Thursday's with Saint Rita of Cascia

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(My apologies on being a day late. A friend needed a baby sitter last minute yesterday so I was busy busy with children all day and night!:)

For the introductory prayers and other information on this devotion go HERE.

THIRD THURSDAY

St. Rita's Life-Education by Image and Example

We know nothing very precise about the education the Lotti gave their daughter. One simply cannot give what one does not have. At the time of the Lotti the poor were probably unlettered. The great book of images that children studied was the church of their village. Pictures, paintings, statues, stained glass windows, all helped to excite their minds and hearts...Child that she was, Rita did not have eyes enough for the many wonders mother Lotti explained to her....In the Bible and the legends (of the saints) Rita quenched her thirst for religious knowledge. One "book" nevertheless, topped them all: the Crucifix, the imposing Crucifix of so many Italian Churches. It taught the child everything: love of Jesus, hatred of sin, and the spirit of Penance.


Reflection: Importance of A Catholic Education

There is a great difference between Rita's education and the education of most children today. Times have changed, for sure. In our day it would be unthinkable to let a child remain unlettered. Children need to be educated....However, it is regrettable that too many parents insist on their children's instruction in matters that concern their future earthly destiny and neglect their children's religious education, which they regard as of little importance...Christian parents must understand that one of their principal duties is to provide for the religious education of their children....our little ones should always receive at home their first Christian Education.


Closing Prayer

O St. Rita, you had the great happiness of being brought up by truly religious parents. Raise up among us many parents like yours. Let their Principal care be to lead their children to Jesus. Let them be aware of their responsibility and have all the understanding and all the tact they need to fulfill this role. Humbly ask the Holy Spirit to help mothers be solicitous for the faith and generosity of their children. Let our little ones learn to be unselfish and devoted to others. let our teenagers be resolved to do their best, and let them be guided by a true love for Jesus. May our Lord help them to remain upright and pure in a world that is not. The temptations they will face are so many and so great that their perseverance will seem at times to be compromised. O saint of the most difficult cases, help the parents of today to educate the Catholic of tomorrow. Amen.


Just for Fun, go HERE for a wealth of St. Rita devotional materials, including statues, medals, books etc.