15 Thursdays of St Rita

Saint Rita of Cascia is one of the most important saints of the Augustinian Order. For 15 years of her life, she bore the stigmata – a single thorn of suffering from the Lord's crown on her forehead. Traditionally, people therefore gather over 15 Thursdays to honour this saint and ask her to intercede for their families, the sick, the suffering, and everyone in any kind of need.

The Thursdays of Saint Rita precede her feast day and serve as an extensive preparation for the feast of Saint Rita, celebrated on 22 May and the following Sunday. On this day, churches are flooded with roses, the symbol of the saint from Umbria.

Saint Rita left us no books, letters, or diaries. Her message lies in her simple yet heroic life. The turbulent life of this young girl, mother, widow, and consecrated woman proclaims the immense power of the Easter mystery of Christ's cross and resurrection. Rita is a powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit, speaking and acting within the Church and today's world. The reflections captured in the 15 Thursdays of Saint Rita can help anyone wishing to prepare for the feast of Saint Rita and obtain graces for themselves and their loved ones.