I welcome you on this special day for us Augustinians when we remember our sister St. Rita who is so popular amongst our many friends and devotees.
One aspect which makes St. Rita such a popular saint is the fact that she was a woman who experienced different roles in her life and thus was close to both happiness and challenges which these bring with them. In her youth she sought what was her call from God; she experienced married life; that of a mother; a widow; and as a religious. Throughout these roles in her life she encountered difficult challenges and this is perhaps why, in so many circumstances, which we ourselves face in life, we turn to her for her intercession and we seek her intercession with God.
She lived the challenges of married life; the difficulties of a mother desiring to see her children making the best choices; the pains of seeing her husband falling victim to murder; the suffering of a woman who lost her children; she also experienced the discernment of a vocation of a religious life as an Augustinian and, in the course of the last years few years of her life, she suffered in her forehead a wound which was so close to that endured by Our Lord Jesus Christ in his passion.
In face of these realities which we attribute to St. Rita’s life, it makes more sense for us, when bearing the weight of the difficulties we encounter in our life, to understand our need to seek her intercession and to pray for her intercession with God. Rita is doubtless the person capable of understanding the trials of life but, even more, is a woman capable of facing these with the serenity that can only come from somebody who has experienced a strong faith in God. Rita exemplifies a life which is not without problems or suffering (as we ourselves normally desire and at times even expect!) but a life lived with serenity even though burdened with so many difficulties, even if at present we are limited as to what we are able to do; also if I feel alone and burdened by ill-health. Serenity stems from a conviction that God will never leave me alone. God is the one who loves me continuously.
Rita lived the last few years of her life as an Augustinian religious. It was my wish that this year, whilst we celebrate the saintly life of this our sister, in these particular circumstance, we Augustinian religious offer this day as an opportunity for spiritual enhancement and that we make use of the time to pray for mutual saintliness and for the renewal of our Augustinian family. In this context I wish to address in a special way also our sisters, the Augustinian Sisters, who lead a contemplative life and also our sisters, the Augustinian Sisters Servers of Jesus and Mary whilst I seek the intercession of St. Rita that she takes care of our religious family and blesses them with new vocations.
I would like to take this opportunity to seek St. Rita’s intercession for all those who presently are working in any way to protect us by giving their services in all walks of life. Let us remember also those who are facing a lot of suffering as a result of the present situation.
But, more than ever, I wish to salute you all our friends, devotees of St. Rita who usually frequent our churches so as to pray to the saint of the impossible and to celebrate with us the usual liturgical celebrations. This year, due to present circumstances that we are facing in our country and around the world, this is not possible. I assure you that I do feel your absence just as much as you are awaiting the moment when we will be able once again to celebrate together.
Meanwhile, however, let us look to our saint and take courage even from a distance and in the circumstances we are living at present. Rita never gave up hope during her lifetime and even when the thorn in her forehead kept her far from her sisters in the same monastery. In those moments she grasped Jesus’ cross! A clear sign of God’s love for us. I wish today and always, especially in facing the difficulties of life, the experience God’s presence full of the happiness and serenity of heart to all those who place their hope in Him.
St. Rita intercede for us!
Fr. Leslie Gatt osa
Prior Provincial
