Common words, like the "cell" in a monastery, derive from the cells of a hive. Turns out, the Church does too.įrom cathedrals to candles, from vestments to the Easter Vigil Exsultent, the church honors, depicts, and implements honeybees into its representation of life offered for others. This is fitting imagery in a lot of ways.Īs a beekeeper, I have a soft spot for honeybees and the metaphor they provide for the Christian life. Since her death, a colony of bees has taken up residence near her grave, and has been seen between Easter and her feast day. This imagery is due to an event where a swarm of white bees surrounded her on her Baptism day, some even in her mouth, yet she remained unharmed. Rita is often depicted with bees in iconography. Once I began keeping bees, I was reminded that St. Rita's prayerful reputation is added strength and nourishing balm to my waiting spirit in a handful of scenarios. At her husband’s funeral, she publicly pardoned those responsible for his death.įor one waiting with bated breath for any variety of outcomes, St. Her influence, it was believed, impacted her husband and sons for the better. Rita is celebrated as a woman who persevered in prayer on behalf of her family and one who knew hardship. Rita’s deep prayer life is akin to many prayerful mothers, which is why she is known as the patroness of so many familial issues. Rita was an eclectic mix of things in her lifetime: daughter, wife, mother, peacemaker, and nun. Only after reconciling the feuding parties was she offered admittance to the monastery. Having lost both sons and her husband, she decided to return to the idea of joining the Augustinian monastery. This was a turn of events she both mourned and celebrated, as it meant her sons hands remained innocent of the evils she feared. Her sons each took ill and died within the year. Later, after her husband’s murder, she prayed that God would take her two sons so they would not be tempted to perpetuate a feud and avenge their father’s death. At her parent’s request, she entered an (unfortunate) arranged marriage rather than religious life. She earned this title in a myriad of ways. Rita is the patron saint of hopeless causes (along with St. It was in the name of the organization with whom I finished my senior year internship, and it has followed me around, showing up when I’d least expect it, like roses in a novena to St. "Rita" (Margherita) has been a patroness on my journey since college where I became fixated on the word "hope". In the month of May, we celebrate the feast of St.
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