In the Italian province of Umbria, in the small medieval city of Cascia, is a gleaming basilica dedicated to one of Italy's most beloved saints — Rita of Cascia, patron saint of impossible causes.

Thousands of pilgrims throng to the tiny hilltop city throughout the year. But the traffic really picks up during the last two of weeks of May, when special devotions are celebrated in honor of St. Rita's feast day, May 22.

The life of St. Rita, who is also known as “the Pearl of Umbria,” is shrouded in mystery and legend due to the illiteracy and poor record-keeping of her times. Yet it is precisely the story of her life, along with her powerful intercessory prayer, that attracts the hordes to this site.

St. Rita wrote no books, memoirs or dialogues. Still, word of her uncompromising love for God — her reputation for prayer and mysticism, her fervent embrace of the cross of Christ, and her peaceful and gentle manner — spread throughout the region and earned her the esteem of multitudes throughout the centuries. Just this spring many American moviegoers learned about her in the hit movie The Rookie, the story of a baseball player with a dream and a devotion to St. Rita.

Born in 1381 in the village of Roccaporena, Rita was the only child of a devout couple, Antonio and Amata Lotti. The child developed a great devotion to God and expressed her desire to become a nun.

Her parents, despite their deep religious sentiments, refused to allow her to enter the convent. It may have been that they were afraid she might be swept away during a raid on a convent — a not uncommon occurrence during the dangerous days of the 14th century's pope vs. antipope crisis.

Rita dutifully obeyed her parents and, at the age of 18, married a local young man, Paolo di Ferdinando Mancini. From the union, she had two sons, thought to be twins.

Most of their marriage was marked by strife, as Paolo had an explosive temper. Eventually, through Rita's prayers and her total reliance on God, Paolo was converted into a loving, God-fearing man.

But Paolo could not escape the damage done during his earlier life. As the result of a long-standing feud with a couple of townsmen and political rivals, he was ambushed and killed. This left Rita a young widow with two teen-age boys to care for. Worse still, the boys were attracted by the popular notion of the vendetta to avenge their father's death. This greatly grieved Rita, who vigorously pleaded with them to drop the idea. They resisted her pleas.

Rita prayed for their spiritual well-being, asking for their protection from the sinful deeds they were mulling. Within the year, both died of natural causes. Rita grieved, yet was filled with the peaceful assurance that God had saved her sons from hell.

Surprising Stigmatist

Rita turned her attention to good works and rekindled the hope of finally realizing her dream of entering the Augustinian Convent of St. Mary of Magdalene in Cascia. She was rejected three times. The superiors of the convent were concerned because several of the nuns in residence were relatives of the murderers of Paolo.

But Rita, who had long forgiven her husband's assassins, did not give up. She petitioned her three favorite saints — Augustine, John the Baptist and Nicholas of Tolentine — and, finally, the superiors agreed to allow her to enter. So it was that, at the age of 36, St. Rita entered the convent.

In her religious life, Rita devoted herself to prayer and penance, working with the town's poor and lepers. A contemplative and a mystic, she had great devotion to the passion and cross of Christ. Often she begged the Lord to grant her the privilege of participating in his suffering. One day, while she was contemplating Jesus’ agony on the cross, she received, as from his own crown, a single thorn. It lodged into her forehead and caused her pain and discomfort until her death 16 years later. She bore the single stigmata joyfully and offered her suffering for the physical and spiritual well-being of others, and for the salvation of souls.

In the last few years of her life, Rita subsisted practically on the Eucharist alone. She was frail and bed-ridden, yet displayed joy, charity and patience to all, ever-endeavoring to bring peace and harmony to difficult situations.

Several months before she died, a cousin came to visit. Rita asked her to kindly return with a rose from her beloved home town, Roccaporena. As it was January, and the hills were covered with snow, the cousin expressed her doubt that she would be able to fulfill Rita's request. But, just as she approached Rita's house, the woman found a beautiful rose blooming in the garden. Since that incident, Rita has been associated with roses.

Gentle, sweet, humble and long-suffering Rita died May 21, 1457, at the age of 76. It is said that at the moment of her death, the bells of the town rang without the assistance of a human being.

She was beatified in 1627, but not canonized until centuries later, on May 22, in the Jubilee year of 1900 by Pope Leo XIII. Her incorrupt bodies lies in repose in the upper basilica.

Towering Tranquility

The foundation stone for the stunning Basilica of St. Rita was laid in 1937. The church was officially consecrated in May of 1947, and was elevated to basilica in 1955.

While modern, the graceful architecture of the edifice does absolutely no violence to the beauty and scaled-down proportions of the medieval city of Cascia. In fact, it is a strikingly splendid high point of the city, situated at a place that has a breath-taking, panoramic view of the rugged mountains and valleys of Umbria.

Upon entering the basilica, you are greeted by sculpted scenes from the life of the saint; further inside there is the Way of the Cross in white Carrara marble. The layout of the basilica is that of a Greek cross, with the dome or cupola in the center and four major apses extending from the center. Represented on the dome, which is Byzantine in style, are portraits of the Holy Spirit and several Augustinian saints. The main apse is the work of the painter Luigi Filocamo and presents the Last Supper, the Sacrifice of Isaac and the Passover.

The sanctuary, simple and elegant, is carved in beautiful pink Portuguese marble. The glass door and bronze fixtures are by Armando Marrocco.

The apse to the left is of great interest because it is here that the incorrupt mortal remains of St. Rita repose.

A fresco by Ferruccio Ferrazzi depicts Rita kneeling at the foot of the glorified Lord. Other scenes from the saint's life are the work of G.B. Galizzi. Numerous silver hearts of thanksgiving, pictures of loved ones, and testimonial letters of answered prayers are hung on the walls above the saint. This area is imbued with a sense of peace and quiet joy, representative of the gentle saint.

The overall impression of the basilica may be described as elegant, quiet, tranquil and graceful. Peace and reconciliation are principle messages of St. Rita, and peace and tranquility permeate this splendid basilica.

Elena Dwyer writes from Annandale, New Jersey