times. I sincerely renew them today.

O blessed Virgin, Saints in heaven, and especially you, St. Rita, help me make this Holy Exercise devoutly in order to obtain the light of mind and the strength of will to attain my eternal salvation. Amen



St. Rita's Life-"The Precious Pearl in a Desolate Land"

"Rita is a lovely name, It comes from the latin "margarita," which means "pearl." It was providential name, seeing that in the fifteenth century St. Rita was one of the most precious jewels of Holy Church. She lived five hundred years ago, at the time of St. Joan of Arc.....At. Rita's birth, the Church herself was divided. The "Great Schism: had begun three years earlier. For forty years there were two popes opposed to each other and even three at the end."


Reflection: The Value of Saints in Our Lives


"Among us there is a "common union" called the "Communion of Saints," a union of all baptized people....Regrettably, in this large "Body" there are many spiritually sick members, who weaken the whole. This weakness must be strengthened. And it is the saints who are the ones charged with this function....Not only are the saints the counterbalance to the sins of the world; they are also witnesses of the Gospel. Their existence is like a living lesson for all to see. They show us the human masterpiece that can be achieved by following Christ and taking His message and counsels seriously...."

Closing Prayer

O St. Rita, the Providence of God raised you up in the fifteenth century to help save the Christian world from the lamentable state in which it had fallen. Look at our times. They are scarcely any better. Now and then we too are divided by so much misunderstanding and, at times, hatred. For us also the peril is at our door because of our sins. By your merits, keep away from us and our children the frightful dangers of war. Our misery consists above all in being so far removed from true Christianity. Help us to return to a live that is more in harmony with the Gospels. By your example, make us understand that we must be converted and live in charity as true baptized people of Christ Jesus. Amen

(all writings taken from "Saint Rita, Saint of the Impossible.")

Just for fun....HERE is a link to the national Shrine for Saint Rita of Cascia.