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

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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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U ur Song of J oy in Ritals Premise Umbria, during this Holy Year ot' nineteen hundred and fifty, is, and will continue to be, on the itinerary of most Holy Year pilgrims. lt is this province in Central ltaly, painted beautifully by the Masterful Hand of God, that has seen the birth of many Saints. St. Benedict, founder of the Benedictine Order, and St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Urder, had both breathed their first in this hallowed province. Umbria also has been named as the place of birtl1 of eight of the many Saints of the Order of St. Augusf . 1' yHJT -r:v n'if1FTT , ' -75 fY 5' iff'w .f f - -- ., .. 11912211 . ff- 'K -5. -..f 'fu' l'lH , l-sith -. Y' 1. -,y.,,gx .115-354157-'- x --4-yy fi. me . .V 'CLR' :V-,'l,a...!,..,iq Jw. -'31,-, MQ g? '.g4!f:c S., ' ' .'1'l f'7' 'Nix I 5 ,1 . 4 ' ,.f?qfi!.' y'X-'QA'-',, if 'MFA .1-Nj-'.:t,.1,1s l-,iz , 31:Neg-. - -y'SEwi.4'11'lt'mg .lffrsw wks- ' N -HX' '.J r 2 3. '-mv-1' f'., 1- , ,ftv v -. 'w'-:AS-1 -'NJQ-' Qfffu' vw' ff' - -. -.nqffv fiixwiiw :'!A'-fs' uhavf.4' d'.' '-tp.hN4-' :few-' -.Q f'1 Q2 1- -1,f. 1f4 K vi .' , 1-yi' ' -tv -'- '- 1, ,,'ji,r1vr g17': l.'+' - - tiff, rfau Pi'-5 A .-' pfsip- 'V ' fi-1 'J' 'ff-'J 'c 'i '-'-bv I fini-. .gif L' ':fag,'3?X,,i,',Jes..Q., -1'1 v'i - .2-, , ,,,339i, '- I '.J.'f-527711 ,'.,!.:1 firm. 371 'I fff:- 1: -f-ff-zitf-vqfwtz 2 - -wu f-g? l ' 1'1i'3,'Jef,f..' '-t er'. ' ff 5' 255, A isa? WMZ45kmHRi5fJf5QhJV 'FfJfiRfiz 1r:r.,,.' '1Q'u'VK -Lf-pw xx. 1-.L -. ., ui -X, - Jywmfaeiw. ,,' xeia' cle,--LN :nM l ,-A V Ax' .v, b.,,,w'.4.,.,: ,s V .'Q5.!'F'-f v- A - fix- i3t.vr, ww 37 s'- ':1- , y2,'-'.,f:a L'W if t..-. - -wx, I ii.,-f 1. -J -4 .-, -'-.Q Je: tHfLi:J5 5 j:,SQx?- V., AWEQQA w5r:7.'...'f ' 'Wi ' if 'fb Nun: ' T11 A' ' 'r 1-fi if 4' ' ' -...4-5-2, 1-QL: 'f -'f1'f',i -sts-'.'1Ef 'f '-'lr J' ' . :Pre - 2 1 z X :..A-fi '- .,,,,,, ,1,, ,y 4' K,-. , RF 'J' 1. 'iff nWH'P.gF5fQr mg. . . . ,'- V fhw- -'A' -. ,1j.-,3,i, -Q15 in it -4 Hf',.':- 1 r, .1-cg 'Nj wig 53. 1: 'ft gg . wif? L-L ' -.,:li2v.'l' . , 4. W 'i :J-. M .ff,-- an f i 4 -jeff' MAMA .gil 5 A Z' ' ,Qt 3.33 2,1513 L: J, '-:i -' pgfi-g ilfggl, lj 'L ,.:-J 1.1. ,'-,in - i gftwf -if--'91- -I- rf -1... '- w'- 1 -,, - gr?-w . --e.3.V-.y-,,Xgw'a45i5Q-.?bV,g' T ,, 1 . e ,mix ., 3,,u. -'rr-A 'CS' r, .'hff' '12 i-- . ' 'WE- ':i' 'mil 'ff' 1?!'TH'-'X-' hw-,L fi'.,g'ae:i,f1y 'wE, Nf'v. 4' w2' 'i3ighgi?Ya?Rp.Hw7t+ , 1 . -25259,-5'9Qg':z q-135, - - ' .fill ff ' -3. ,.,,,., ,. -. ,, . .. line, among whom Sister St. Rita of Cascia is here celebrated. The people of Cascia, quite like the the people of the whole of Umbria, were a zealous lot. lt would be safe to say that there were no irreligious, for it was here that the faith had encircled all. In the hamlet of Rocca Porrena, there lived a couple whose faith and piety was unequaled even in pious Umbria. Throughout their long married life, they had prayed so that God would bless tl1eir childless marriage. Many years had passed when-in the humble, peasant-like cottage of Amata and Antonio Mancini - an angel appeared to inform the pious Amata that she would be blessed with a daughter of great sanc- tity, deigned by God to be the Saint of the lm- possible. Saturday, May 22, 1381, witnessed the birth of the first-born of the Page 4

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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