Rita was forced into an arranged marriage with a mean-spirited man. Through her love, patience and prayer, he repented. But sadly, soon after his conversion, Rita’s husband was murdered. Their two sons wanted revenge on the killer but Rita's love, prayers and example converted their hearts. As a widow, Rita joined an Augustinian convent where she tended to her sick sisters and counseled  people who would visit the convent. She sought intensely to suffer as Christ did. Miraculously, a thorn from a crucifix left her with a wound in her head - a permanent mark of suffering shared with Christ.

Patron saint of:
impossible causes
widows