Roman Catholics will celebrate Sunday, May 22, the Feast of Santa Rita de Cascia, the patron saint of impossible causes.
Cubao Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco will preside over the fiesta high mass on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish in Philam Homes, Quezon City. Holy masses will also be held at 7 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and at 6 p.m. to be followed by a solemn procession.
The praying of the holy rosary with novena prayer were held from May 13 to 21.
Born in Cascia, Italy in the year 1381, Sta. Rita joined the Augustinian community after her husband died and served as an Augustinian nun for 40 years. She spent her days in prayer, contemplation on the Passion of Christ, and service to the sick and the poor.
She died on May 22, 1457 and was canonized on May 24, 1900 by Pope Leo XIII. Many miracles have been attributed to her intercession.
Sta. Rita was bestowed the title of Patroness of Impossible Causes, while in many Catholic countries, she came to be known as the patroness of abused wives and heartbroken women. Her incorrupt body is at the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia in Italy.
She is often portrayed with a bleeding wound on her forehead, which is understood to indicate a partial stigmata.