MORE RECENT MIRACLES OF ST. RITA
[1] Added to this edition.
We must not pass over in silence the marvellous fact that, as the time
of the canonization of our heroine was drawing nearer, it pleased the
Lord to let men see more clearly how powerful before the throne of His
infinite mercy is her patronage in favour of those who piously invoke
her.
The devotion towards St. Rita, which was already of ancient date and
widely spread, has, in fact, in these latter years become more
universal and more fervent. Amongst every class of persons are found
some who confidently have recourse to her intercession; triduums and
novenas are offered in her honour, her pictures are looked for
everywhere, relics of her are eagerly sought, and in the severest
crises her name is invoked.
This great increase of worship is due principally, we believe, to the
very many signal graces which have been obtained in every country
through Rita's intercession.
It would be too long to narrate all those cases we have knowledge of,
but we must not entirely disappoint the pious curiosity of devout
readers by omitting them all. We select, therefore, a few cases from a
collection of these extraordinary favours made by Monsignor Casimiro
Gennari, titular Archbishop of Lepanto, who is himself a most devoted
client of St. Rita and most zealous in spreading veneration towards so
powerful an advocate. We have chosen those which in our opinion are
most extraordinary and miraculous.
At the same time we wish to protest, out of veneration to the decrees
of Urban VIII. of the 13th of March, 1625, and of the 5th of June,
1831, and of those of the Congregation of Rites, that if anything we
have hitherto written or are about to write of the miracles of St. Rita
be not approved by the Holy See, it ought to receive only that amount
of credence to which the evidence adduced entitles it.
Sister Mary Consiglia Giona, a native of Naples, who entered the
convent of St. Cosmo in Conversano in the year 1859, contracted in 1863
a very painful malady of the eyes, which gave her no rest night or day.
During six years she consulted many doctors, who prescribed various
internal and external remedies, but always without result. Ultimately
she had to leave the convent and go to live at Bari for six months
under the care of an expert oculist, but even then she experienced no
relief. The malady went on increasing, till, to her great grief, she
lost the sight of her eyes, whilst the pain in them continued as great
as ever. She thus returned blind to the convent, and having lost all
confidence in human aid, she turned to God and asked Him to cure her
through the patronage of the Blessed Virgin and the saints. She
thought many times that in a dream she had seen the most Blessed
Virgin, who was blaming her for having too much complained of her
sufferings, and who exhorted her to offer her pains to God. One night
when Sister Mary Consiglia had been suffering more than usual, worn out
she fell asleep, and she seemed to see in a dream the three Babylonian
youths, who wanted her to give them some bunches of grapes that were
not yet ripe which were hanging from a branch near her room. She
refused, and the youths then said: 'Why do you want a grace that is not
yet ripe?' They disappeared as soon as they had uttered these words,
and the nun was covered with great confusion.
She continued, however, to have Masses celebrated, and to address her
prayers to the most holy Virgin and to various saints, but the grace
she sought was still denied her. About this time she heard people
speak of Rita of Cascia as the saint who obtains from God what is
otherwise impossible, but having lost her confidence she had no desire
to have recourse to that saint. Nevertheless, she was induced, and
almost constrained by violence of pain, to begin a novena of prayer in
her honour. Shortly after the saint appeared to her in a dream, and
assured her that she should soon be cured. And so it was. Her
recovery had not long to be waited for; it was speedy and complete,
without any human aid, for once more she joyfully opened her eyes to
the light of heaven, and her pain ceased as if by magic. She has
preserved her sight strong and perfect even to the present day, nor has
she any need of spectacles even for reading, as so many of her sisters
in religion have.
This nun, grateful for the great favour conferred on her, began to
spread devotion to St. Rita with the utmost zeal. She had her statue
placed in the convent church and exposed for veneration by permission
of the Holy See, and her proper Mass is said on the feast day, which is
celebrated with great solemnity and attended by a large concourse of
the faithful. In this way special devotion to St. Rita began in
Conversano and the neighbouring towns, and many wonderful graces have
been granted in those places by this most powerful patron.
Sister Anna Rosa Biscozzi, a nun of the same convent, was, in 1885,
attacked by a violent pain in the ear, which continued for four months,
and not only rendered her completely deaf, but nearly drove her mad
with agony. The disease made such progress that one evening blood
began to pour from her ear, and no means of stanching it could be
found. The doctor's efforts were quite useless, and not being able to
suggest anything better he ordered the ear to be dressed with oil of
almonds. But the invalid, instead of using the oil that was
prescribed, made use of oil from St. Rita's lamp, and she anointed the
affected part with it for seven days, reciting three Glorias and an
Ave, whilst she made the sign of the Cross with the oil, and finally
saying the ejaculation, 'Blessed Rita, pray for me.' On the seventh
night she had a feeling as if something inside her head had opened, and
from that moment she noticed she could hear the ticking of the clock,
and in a short time every trace of her malady had disappeared.
Signora Nicoletta de Bellis of Rutigliano was often complaining of an
intolerable pain in her head, which came on every fifth or sixth day,
and had reduced her to a condition of the utmost emaciation. She had
consulted many physicians, amongst them some of the most distinguished
in Naples, and had submitted to many courses of treatment, but all to
no effect. The malady was obstinate, and her health was failing day by
day. Her aunt, who was a nun in the convent of St. Cosmo in
Conversano, of which we have had reason to speak already, told her of
St. Rita's miracles, and persuaded her to have recourse to that saint
by a fervent novena. The invalid followed her advice, and we may
imagine her joy and wonder on finding herself freed from her malady at
the very beginning of the novena. The recovery was a perfect and
lasting one, and no vestige of disease was left.
A poor man from Conversano had the misfortune to get a fistula on one
of his eyes, which could be got rid of only by a difficult and costly
surgical operation. He would have to go to Bari and pay 200 lire to
the surgeon, which it was quite impossible for him to do. He had
recourse to St. Rita in his trouble, and besought her intervention with
a lively, ardent faith. His prayers were heard; the fistula
disappeared from his eye without the intervention of the surgeon's
knife. He had a solemn Mass of thanksgiving sung every year in honour
of his deliverer.
In 1886 a little boy of four years fell on the fire of a brazier, and
besides being badly burnt, his eyes were so seriously injured that he
could no longer open them. His afflicted mother called in the doctors,
and applied the remedies they prescribed, but without effect. Day
passed after day, and the child remained blind, nor was there any hope
left that he would recover his sight. His pious mother then betook
herself to prayer to God and His saints; she addressed many appeals on
her child's behalf to various heavenly patrons, but the favour she
sought was not granted. One night, whilst she was sleeping, there
appeared to her a nun, who said, 'You have had recourse to many saints:
why have you not applied to me?' 'And who are you?' asked the woman.
'I am Blessed Rita,' was the reply, 'whose statue is in the Church of
St. Cosmo. I promise you that if you come to visit me your son's eyes
will be opened when you return.' The woman was in the church early
next morning to pay the visit suggested to her and to beg the saint's
intercession. On her return she heard her son calling, and on going to
him found him with eyes open and entirely cured.
In March, 1887, Signora Maria Soria Carcaterra of Conversano received a
remarkable favour from St. Rita, which she herself thus describes:
'I, the undersigned, testify that I have received the following favour
from B. Rita of Cascia. A cyst having appeared on my right eyelid, I
consulted various distinguished doctors, who told me I should have to
undergo an operation. But I thought it better to recommend myself to
B. Rita, and after many prayers she did me the favour of causing the
cyst to disappear without any need of doctors or of medicine.
'MARIA SORIA CARCATERRA.'
Signor Giovanni Biscozzi had in 1887 been ill for a long time with a
painful malady. The physicians thought he was suffering from disease
of the heart, and therefore incurable. It is certain that he had to
remain shut up in his room, for every changing of place caused him
grievous torment. When his aunt, who was a nun in the convent of St.
Cosmo in Conversano, came to learn this, she sent him one of St. Rita's
blessed loaves, advising him to take a little piece of it every day and
then drink a little water in memory of the saint's fastings, and to
recite three Glorias and an Ave and the invocation, 'Blessed Rita, pray
for me.' The sick man followed the advice, and immediately had
experience of its salutary effects, for he felt considerably better,
and very soon was restored to his former health. As a mark of
gratitude he sent the convent a present of oil to be used in the lamp
at the saint's statue.
Paolina Giannetti, a lay sister of the same convent of St. Cosmo, had a
large pustule on her arm which was very painful, and since she could
not be dispensed from working, it festered, and her whole arm became
swollen, and in consequence of this she fell into a violent fever. It
was thought indispensable that a doctor should be called in, and that
evening a message was sent to the doctor asking him to come next day,
that a lay sister had need of his services. That night a picture of
St. Rita was given to the sick nun, and she placed it on her diseased
arm all night. Hardly had she awakened from sleep when she found that
the swelling had entirely subsided, that the fever had left her, and
that every trace of the pustule had also disappeared. The doctor came
later, and was told there was no need for his services.
Signora Natalizia Scattone of Conversano relates that her husband had a
large tumour on one of his legs, which forced him to keep his bed for
many days, and which had ultimately to be removed by an operation. His
wife was very much afraid that the wound made by the surgeon would
become a fistula, for even the slightest scratch on her husband took
several days to heal. She had before received many favours from St.
Rita, and was therefore very devout towards her; and on this occasion,
hardly had the surgeon departed after the operation, than she placed a
relic of the saint over the bandages, and prayed with all her heart for
her husband. On the following day the surgeon returned to dress the
wound, but when the bandages were removed, it was found to be
completely healed, to his great amazement and that of the family.
Signor Domenico Lopriore of Conversano had a tooth extracted in 1887,
and perhaps owing to the damp to which he exposed himself by going into
the country at an early hour, an abscess was formed in his mouth, which
reduced him to the last extremity. A very high fever, with swellings
in his throat, face, and tongue, deprived him of all repose. His
tongue especially had grown so large that he had perforce to keep it
full two fingers' breadth hanging out of his mouth. The doctors,
seeing that he was growing worse, ordered him the last Sacraments. He
had a cousin who was a boarder in the convent of St. Cosmo, and who was
very devoted to St. Rita. She, with the nuns, prayed very fervently to
the saint for the sick man's recovery, and his uncle, a priest, offered
Mass for the same intention on the saint's altar in the church. The
holy sacrifice and the prayers soon brought about the desired effect,
for the sick man suddenly became much better, and in a short time was
completely cured.
Devotion to St. Rita has not only brought health to bodies, but
salvation to souls, as the following shows: Sister Genefosa Perrini,
nun of the convent of St. Cosmo, having to live out of _clausura_ for
some time owing to ill-health, had occasion to go to Bari one day with
her brother, Canon Francesco Perrini. In that town they heard of a
young lady who was dying, and who, masquerading as a freethinker,
refused to have anything to do with priests or Sacraments. Her
relatives, who were in the utmost affliction at such a misfortune,
begged the Canon and his sister to go and see her, in the hope that
their visit might excite some good thought in her. They went to see
the invalid, but as soon as she caught sight of them she began to abuse
them bitterly. Said the Canon to her: 'Signora, I am only come to pay
you a simple visit, and also, if you please, to bring you a cure for
your disease.' 'What cure?' asked she, growing calmer. 'If, indeed,
you have an efficacious one, you are welcome.' By good fortune the
Canon had a little picture of the saint, and, offering it to the sick
lady, he said: 'Here is the cure. If you will have recourse to this
advocate, who is called the Saint of the Impossible, you will be
saved.' The sight of the picture, indeed, worked a wonder. Instead of
flying into a passion and throwing it back to them, as she had done on
other occasions, the invalid freely accepted it, took it with devotion,
and placed it under her pillow. After this the Canon with his sister
took his leave and went away, but hardly had he gone a few yards than
he was called back in a great hurry, and when he went to the invalid
she asked him to hear her confession. The Canon showed her that he
could not hear confessions outside his own diocese, and he exhorted her
to avail herself of a confessor of the place. She allowed herself to
be persuaded, a confessor was called in, and she made her confession
with great sorrow. She said that Rita had appeared to her as a nun,
and incited her to die well. She received the Holy Viaticum and
Extreme Unction with signs of sincere piety, and then delivered up her
soul to God.
In March, 1888, Signora Caterina Bianchini had a little son of five
years of age who was attacked by cancerous diphtheria in the throat,
which soon placed him in extreme danger of death. The physicians had
despaired of him, and gave him only four hours to live. His mother,
who at other times had received signal favours from St. Rita, had
recourse to her, confident in her assistance, and beseeching her with
tears to help her. She anointed the child's throat with the oil of the
saint, and, most wonderful to tell, hardly had the oil touched his
throat than he moved himself, recovered consciousness, spoke, and in a
few days was well. On the following day the doctor and their relations
called rather to visit the parents than the child, who they thought was
dead, but imagine their astonishment on seeing him restored to health!
'My mother,' said he, 'rubbed me with St. Rita's oil, and said. "Saint
Rita, give me my son," and I was well again.'
In 1890 Signorina Susanna Pallieri of Conversano had suffered from a
severe pulmonary complaint, and when she recovered from it she was
troubled by a gathering in one of her eyes which remained from that
disease, and which resisted all the efforts of her doctors. When she
found that none of the doctors of her native place could effect a cure,
she put herself under the care of Dr. Vitali, a distinguished oculist
of Bari, for three months. But the gathering in her eye grew worse
instead of better, and finally the oculist, seeing that all his
attempts produced no result, had to throw up the case. It would be
impossible to tell the sorrow of the poor young lady at so unfortunate
a result of her efforts. Having lost all hope in human aid, she, with
her mother, began to beseech St. Rita either to cure her of her malady
or else take her out of this world to escape the intolerable anguish of
the pain she had to bear. Their prayers were not in vain, for on the
very next day after beginning the prayers her eye was very much
improved, and that evening she was entirely cured. Dr. Vitali was
immediately informed of what had happened, and at first did not believe
it; but when he saw that she had really been cured, he declared openly
that such a cure ought to be regarded as a real miracle. From that day
Signorina Pallieri was entirely cured of the disease of her eye, and
enjoyed excellent health, nor does she cease to return thanks to the
Saint of the Impossible.
In the town of Turi, in February, 1893, a boy of five years of age
named Filippo d'Addabbo, who had just had an attack of scarlatina,
developed symptoms of violent fever accompanied by swellings of his
whole body. For two days he had remained in bed unable to speak, and
the doctors gave him up for dead. In this state he suddenly opened his
eyes, made a sign towards a picture of St. Rita that was hanging in the
room, and said to his mother: 'Take down that picture, and light some
candles before it,' and they did so. Early on the following morning he
said: 'Mamma, write to Aunt Chiara Maria (she was a nun in the convent
of St. Cosmo) in Conversano to have a Mass said to St. Rita.' And they
immediately did as he wished. On the evening of that day the child
grew worse, and they were afraid he was dying, as the doctors had
assured them. At a certain time of the night, however, he became
noticeably better. When the doctors came next day to visit him they
found him, to their astonishment, entirely recovered, and repeating the
words, 'Blessed Rita has cured me.'
Natale Esperti, a shoemaker of Conversano, had been in a deplorable
state of health for a long time, for his feet and legs were swollen,
and a pain in the heart deprived him of all chance of repose. The
heart disease became worse, and the doctors attending him lost all hope
of saving his life. On Tuesday in Holy Week, 1895, he received the
last Sacraments, as he was almost on the point of death, and his end
was expected every hour. His sister-in-law, who was most devoted to
St. Rita, pitying his sad case, went to pray for him in the Church of
St. Cosmo, and brought some candles to light before the saint's statue.
Whilst all the others were weeping about the bed of the dying man she
obtained a little picture of the saint, which was placed on his breast
whilst they recited the invocation, 'St. Rita, pray for him.' They
also gave him a little piece of the saint's blessed bread, which he
tried to swallow. A wonder was instantly seen, for the swelling
decreased considerably, and the pain at the heart disappeared. In
three days the man who had been dying was able to rise from his bed
cured, to the incredible wonder of all who had assisted him dying.
Signora Antonia Bernardi of Cisternino also obtained a stupendous
favour from our saint. In May, 1895, she had an attack of scarlatina,
which was epidemic in that town, and had proved fatal in many cases.
In her case it was so violent and so much resisted all the skill of the
doctors that she was declared incurable, and she was preparing herself
to receive the last Sacraments. Her parents were distracted with
grief, but knowing the miracles that St. Rita works in every place,
they had recourse to her patronage in their sorrow. The dying woman
also recommended herself confidently to St. Rita, and joined her
prayers to those of the others. Whilst she was in a paroxysm of fever,
and hence could not say whether she was sleeping or waking, St. Rita
appeared to her, and with her another saint whom the sick woman could
not distinguish. The saint came close to her bed, and said to her, 'I
have cured you; now you will be well, but mind, return me the visit at
Conversano.' The saint disappeared, and the sick woman found herself
instantly well. Her parents and relatives were seized with the utmost
astonishment, and they took care to betake them to Conversano to return
the visit of their beneficent visitor. There is no need to say that
after this event the worship of St. Rita was extended to people of
every rank in Cisternino.
Amongst the very many places into which the worship of St. Rita has
been publicly introduced in very recent years, Noci, a large town in
the diocese of Conversano, is deserving of special mention. There is
an altar, richly ornamented, erected in the principal church there in
honour of the saint, and never a day passes that crowds of the faithful
do not go there to offer their prayers or pay their vows. And Rita,
looking with pleasure on the piety of the people of Noci, repays them
every day with help and favour. For brevity's sake we shall mention
only three examples of this, and in the first place that obtained by
the priest, Don Francesco Morea, who is remarkable for promoting
devotion to St. Rita. Here are his words:
'About midnight on the 10th of April, 1895, I was awakened by violent
beatings of my heart, so frequent and continuous that I could not
breathe. I remained a long time sitting up in bed with my hand tightly
pressed over the region of the heart, in great trouble, without being
able to utter a word. However, I turned to Blessed Rita in thought,
placed her picture over my heart, and vowed a silver heart if she
liberated me from this sudden illness. I recited three Glorias in her
honour, adding, "O, Blessed Rita, pray for me." As soon as I had done
this I was quite well. The beating of my heart became regular; I was
able to lie down and sleep. From time to time since this nervous
palpitation has returned, but never in the same form as that night, nor
for so long. I redeemed my vow on the 14th of May by hanging on her
picture the silver heart I promised.'
The influenza, which was rife in many parts of Puglia in 1895, did not
spare the town of Noci. Amongst others, Maria Luizzi, wife of Simone
Sansonetti, a bleacher, was attacked by it. After struggling with the
disease for several days at last it left her, and the doctor allowed
her to leave her bed. Hardly, however, had she put foot on the floor
than she felt entirely prostrated, and experienced such a feeling of
dizziness that she fell at full length on the floor, and was with great
difficulty got into bed again. On the next and three following days
the same feelings of weakness and dejection continued. On the evening
of the fifth day, animated with strong confidence in St. Rita, to whom,
as we have said, an altar in the parish church was dedicated, she
prayed in this way: 'O Blessed Rita, I promise to present you with my
breloque if you allow me to remain out of bed all day to-morrow.' When
the time came to get up, she left her bed and dressed herself, without
the least doubt that her prayer had been heard. She tried to walk
about her room, and found she could do so without difficulty, for she
felt herself fortified with new strength, and all the ill-effects of
the influenza vanished. She redeemed her vow to the saint on the 5th
of June, 1895.
The following fact that happened in Noci on the 28th of June, 1895,
crowns all the wonderful works which the Saint of the Impossible
performs every day. It is the case of a doctor--as pious and religious
as he is skilful in the healing art--who was unexpectedly attacked by
cerebral congestion and reduced to the last extremity, and even thought
to be dead, who, after simply being anointed by the saint's oil moved
himself, revived, and completely recovered. But let us leave it to
himself to tell the story, for out of gratitude for the favour received
he has written the following with his own hand:
'On the 28th of last June, in the forenoon, whilst I was making my
usual round of medical visits, I began to feel unwell; and about eleven
o'clock, whilst I was standing by a sick man, I could not complete my
visit, for I almost fell into a swoon. The women who were standing
opposite me noticed that I was ill and gave the alarm. The priest, Don
Pietro Gentile, near whose house I was, was sent for and soon arrived.
He asked me how I felt, and I replied, "I mistrust myself." "Do you
wish to go home?" said he. "Yes," I answered, "let us go." And with
the utmost difficulty I got there. I threw myself on the bed, lost all
sense, was seized with epileptic convulsions of the Jacksonian type,
proceeding from congestion of the brain. I had three attacks at short
intervals, each more serious than the preceding one. Blood was let,
leeches were applied, many mustard cataplasms were used, ice was kept
constantly to my head. My colleagues who affectionately attended me
already despaired of my recovery, and had the last Sacraments
administered to me; the priests were reciting the prayers for the
dying, and it was rumoured that I was dead. The good people poured
into the church, and now had no hope except in a miracle. Ceaseless
prayers were offered, especially before the altar of Blessed Rita. The
oil of the saint was requisitioned. I was conscious of waking as from
a calm sleep, whilst I felt a hand anointing my cheeks; I afterwards
learned that the same thing had been done over my stomach and on my
temples. From that moment I WAS COMPLETELY RESTORED TO HEALTH, and but
for the concern of my friends I would have dressed myself and gone
about my usual occupations. This event, really extraordinary, believed
by all the people to have happened by the intercession of Blessed Rita,
I consecrate in this account of it, as a proof of my gratitude, to the
glory of the same Blessed Rita.
'PASQUALE TATEO, M.D.
'Noci,
'2_nd of July_, 1895.'
Since this case is so singular, and the miracle so great, we subjoin
the account of it given by the zealous priest of the place, Don
Francesco Morea:
'The deaths of the three ladies, Vavalle, Mansueto, and Anguilli, had
impressed the town with sadness, when a new and unexpected sorrow came
to disturb all the people. In less time than it takes to relate the
sad tidings had passed from mouth to mouth; people of every condition
were seen to stop in astonishment, to ask news of one another, and turn
their steps to the house where the sick man lay. It was singular to
see the stairs crowded with little children of both sexes, to see the
people come out tearfully on the balconies and ask news of the
passers-by, and the universal sorrow would have told you the great
esteem in which he that was so near the tomb was held. The news that
he had already received the last Sacraments, and that the priests, who
with the doctors were about his bed, had begun the prayers for a soul
departing, made it clear to all that very few hours of life remained to
Doctor Pasquale Tateo. In the midst of such heartfelt sorrow there
were some, however, who were offering fervent prayers for him to the
Most High through the intercession of the Saint of the Impossible.
There were some who, whilst they slept, felt inspired by the same
blessed servant of God to light a lamp before the picture of the
miracle-worker, and thus obtain for certain the favour they desired;
there were some who began in secret a triduum for the sick; and by the
dying man's bed were some who, provided with the miraculous oil,
anointed with it, whilst reciting the usual prayers, his head, his
stomach and abdomen, that were swollen to an extraordinary extent. And
such great faith in the intercession of our new protectress was crowned
by a most singular grace. As soon as the anointing was completed there
came on a more violent fit of convulsions than any that had preceded
it, and it was thought the doctor's last hour had come. But that fit
was the last, and it seems that the powerful advocate wished to have it
understood that she intervened on behalf of her faithful clients
exactly when they were in direst peril, and when all hope of recovery
by human means had been abandoned. Whilst the convulsive fit was in
progress they began again to anoint him with the marvellous oil, and
then he came to himself, and looked as if he were waking from a calm
sleep of three hours.
'The transition from death to life was so sudden that those who were
present could not but acknowledge that the recovery was a true miracle
granted to the prayers of the entire town by its new protectress,
Blessed Rita. Pleasant to relate, there was no time of convalescence,
no getting better by degrees, no further remedy applied to him; but on
the 30th the doctor, without any trace of weakness from the
blood-letting, but full of energy, cheerful, and witty, as he usually
had been, woke early in the morning, and, hearing the bell of the
Capuchin church ringing, wanted to get up and go to Mass, as it was a
feast day, but he was not allowed to do this. He rose later in the
day, was able to take his meals, and returned to his house without
assistance, amidst the wonder and applause of the people. The next
day, early, he resumed his ordinary professional duties. These
circumstances were such as would make those who did not know of the
miracle believe that the occurrence must have been the result of an
excited imagination rather than undeniable fact. Yet such they were,
and the miracle is all the more wonderful on this account, and worthy
of being published for the glory of God and Blessed Rita. To this end
the doctor, out of gratitude, promises to make the altar dedicated to
her in this principal church even richer than it already is, by
presenting a beautiful silver lamp to be hung from the arch in front of
it.'
On the 20th of January, 1896, Signora Anna Gregori of Rome was seized
by a violent fever, which at first was thought to be simply rheumatic
fever, but which very soon developed into that terrible malady
pleuro-bronchial pneumonia, which is in most cases fatal in Rome. In
spite of the prompt and skilful treatment of the well-known Professor
Masciarelli, the disease continued to gain force so rapidly that the
patient, who was also _enciente_, received the last comforts of
religion on the 25th of the month, and also the blessing of the Holy
Father, and after having tearfully given her last messages to her
friends, she was awaiting the call of the Lord with resignation.
Meanwhile her husband, Signor Augusto Gregori, who was inconsolable at
the loss that threatened him after only eight years of married life,
turned with confidence to Our Lady of Pompei and to St. Rita of Cascia,
that well-known sketch of whose life he had read a few days before,
called 'The Saint of the Impossible.' He fervently besought her aid,
promising to present a silver votive offering and to spread devotion to
her. Even before midnight of that day the invalid felt relief, the
fever went down, her strength came back, and after two days the doctors
declared her out of all danger. She was shortly after able to rise
from her bed completely recovered. The favour was a complete and
perfect one, for after her serious illness there was no trace of
tuberculosis, which was feared, and after less than a month she gave
birth to a strong and healthy little daughter. Her husband, who
quickly redeemed his vow, does not cease to give glory to the Saint of
the Impossible.
Simone Rotunno and his wife, Rosa Naracci, of Conversano, were
overwhelmed with grief at a serious illness that threatened the life of
their little daughter Maria, a child of four years. On the 27th of
January, 1896, about five in the morning, they found her writhing in
convulsions and almost at the point of death. Immediately they
besought the help of their great patron St. Rita, and anointed the
child's members with oil from the saint's lamp whilst they were
offering fervent prayers. They had not long to wait, for at eleven
o'clock on the same morning the child, who had hitherto shown no signs
of life, stirred in bed, opened her eyes, and began to speak, and after
ten days was restored to perfect health.
A boy and girl, children of Doctor Vito Antonio Argenti of Polignano,
on the sea-coast, caught the influenza, which was rife there in 1896.
The disease took a very serious turn in the boy's case, and developed
into pneumonia, accompanied by high fever and pain in the shoulder.
The dangerous development of the disease caused consternation in the
family.
They immediately began a novena to St. Rita, to whom devotion is very
generally practised in that place, and in whose honour an altar is
dedicated in the Church of the Sacred Heart. They had two lamps
lighted before her picture, and promised many gifts if their son should
be restored to health. Their prayers were answered, for the child grew
markedly better during the novena, and was completely cured by the time
it was finished. The same remedy was adopted in the case of the little
girl, on whom the disease had told severely. They put a picture of the
saint on her breast, which she often kissed devoutly, another novena
was begun for her recovery, and an improvement was soon evident, and
continued till she was restored to perfect health.
A woman from Casamassima, who was married at Bari, had an only son of
about seventeen years of age, who was very wild and dissolute. He was
for ever running away from home, getting into trouble, and giving vent
to his vicious inclinations, and staying out at night more often than
not. Seeing that all good advice and even threats were thrown away
upon him, his afflicted parents applied to St. Rita in prayer, for they
had heard of the wonderful deeds she had done. They began a novena of
certain Paters and Aves as well as they could. On the third day their
son appeared at home, but shortly after went off again and returned no
more. Nevertheless, they still had confidence in the saint, and began
a second novena after the manner directed in a little book they got
from an aunt of theirs. When the novena was nearly finished the son
came back quite changed from what he had been. He threw himself at his
parents' feet, and with tears asked their pardon for the grief he had
caused them, promising to lead a new life for the future. To remove
all occasion of giving way to his vagrant propensities, he asked them
to have him taught some business in which he could by his conduct give
proof of his sincerity. His parents, beside themselves with joy,
hastened to Conversano to return thanks to St. Rita, and as a proof of
their gratitude they had a lamp lighted before her altar, which they
made arrangements to keep burning on Friday in every week.
The brother-in-law of a certain Sister of Charity was dangerously ill
of pneumonia in February, 1896. The doctor who was called to attend
him did not let his friends know how critical the case was, in order
not to frighten them, but he only said to the patient's wife, 'Pray to
God for your husband.' Luckily for her, she had a copy of the book
'The Saint of the Impossible,' which her sister the nun had given her,
and she entrusted everything to the saint, and earnestly begged her
help for the sick man. One night he almost swooned from the violence
of his cough, and had to sit up in bed. About midnight he saw a nun
come close to him and gaze at him fixedly without speaking. She stood
by his side for half an hour and then disappeared. From that time the
longed-for recovery commenced, and to the doctor's astonishment went on
rapidly till he was entirely restored to health. It would be
impossible to describe the joy of the family at this marvellous result.
The fame of it was spread about, and devotion to the Saint of the
Impossible spread to such an extent that a picture of St. Rita had to
be placed in the parish church to satisfy the people's veneration.
Twelve children of the house of Ventimiglia were all suffering from the
measles in March, 1896, in Vatolla, which is a town of the province of
Salerno, and the youngest, a little girl of two years of age, was, in
addition, attacked so badly by laryngitis that it was feared she would
choke every moment. Her eldest sister, beside herself with grief, took
her little picture of St. Rita, and, fastening it about the little
patient's neck, earnestly prayed for the grace of her recovery. Only a
few minutes passed when little Teresa--for so the sick child was
called--raised herself without assistance in her cot and asked for
milk. That evening the fever, which had been very high, had almost
disappeared, and her cough, too, had ceased to a very great extent. A
few days later the child was able to get up, fully recovered. The
family, out of gratitude to their great protectress, had a Mass
celebrated at her altar in Conversano.
In 1896 the marriage of Giuseppe Centrone to Maria Rotunno, two very
good and pious young persons and fairly well off, was to have taken
place. Through a slight quarrel, however, the marriage was broken off
by the bridegroom. The bride, troubled at this sinister turn of
events, together with her parents had recourse to St. Rita, and
promised to present a golden votive offering if the groom should of
himself reopen negotiations for the marriage that had been abandoned.
On the vigil of her feast the saint appeared to the bridegroom in his
sleep, and said: 'Beppino, your wife must be Maria and no one else.'
This was enough to bring him back to his bride and to have the marriage
take place, as it did, in fact. The vow to the saint was not only
fulfilled, but they had a High Mass offered on her altar.
One night in 1896 a young woman from Castellana was sleeping on the top
of a very high rick of straw, when suddenly it gave way and fell to the
ground. The young woman, who would have been crushed to death under
its weight, immediately invoked St. Rita, and was rescued from danger
without receiving the slightest injury. The saint appeared to her the
following night whilst she was asleep, and said: 'I have saved you from
death, and I want in return that new dress you have made.' The poor
girl had, by dint of careful saving, made a new dress for herself, with
which she wished to make an appearance on the feast days, but she made
the required sacrifice to the Saint of the Impossible. She sold it and
brought its price to be used in spreading the devotion to St. Rita from
the church in Conversano.
In 1896 there was a family in St. Vito dei Normanni which was plunged
in the greatest misery owing to its head having entirely abandoned
himself to a disgraceful vice, which he still continued to practise in
spite of the terrible consequences it brought upon him. For although
symptoms of paralysis and rheumatism showed themselves, and he was
reduced to a state of the utmost weakness and almost blindness, he
still went on to follow the path that ends in ruin of body and soul.
His unfortunate family, having heard of the innumerable miracles of the
Saint of the Impossible, had recourse to her. They made a most fervent
novena in her honour, and ended it with receiving Holy Communion, and
very soon the good effect of their prayers was evident. After a couple
of days the man who had been brutalized by his base pursuits began to
take heed for himself; the spirit of prudence awoke in him again; he
abandoned his wicked practices, regained sight and strength, and
recovered the health he had squandered. It is no wonder that the name
of St. Rita is glorified in that family, or that the eldest daughter
has made a vow to recite the prayers of St. Rita's novena every day as
long as she lives.
A young lady named Franceschina Gabrielli, from Noci, fell dangerously
ill in 1896, whilst she was on a visit to some relatives in Rutigliano.
All the doctors of the town were called in successively to prescribe
for her, and others were brought from distant places, but they could
not stop the progress of the disease that was killing her. The grief
of her family and relatives was indescribable on being informed by the
doctors after three consultations that nothing but a miracle could save
her. The young lady, worn out by the disease and in her last agony,
had received the last consolations of religion, and the special
benediction of the Holy Father, and was preparing herself for the
passage to eternity. All preparations were made for her funeral, the
dress for the corpse and the coffin were got ready, and the clergy and
confraternities appointed to assist in the procession to the tomb.
But Franceschina had very special devotion to St. Rita, and was
recommending herself to her protection with most fervent prayers. She
held a picture of her in her hand, which she was kissing every minute,
and although resigned to make the sacrifice of her life to God, she
promised the saint to honour her by procuring a little statue of her if
she should obtain the grace of recovery. One evening she was suffering
a great deal, and the doctors foresaw that she would die that night.
The priests were watching by her bedside and comforting her by reciting
the prayers for the dying. At midnight she thought that St. Rita with
St. John appeared to her, and that St. Rita said: 'Do not be afraid;
you will be well.' What is certain is that just at that time she broke
silence and began to sing a hymn of St. Rita. But the really
astonishing fact is that all danger was at an end from that moment, and
her disease disappeared as if by magic. The next morning she was
convalescent, and the doctors in their astonishment had to confess that
in this wonderful recovery God had intervened.
The Salesian Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart amongst other
occupations are employed in the religious and literary education of
young girls, whom they watch over with a care that is truly maternal.
Their mother-house is in Rome, and there is attached to it what is
styled a providential boarding-school for young women who attend the
normal schools, and at the end of their course get a Government
certificate that entitles them to teach. Providential this college
really is, for its pupils attend the Government schools and yet are
carefully preserved from every danger. In 1896 the annual examinations
at the end of the scholastic year were approaching. The students were
in a state of trepidation, for with all their diligence and labour in
study very little was needed to have girls make mistakes in the
presence of examiners who were perhaps not too favourable to them.
Having heard of the miracles of St. Rita of Cascia, they confidently
turned to her, and confided to her care the result of the examinations.
They had recourse to her patronage, they offered prayers in her honour,
and other works of piety. Nor were their hopes frustrated. The
examinations resulted most brilliantly, and to the entire satisfaction
of all who took part in them. To thank her for so remarkable a favour
the grateful girl students elected St. Rita their special protectress.
On the 29th of May, 1897, a Calabrian gentleman arrived in Conversano
on a pilgrimage, and, going into the Church of St. Cosmo, he went to
the altar of St. Rita, and, prostrate before it, offered his thanks to
the Saint of the Impossible. He afterwards told the nun who was
promoter of the devotion that his name was Luigi Naccarato, of the
province of Cosenza, and that he had come to redeem a vow made to the
saint for a remarkable favour granted to him. He had been suffering
for many years from a disorder of the brain that rendered him incapable
of doing anything. His brother, a doctor, had used every means to
eradicate his disease; he had consulted the most eminent medical men in
Naples and elsewhere, but without any good effect. Having lost all
hope in human means, he had recourse to the aid of Heaven by prayers to
several holy patrons, but it seemed that Heaven, too, was deaf to his
appeals. At last a lady in Cosenza had advised him to trust himself to
the Saint of the Impossible, who had granted many extraordinary graces
to those devoted to her. The young man, who was truly religious,
willingly followed her advice. He began to invoke the saint, and made
a vow to visit Conversano if his prayers were heard. His petition was
granted; the disease that had hitherto baffled every remedy
disappeared, and he felt himself free in mind and vigorous in health,
as if he had never suffered from any malady.
Not dissimilar from the preceding case was the disease from which the
Princess Telesio Antonacci of Naples suffered, and by which she was
brought to a deplorable state. Her brain was so weakened that she
could not fix her mind on anything or do anything. When all the
efforts of medical science had proved vain, her sorrowful sister, who
had the book we have so often mentioned, wrote to Conversano to have a
novena offered to the saint. The novena was made, and some of the
blessed oil was also sent to have the invalid's forehead anointed with
it. Instantly a wonderful change was wrought. As they anointed her
forehead the disease grew less, her mind became clear, and her strength
came back. The application of the oil was persevered in and so did the
improvement continue, and the oil of St. Rita was recognised as the
only remedy against that terrible disease. The Princess, in gratitude
for so signal a favour, sent a present of a barrel of oil to
Conversano, and money also to be employed in worship in honour of the
saint.
A little girl, the daughter of Sebastiano Giannuli, a merchant of Bari,
had suffered from her earliest years from a tumour in the knee. The
doctors of the town held different opinions as to the nature of her
disease, and the well-known Doctor Giuseppe Luciana was consulted, who
diagnosed the case as caries of the bone, and declared a surgical
operation indispensable for a cure. This operation would be painful,
difficult, and full of danger. The family by this opinion was reduced
to a state of consternation, and had recourse to prayer, and by the
suggestion of a nun made a novena to St. Rita, but the favour they
prayed for was then denied them. The operation had to take place on
the 22nd of July, 1897, and the tibia was almost entirely separated
from the thigh-bone; the knee-pan was almost entirely removed, nearly
four fingers' length of the tibia was removed, and as much of the
thigh-bone, and both were united so as to form one bone only, whence
all power of bending the joints was lost. Owing to the difficulty of
the operation the doctors could not promise that she would surely
recover; they only said the child would have to suffer a great deal.
And, indeed, the poor child did suffer a great deal from high fever,
excruciating pains, and a weakness so extreme that she could not even
cry out.
On the next day the child, who up to that time, owing to the pain she
was suffering, had not even opened her mouth, asked for a picture of
the saint that was hanging in the room, and began to say, 'O, Blessed
Rita! oh, grant me the favour, because I am suffering very much! It is
true that I have been ungrateful towards you, because when the others
were saying the novena I was distracted, and I took very little care to
pray to you; but now I know how wrong I was, and I ask your pardon.
Oh, grant me the favour, for I think I cannot suffer any more.' And
whilst the attendants were drawing close to her bed, she added: 'Make
way; she is coming now.' 'Who?' they asked. 'A nun,' answered the
child. 'Where is she coming from?' 'From there--from that door.'
'What is she doing?' 'She is moving about my bed--coming to sit near
me.' The child then remained motionless, as if she were listening to
something being said to her, and soon after said: 'With the help of the
saint, doctors, how well she has settled my leg! She has put her
beautiful hands on me and cured me!' and, turning to those near her who
were weeping, 'Do not cry any more,' she said; 'be all very glad. Do
you not see how glad I am at getting so beautiful a favour? I have no
more pain. Blessed Rita has told me that all my pains will end in
three days; with my injured leg I shall be able to dance, to jump, to
run about without trouble.'
And so it turned out. The child was able to get up after three days
free entirely from all trace of disease. But the most stupendous part
was that her right leg, from which half a palm's length of bone had
been cut off, and which would be shortened, even supposing her cured,
and quite incapable of bending, was found after the intervention of
Blessed Rita to be of the same length as the left, and equally flexible
and sound.
Most grateful for so great a miracle, the family did not put off going
to Conversano to return thanks and redeem their vow to the Saint of the
Impossible, and many people took notice of the child that had been
cured, how she walked without difficulty and without a halt, both her
legs being precisely of the same length.
The following stupendous fact that happened in the case of a person who
had never even heard the name of St. Rita of Cascia shows how much God
wishes glory to be given to His famous servant.
To Vito Palazzi and his wife Rosina Surico of Gioia del Colle, near
Bari, a child was born in 1897, who was christened Filippo. From birth
the infant had one of its feet turned, so that the sole of the foot was
twisted to a right angle from the place it ought to occupy. Doctors
were consulted, but to no effect. They declared no care could remedy
the defect, and that an operation would be dangerous and useless. The
poor mother could only weep distractedly. One night, after crying
excessively, she was sleeping, when a nun appeared to her in her sleep.
'Rosina,' said she, 'why do you weep? Can you not have recourse to me
in your affliction?' 'And who are you, O, blessed sister?' said she.
'I am Blessed Rita of Cascia,' said the nun. 'O, Blessed Rita,' said
the afflicted woman, 'cure my little Filippo for me;' and she showed
the saint her infant's twisted foot. 'Have faith, Rosina,' said the
saint to her; 'the defect in the child is a serious one, but God can do
all things;' and so saying she made the sign of the Cross three times
on the foot and disappeared. When the woman awoke on the following
morning she remembered the vision, and, hurrying from her bed, she ran
to the infant's cradle; she undid the bandages and looked at its feet,
and found them both as they ought to be, for the deformity of the left
foot had disappeared. She knelt on the floor and thanked the saint
most earnestly. She then called her husband, showed him the infant's
foot, and told him of the vision and miracle. She remembered St. Rita,
and wrote to Conversano for a large picture of her, which she had
framed, and before which she keeps a lamp burning night and day; and
she likewise had a High Mass sung before the saint's altar, nor is she
ever wearied in telling the miracle and giving glory to the saint to
whom she owes it.