St. Rita of Cascia: Saint of the Impossible

by Joseph Sicardo

For centuries, St. Rita of Cascia has been one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church. She is known as the "Saint of the Impossible" because of her amazing answers to prayer as well as the remarkable events of her own life. Here are the classic stories from her life: the bees which attended her birth, her great early desire to be a nun, her disappointment in not being allowed to be one and her marriage to a cruel husband, his conversion and his murder; and how St. Rita prevented her two young sons from taking revenge. Here also is the story of St. Rita's miraculous entry into the Augustinian Convent, her miraculous thorn wound, her severe penances and her many virtues. Though little documentation on St. Rita exists, Fr. Sicardo has made her come alive again; his great love and admiration for her shine forth on every page. Imprimatur: George W. Mundelein, D.D., Archbishop of Chicago

Genres: Biography, Catholic, Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Faith

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1993

About the author

Also known as José Sicardo

The Rev. Father Joseph Sicardo, O.S.A., was a Spanish priest and author of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His biography of St. Rita of Cascia: Saint of the Impossible was originally published in 1916 by D. B. Hansen and Sons, Chicago. Additionally, the work was translated by Fr. Dan J. Murphy, and is firmly based on the historical facts of the saint's life, as intended by the author. Father Sicardo's work was retypeset and reprinted by TAN Books in 1990, and also received the Cum Permissu Superiorum, Nihil Obstat, and Imprimatur upon publication.

Reviews

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her penance was amazing. I also find it interesting that she submitted herself to her parents to the point that she got married even though she was not sure that marriage was her vocation. And how marriage did not stop her from eventually living the religious life.

[Sophia Nuñez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The parts of St. Rita's life that were hardest to read about were her extreme obedience to her parents, her prayer that God change her sons' desires or no longer spare their lives, and the worms she called her "little angels" as they crawled around her wound. Yikes. Saints are intense.

[Arlene Alog-david · Rating 5 out of 5]

must read

if you like to know more about St Rita this is a good book to start. I bought this because in February 2018 she keeps popping on my head and I do not know anything about her. During the cruise at South America I met Fr Stephen Curry and asked him about his favorite saints and he replied of course St Augustine and St Ambrose because I am Augustinian he told me last March 7. Then I asked Him about St Rita because I dont have internet in the boat and I cant researched. He said St Rita is an Augustinian nun, so the moment I returned on the shore I decided to buy tbis book and read about her. This is an amazing biography. Truly I am amazed of her and I wish I could imitate her. I went to her in Cascia Italy in May 18, 2018.

All I read in this book I saw it with my own eyes. I was so happy. Thank you for this wonderful book.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. Rita's life, especially her patience, self-sacrifice, and love of God are truly inspiring. It's good to know we have friends in Heaven like her! The writing style of the author was not my favorite, as he tended towards writing in lists, but it was a short read that has left me wanting to learn more about St. Rita, Saint of the Impossible.

[Jordan Korol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who can intentionally live with maggots in their divinely-granted forehead wound in an effort to obtain eternal life probably deserves it. As usual with these accounts, the author's writing drips with praise to the point of alienation of the reader.

[Fr. Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It contains all the basic information in St. Rita's life but makes her out to be a sinless and holy separating her, in a sense, from whatever made her human and broken.

I learned a lot about her life and what she experienced, but that caveat influenced my overall enjoyment of the book.

[Lisa Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the message of St. Rita's story

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book about my patron Saint just in time to start praying nightly novenas before her Feast Day this May 22.

I’m humbled by her story and truly amazed at all that she accomplished during (and after) her life.

I think she’s incredible and I’m so honored to call her my patron Saint.

Saint Rita, please pray for us! 🌹 🐝

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple, although somewhat over-the-top, account of St. Rita's life and impact. This was clearly written by a man and reflects other early 20th century hagiographic accounts of the lives of women saints - as St. Rita never had a bad thought, never committed a sin, and never desired a man (which would have fit the previous two categories) but was otherwise a somewhat interesting account of her life. It would be nice to read a contemporary, more balanced, biography but unfortunately this seems to be the best I could find.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew the most well-known details of this saint but I know now I did not know the most significant details of her life. I often read saints lives but I have truly never read one like this. It seems some difficult suffering necessarily accompanies the life of a great saint, but this one rattled me. It has left me feeling a pilgrimage to Cascia is in order!

[Lisa Raie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need a book to read to help you be more humble, patient with perseverance then this is the book.

I share these words from the book; “Rita, who carried sunshine and holiness as an atmosphere, had to undergo so many trials and sufferings.” really touch the deepest parts of my heart as it opens my own germinated wounds through greater love for the passion of Jesus Christ and being able to humbly express positive thoughts and feelings of gratitude every day even through such impossible suffering.

It is at times a difficult read but one that has brought me to realizing why I am here and why I be who I be in faithfulness to prayer, meditation, contemplation and a life of solitude.

xox

[Cyl Cervantes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me longer than expected to finish reading this due to circumstances that came up, but so glad that I was able to finally finish because I have definitely gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of St. Rita’s life.

I had picked her as my confirmation saint so many years ago and I can’t believe it took me this long to really go deeper into learning more about her life, her love for God and others, the miracles brought forth from her life, and much more!

[Denisele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was time to learn more about my confirmation Saint. I'm glad I read this. it was an easy read. I have the same complaint I do of other autobiographies and memoirs tho where they quote conversations. In this case, the book quotes some of St. Rita's prayers, which seems unlikely - was she speaking these out loud and someone transcribing while she was meditating?

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First published in 1916, this classic shares the life of St. Rita, the saint of the impossible. She strove only for holiness. Amazing woman! St. Rita, pray for us selfish, me-centered humans distracted by all that does not matter. I really love her honeybees. Transformstive book.

[Cathy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know much about St. Rita so I chose this book for our Church bookclub. Saints are so amazing! The mortification always bothers me as I can’t imagine that Christ desires us to do those things to our body, but many Saints did believe it proved their love and devotion. Well worth the read!

[Sarah Bellott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started this book by praying the prayer to St. Rita at the end of the book as I felt that I was facing an impossible situation. The situation worked out better than I hoped for. I give thanks to St. Rita and her intercession.

[Cara Lord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative biography of St. Rita. Loved the book.

[montserrat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to read if you want to learn more about the life of St. Rita of Cascia and the many miracles that happened through her intercession.

[Elizabeth Fornal · Rating 5 out of 5]

She came to me for a reason

I chose the 5 stars because I have heard of her but never been interested in knowing about her. She came to me through Facebook. A quick look at her and a small amount of words made me find her biography. once found I read about her saintly life in awe. She was a perfect women of God. IT was perplexing perhaps but truly lived by a human being. I learned many things through reAding her biography, I pray I can use some of her ways to fulfill my life as it is.