Saint Rita of Cascia, born Margherita Lotti in 1381 in Roccaporena, Italy, is an emblematic figure of Christian piety and popular devotion. She is venerated for her unshakeable faith, her endurance in the face of adversity, and her life marked by charity and prayer.

Margherita had a devout childhood and was brought up in a deeply Christian family. Despite her desire to become a nun from an early age, she was married to a violent and difficult man. For 18 years, she endured the trials of this marriage, but she always retained her faith in God and her devotion to the Virgin Mary.

After the death of her husband and two sons, Rita entered the Augustinian monastery in Cascia, where she lived a life of prayer, penance and charity for 40 years. She devoted herself intensely to prayer, meditating on the sufferings of Christ, and received the mystical grace of the stigmata, the wounds of Christ on her own body.

Saint Rita is famous for several miracles attributed to her intercession. She is often depicted with a rose or with a wound on her forehead, symbolising the stigmata. Her life is a powerful testimony to resilience, unshakeable faith, and God's merciful love.

Canonised in 1900, Saint Rita has become a very popular saint, particularly venerated in Italy and around the world. Thousands of people turn to her every year, seeking her intercession in times of despair, pain and difficulty.

Today, Saint Rita is an inspiring example of perseverance in faith, patience in suffering, and trust in God's mercy. She reminds us that, even in the darkest moments, God's grace can transform us and lead us towards the light of hope and resurrection.