The blessing of the roses of Santa Rita
«In a world torn by conflicts, Santa Rita reminds us that peace is a daily choicemade of forgiveness, listening and reconciliation. His holiness arises from concrete and profoundly human gestures: he was a daughter, bride, mother and nun, always capable of remaining in relation to others even in pain. Today, while the party dedicated to her ends, We feel the need to relaunch a heartfelt appeal to peaceespecially for Ukraine and the Holy Landwhere they reign suffering and injustice. For Rita, peace was responsibility, a path built with mercy, understanding of the other and courage. This is the way we have to go back to traveling: the care of the other, the dialogue, the compassion that makes us human. Each life is unique and sacred. Only in this way can we really disarm our hearts and those of the world. Collecting the invitation of Pope Leone XIVwho on Wednesday asked the faithful to pray the rosary for peace, our community joins his voice: We pray for the end of the violence in the Gaza Strip, for the entry of humanitarian aid and so that good on evil prevails “.
It is with emotion and joy That Sister Maria Grazia CossuBadessa of the Santa Rita da Cascia monastery, comments on the conclusion of the celebrations in honor of the Saint of Impossible. Also this year, Cascia welcomed thousands of pilgrims from all over the worldtransforming itself into a place of prayer and meeting. The accommodation facilities have sold outa sign of the deep bond that unites the faithful to Santa Rita.
Cardinal Baldassarre Reina during the Pontifical of Santa Rita
Solemn pontifical of the cardinal if Baldassare Reina
“Winning evil with good. With a bigger good. Evil is overcome with the double of love, because bad + bad is only bad for the square » It was the heart of the homily of the CArdinal Baldassare Reinawho chaired the pontifical of 22 May in Cascia for the feast of Santa Rita. A message that has its roots in the second reading, in the letter of San Paolo: “I don’t do the good I want, but the evil I don’t want to.”Evil is a mystery “ Cardinal said «But the Gospel asks us for a courageous answer: not revenge, but one of more love. Santa Rita did not let herself overwhelmed by pain: she forgiven and transformed the wound into hope ». With strong words, Cardinal Reina then denounced the normalization of violencein particular that against women: “We no longer indignation. We can’t even say: ‘It’s not right, you don’t.’ Human life is never touched. Femicides are the wound of a society that has lost its humanity ».
Finally, a strong Appeal to peacein light of the messages of Pope Francis and Pope Leo: «“We live a third world war. But peace is not only the absence of war: it is respect, dialogue, forgiveness”. Santa Rita, a woman of peace, invites us to imagine new roads. “A few days ago, Pope Leone said clearly: “We must disarm the language.” And today, more than ever, we feel these words as an urgent appeal. We need disarm the language, the feelings, the heart. We need to build relationships that are authentically humaneven before Christian. In a wounded and often confused world, it serves the courage to start again from relationships, from kindness, from care. The world needs another perfume: not the artificial one, but The scent of holiness, fraternity, kindness, welcome, feeling family. Cascia, it can be that center from which this perfume radiates. We ask Santa Rita that its intercession makes this perfume arrives up to the borders of the earth ».
Cardinal Prevost visiting in 2024 in Cascia for the pontifical
The pope’s greeting and the authentic link with Santa Rita and his community
Great emotion also for the Greeting message sent by Papa Leone XIV To the Augustinian community and the city of Cascia, a visible sign of the deep proximity of the pontiff to this place dear to him. To personally bring the greeting of the Holy Father was Father Alejandro MoralPrior General of the Augustinians, who Just yesterday he celebrated mass in the Basilica of Santa Rita and took part in the arrival of the torch of peace. As mentioned by Mayor of Cascia, Mario De Carolisfor twelve years The then Prior General Agostiniani Robert Prevost – today Pope Leo XIV – has turned on the torches of peace on the churchyard of the Basilicaon the eve of the party, leaving an indelible imprint in the memory of the community. Just a year ago, right here in Cascia, celebrated the homily of the pontifical of 22 May. Our sincere gratitude and deep affection goes to himfor the authentic link that continues to cultivate with our community and with Santa Rita, a universal symbol of hope, reconciliation and peace.
The ring of Santa Rita
The ring of the feast of Santa Rita for Autism
The Santa Rita Foundation from Cascia Filantropic Ente Ets The awareness and fundraising campaign continues “A gesture of faith, a gift of grace” in support of the project “Pieninoii“An innovative cohousing model with assistance technologies for 12 young adults with autistic spectrum disorders. It will be one of the first cases in Italy, a” home of the future “for which internal spaces and furnishings integrated with home automation are expected. A concrete initiative to respond to the greatest concern of families: the future of their children “after us”.
Who will contribute to the project with a minimum donation of 16 euros will receive The ring of the feast of Santa Ritaengraved with his symbol rose. For more information festandadisantarita.org
The most participatory events were the Solemn pontifical, the plea and blessing of the roseswhich can be revised live streaming on the channels Facebook, Instagram And YouTube of the monastery.
