St Rita of Cascia High School - Cascian Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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wealthy merchant, Ferdinando, was the handsome groom of the beautiful bride, Rita. Patience and humility were ever present in the early years of her marriage, which were years of cruelty. It was these same virtues which converted her hus- band. It was only after this conversion from the wicked man to the respectful husband, however, that their marriage was blessed by offspring. After the violent death ot' her husband - he had been stabbed to death by l1is enemies--her two sons, who were now reaching manhood, had wanted to avenge the action. Through the intercession of God, both sons died within a year's time! Rita had sacrificed the last of her family on earth. Being both widow and orphan, Rita prayed faithfully, telling God of her wish to become a nun. Because ot' the fact that at that time only young girls were per- mitted to join tl1e Augustinian Institute, and also because no widows were ever granted the special dispensation needed--Rita was refused entrance into the Madda- lena Convent as a nun. After the first disheartening failure, Rita prayed for another chance to enter the convent. It was during an engagement of prayer that Rita had heard someone call Rita! Rita! Opening the shutter of her window, she saw no one. Continuing her prayers, Rita again heard the voice. It told her to fear not and that she would be admitted into the convent. It was at this time that Rita placed herself into a profound communion with God and beheld St. John the Baptist, St. Nicholas of Tolentine, and St. Augustine. After the voice of Jesus had bidden her to come to the Convent, Rita woke and went to the door. In the doorway stood St. John, who guided her to the Y P ,., 5 I' I' -Y---- V -- Y --,- . . .--.. ,W Pge6

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l'amilv ol' Mancini, announced and commanded in the vision to be baptized RITA. Yirtuous even at her earlv affe Rita was verv much unlike the other children 1 , n 1 4 , ol' Rocca Porrena. Though she did not join them in their madrigals and games, they all loved her, for they knew, with childlike understanding, that she loved them all. At the age ol' twelve. Rita, having spoken with God for many days, had the desire of becoming a nun deeply imbedded in her heart. Rita's parents, upon hearing ot' her desires, were indeed sad to find that their daughter's choice was not the same t as theirs. Amata and An- 'tonio, thinking only ot' their daughter, believed l that Rita should marry. p No one, save a few, has ever been able to fully comprehend the ex- treme mental anguish ot' Rita when she was told their wishes. Rita had hoped to consecrate her entire life to God. lilo! t K, M ,, quently, the couple told Rita that after their death she would have no one ' Q looking after her. Her lovaltv and obedience to her parents was tried at .' that time much more than before. F L Knowing that the will ot' her parents , was trulv the will ol' God, Rita con- sented. t Rita's marents lnadc their choice -' -il for Rita's husband. The son ol' a Page 5

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meeting of Saints Augustine and Nicholas. lt was this Saintly trio that told her The impossible is overeome in your behalf and took her into the eloister of the eon- vent at Ntaddalena. l'pon finding her the next morning, the superioress and nuns welcomed her into the community after she related the forenighl's happenings to them. ller wish had been realized and she beeame a melnber of the great Order of St. Augustine after she had made her solemn professional vows. The same obedienee, which she had so eom- pletely given her parents and husband previously, was ever present to her religious superiors. Une of her earliest miraeles was the result of this vir- tue. To prove tiila's obe- dience, the superioress eommanded her to water a plant that had withered e and died. After a few f- -..v.,,,.a,, , K, p months, the plant had again taken leaf, and where the dead plant had onee before withered, it had bloomed into the most beautiful flower in the Maddalena Con- vent Garden. lleing pitiless with herself, Rita ob- l served the vow of poverty to a superlative 1 degree. Before she had taken her solemn vows, Rita had distributed all of her temporal wealth to those in need. 'I'hrough- out her entire life as a nun, Rita had worn the same habit she had reeeived upon entering the Order. Her vow of ehastity was militantly guarded, also. Page 7