Prayer:Prayer to St. Rita for Impossible Causes
Stored: Prayer to St. Rita for Impossible Causes
| Prayer to St. Rita for Impossible Causes | |
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| Author | Unknown |
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| Language | English |
| Approval | None |
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| Added on | 2026-08-13 |
Introduction
St. Rita of Cascia (1381–1457) is among the most beloved saints in the Catholic Church, venerated for centuries as the Patroness of Impossible Causes. An Augustinian nun who bore the mystical wound of a thorn from Christ's crown of thorns upon her forehead, St. Rita is invoked by the faithful in their most desperate and seemingly hopeless situations. Her life of extraordinary suffering, patience, and union with the Passion of Christ has made her a uniquely powerful intercessor for those who find no remedy in any earthly quarter.
This prayer has long been a staple of Catholic popular devotion, particularly among Augustinian communities and the faithful who gather at the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia in Umbria, Italy. It expresses the trust of a besieged soul laying its most desperate plea before heaven through the mediation of one whose closeness to Christ is considered virtually unparalleled among the saints of the Church.
The prayer beautifully encapsulates the theological principle of the intercession of the saints: that the merits and love of holy souls before God can move the heart of Christ in ways that transcend ordinary petition, and that the glory returned to God through miraculous answers to prayer is itself a motive for divine generosity.
The Prayer
O holy patroness of those in need, St. Rita, whose pleadings before thy Divine Lord are almost irresistible, who for thy lavishness in granting favors hast been called the Advocate of the Hopeless and even of the Impossible;
St. Rita, so humble, so pure, so mortified, so patient and of such compassionate love for thy Crucified Jesus that thou couldst obtain from Him whatsoever thou askest, on account of which all confidently have recourse to thee expecting, if not always relief, at least comfort;
be propitious to our petition, showing thy power with God on behalf of thy suppliant; be lavish to us, as thou hast been in so many wonderful cases, for the greater glory of God, for the spreading of thine own fame, and for the consolation of all who trust in thee.
We promise, if our petition is granted, to glorify thee by making known thy favor, to bless and sing thy praises forever. Relying then upon thy merits and power before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray thee grant that our request be granted.
Amen.
History and Background
St. Rita was born near Cascia in the Umbrian region of central Italy around 1381. She desired from childhood to consecrate her life to God in religious life, but obediently accepted marriage at her parents' request. After years of a difficult but holy marriage, the deaths of her husband and two sons, and her miraculous reception into the Augustinian monastery at Cascia, she spent decades in profound contemplative union with the Passion of Christ. She died on May 22, 1457, and was canonized by Pope Leo XIII on May 24, 1900.
The title Patroness of Impossible Causes grew organically from the centuries of reported miracles attributed to her intercession, beginning immediately after her death and continuing to the present day. The Augustinian Order, which has custody of her shrine and relics, has long promoted devotion to St. Rita and fostered the tradition of presenting her with roses and figs—symbols tied to miraculous events in her life.
The precise origin of this particular prayer is difficult to trace to a single author; it belongs to the broad tradition of Augustinian and popular Italian Catholic piety that flourished in the centuries following her canonization. It circulated widely in printed novena booklets throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, reaching Catholic communities across Europe and the Americas. Its language reflects the confident, almost audacious style of popular Catholic intercessory prayer, unashamed to remind the saint of her reputation and to invoke her honor before God as a motive for her assistance.
The prayer is most commonly prayed as part of the Novena to St. Rita of Cascia, a nine-day devotion held annually concluding on her feast day of May 22, though it is prayed throughout the year by individuals in moments of crisis.
How to Pray / Devotional Use
As a Personal Prayer: This prayer may be prayed at any time by any member of the faithful who faces a situation that appears hopeless or beyond human remedy. It is traditional to light a candle while praying it and to hold in mind the specific intention one is presenting through St. Rita's intercession.
As Part of the Novena: The prayer is most powerfully prayed as part of a nine-day novena, beginning on May 13 and concluding on St. Rita's feast day, May 22. During each day of the novena, the faithful pray this prayer together with readings from St. Rita's life, an act of contrition, and the recitation of the Holy Rosary or other devotions.
At the Shrine: Pilgrims to the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia traditionally pray before the incorrupt body of the saint, presenting written petitions and offerings of roses. The blessing of roses on her feast day is a cherished tradition connected to a miracle in which St. Rita requested a rose from her family's garden in the dead of winter, and it was found blooming.
Suggested Accompaniments:
- Novena to St. Rita of Cascia
- Recitation of the Litany of St. Rita
- Offering of a rose or candle at her image or shrine
A Note on Disposition: As with all intercessory prayer, this prayer is offered with ultimate submission to the will of God. The phrase if not always relief, at least comfort reflects the Catholic understanding that God's answer to prayer is always ordered toward our deepest good and His greatest glory, even when the specific petition is not granted as requested.