Gen 28: 12-15
SAM = St Augustine Monastery Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
ONE OF THE GREATEST GLORIES of the Augustinian Order is...St. Rita, who died 560
years ago on May 22, 1456. She was declared a BLESSED in 1626 AD & became world
famous only after she was Canonized a Saint in 1900 AD.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK of Genesis, the 1st Book of the Bible - Gen 28: 12-15
Jacob has a dream about a Ladder that reaches from the Earth up to Heaven. Our
Life is like a Pilgrimage. We are climbing our own Ladder up to Heaven...with the
help of God’s Grace.
ST. RITA’S LADDER was a long, varied & difficult one. She has the unique distinction of
having lived all the possible states of Life...Single, Married, & Religious. She was born
in Roccaporena, Cascia, Italy around 1380 AD. Instead of entering a Convent as she
wished her Parents arranged her Marriage as was the custom of the time. She was
only 18 years.
RITA WAS A GOOD WIFE & MOTHER, but her husband had a violent temper....& was
murderd before her two sons could take revenge, she prayed that they be taken
from her rather than give in to the evil pit of revenge. Soon afterwards they both
died. Then at age 44, since she was free, she tried to enter the Convent three times
but was refused because only the unmarried were eligible at that time.
FINALLY, SHE WAS ACCEPTED into the Augustinian Convent of St Mary Magdalena
of Cascia where she spent the next 30 years living a Holy, Dedicated, Cloistered Life
as a Religious of Christ. She had great devotion to the Passion of Christ. By God’s
favor she was given the STIGMATA...a Thorn in her forehead...a festering painful
wound which she endured for the last 15 years of her Life. She died during the night
of Saturday May 22, 1456 AD.
WE CAN ALL LEARN from the Life of St. Rita. She overcame many difficulties with Love,
Patience & Charity. She was a Peacemaker & a Healer of Division ....& had great Love for
Christ.
PRAY TO ST. RITA AND SHE WILL INTERCEDE FOR YOU.
SHE HAS HELPED COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.
SHE WILL HELP YOU TOO & WILL OBTAIN GOD’S GRACES FOR YOU
AND SHE WILL HELP YOU GET INTO HEAVEN