Sanctuary of Opera of Saint Rita of Cascia in Roccaporena

The Opera di Santa Rita in Roccaporena, birthplace of the Saint, has created this website with the aim to assist the visitor in his tour of this of this mystic village and allow him to enjoy the peacefulness of the landscapes, the sanctuaries, the hotels and the characteristic small homes.
Just like a casket, this corner of Umbria preserves the history of St. Rita as a young girl, a bride and mother and later as a widow, after the cruel murder of her husband.
The sanctuary, designed by the architect Oreste Della Piana di Alba, was built on the outskirts of the village. It was consecrated and opened to the public in 1948. Constructed in Romanesque style, it characterises the simplicity and poverty that portrayed the humble piety of the Saint. On the outside the building is covered in polished local stone; in the centre of the fountain in the courtyard there is a bronze statue of the Saint as a commoner - inaugurated on June 16th 1968, it is by the Roman sculptor Venanzo Crocetti, who chose to portray the Saint during her early years, in the bloom of maternity. This is expressed through the magnificence of the strength of the imagery, as in the sway of the folds of the dress over the bosom and stomach. A celestial vision appears to carry the woman, with her arms thrown open, off to the Augustine convent in Cascia. The inside of the sanctuary has a nave and two aisles, with the outer walls supporting the gallery. The flooring is made of porphyritic stone and the banisters and altar are made of precious marble. The apse area is covered with mosaics from designs by the architect Della Piana, executed by the painter Ermanno Politi of Turin and interpreted by the mosaicist Giordano Righini of the same city (1967). This unique work, is probably the best expression of modern art in the churches of the area, both for the conception of the work and for the tonality of the colours and the expression of the images; adapted perfectly to the style of the church, it does not disturb but rather enhances the surroundings. The Crucified Christ occupies a prime position; it is accompanied by the outline of the Holy Mother and Saint Rita struck by the thorn, with her arms crossed over her chest and gazing towards the Redeemer; in the background we see the Saints Agostino and Nicola da Tolentino; to the left of the Augustinian, the Saints John the Baptist and Montano. High above the cross, can be seen the Holy Spirit and the Eternal Father in the act of showing humanity the price of redemption. In the upper curve of the arch these words, written in gold, address Saint with roses and trailing grapes. On the altar, is a bronze tabernacle with the Risen Christ, the Emmaus Supper, Abel's Offering and the Wedding at Canaan. On the sidewalls of the room Rita: IUXTA CRUCEM RITA VULNERATA A CHRISTO DOMINO CORONATUR.

The walls of the presbytery are adorned are some full figures of (to the left) Saints Francis of Assisi and Clara, and (to the right), Saints Benedetto and Scolastica. On the left is written: SPINARUM ACULEOS EXPERTA RITA VICTRICEM CORONAM MERERIS / A MYSTICIS APIBUS DULCETUDINEM IN TUOS PROXIMOS RITA DOCERIS; and on the right: ROSARUM TUARUM ODORE ALLECTI AD TE RITA UNDIQUE CURRUNT FIDELES / A TE DISCANT OMNES QUOMODO CHRISTUM SANTESANTE SEQUANTUR. In the small chapel, inside a silver container, rests the leather cloak worn by the Saint during the cold seasons.

In the stained glass windows we can see Saint Rita flanked by the Saints Agostino and Giacomo della Marca, by the Milanese painter Angela Panigali (1966); by the same artist, in the stained glass windows of the small chapel, we can see the Madonna between the Saints Benedetto and Vincenzo Pallotti, the native Saint George of Cascia.
For other information about The Opera of Saint Rita, visit the web-site http://www.roccaporena.com or send an e-mail.

It is believed that Margherita Lotti was born in 1381, in Roccaporena, to Antonio and Amata Ferri. From an early age she wanted to dedicate her life to God but her parents, no longer young, wanted to see their only daughter settled before dying. Rita, meek and obedient, and not wanting to go against her parents' wishes, married Paolo Mancini at a very early age. Notwithstanding Paolo's quarrelsome nature, Rita tried, with tender and passionate love, to change her husband's contentious character. The loving union of Paolo e Rita saw the birth of twins: Giacomo Antonio and Paola Maria reared in tender love by Rita. This period, perhaps the happiest of Rita's married life, was tragically shattered when her husband was murdered - it happened in the dead of night, in a valley, at the mill of Remolida of Poggiodomo, under the cliffs of Collegiacone. It was speculated that the crime resulted from political adversity, old vendettas.

Paolo's last words were an expression of his love for Rita and their children. The message of forgiveness is the highest expression of the wisdom of the Cross and in Rita it ignited boundless mercy towards those who had murdered her husband. She started working immediately towards reconciliation, beginning with her own children, who felt it their duty to avenge their father's death. But Rita's feelings of forgiveness and moderation could not convince them. So Rita prayed to the Lord, offering up the lives of her children, rather than see them stained by a bloody feud. "They died less than a year after the death of their father."
Rita, now all alone, and with her heart torn from so much pain, began to do charitable deeds and, above all, worked at gestures of reconciliation towards her husband's killers - all necessary conditions for admittance to a convent, which would crown the great desire Rita had harboured in her heart since she was a young girl.
Encouraged by prayer and her faith in God, Rita knocked on the door of the Convent of Santa Maria Maddalena in Cascia. Three times she knocked on those doors, and three times the doors remained shut. But the good Lord fulfilled her wish: in 1417 she was received in the convent and remained there in prayer for 40 years, to serve God and her fellowmen. Rita soon became a lover of the Cross and made this love the secret of her saintliness.
One evening, on Holy Friday, after the traditional Cristo Morto procession, the miracle happened: "Rita was gifted with a thorn in her brow", and she carried that thorn for 15 years, like a seal of love. Rita suffered her pain with joy and heroic fortitude, and made it a precious source of fruitful apostolate for her brothers. Apart from one brief occasion, when she went to Rome to receive the Roman Indulgences, the wound on her forehead remained open until the end of her days on this earth.
Having indicated Christ as the culmination of our joy, Rita, serene in the knowledge of having fulfilled her divine mission amongst us, died a blessed death on Saturday, 22 May 1457. Today we beseech her, close to God, to stay vigilant on our behalf.