A miracle from St. Rita

MANILA, Philippines - Everything looked bright and sunny that fateful day of May 2004. A restful sleep the night before and a leisurely breakfast of eggs, toast, jam and orange juice that morning all pointed to a day worth looking forward to. Nothing could have forewarned me of what was to happen. That same morning, when nature called and I had to urinate, it did not seem odd enough that after relieving myself, I felt somewhat “unfinished and incomplete.” That feeling in “incompleteness” lingered, and I had to visit the john several more times that morning. It was a strange feeling, but lacking of an explanation, I let it pass. Later, towards noon while taking a shower, I felt the urge to relieve myself again, and to my surprise, I spurted out a thick clot of blood that had apparently been blocking my testicles all morning. I wasted no time and hurriedly went to a hospital for a consultation with my urologist. After recounting to the doctor what had happened, he ordered me to take a series of lab tests. When the results came out, the doctor ordered me to take a C.T. scan of my abdomen. When the film came out, I felt the world crashing down on me when he diagnosed me as having advanced, metastatic-stage renal cell carcinoma — in other words, kidney cancer. I then had to undergo radical surgery to remove my left kidney. 

The development of cancer in one’s body is a call to arms that involves several necessary procedures. Removing the cancerous tissue is just one part of this procedure, the other being the subsequent treatment to check and arrest the possible spread of the disease by way of the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Several treatments were available, including chemotherapy, radiation, and lately, cryosurgery. My oncologist had recommended immunotherapy which required a combination of interferon and interleukin (IL2). But despite the well-laid plans to battle the disease, a number of doctors were unanimous in assessing that the chances of my surviving the year with a late-stage cancer condition were slim. Like many others, I was in denial about the possibility of nearing death, but slowly and gradually, I learned to accept my fate.

The life of St. Rita

Cascia is a small town nestled atop the cool mountains of Umbria, situated 150 kilometers northwest of Rome. With a population of only 3,500, Cascia is a closely-knit town where everybody knows everybody.

It was during this most valuable time in my life that a good friend introduced me to Santa Rita de Cascia, the “Advocate of the Impossible.” St. Rita is venerated at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. St. Rita celebrates her feast day on May 22. Born in 1381 in the village of Roccaporena, Italy, she desired to be part of the community of Augustinian nuns in the monastery in Cascia. But, as was the custom at the time, she was betrothed by her parents to marry a villager, Paolo Mancini. On turning 18, the couple were married and settled in the house her parents had left her in Roccaporena. The union bore twin boys and Rita found herself occupied with her role as wife, mother and homemaker, while Paolo’s job as a watchman of the town often dragged him into with between the two feuding political clans at that time. The strain and tension of his position as a minor official of the town often spilled into the Mancini household, notwithstanding the dangers his world exposed him to. One day, while returning home from work, Paolo was ambushed and killed. Rita’s pain brought by her husband’s unexpected and violent death was compounded more by the fear that her two sons would seek revenge. Rita prayed for their material and spiritual salvation, and she thanked God when the two boys died peacefully of natural causes, free of the guilt of murder, a short time later. Now a widow and without family, Rita’s thoughts turned once more to the desired vocation of her youth. 

Her first attempt to join the Augustinian nuns of St. Mary Magdalene monastery in Cascia was denied, however, to avoid disrupting the harmony of the convent because some of the religious people in the community were relatives of the rival clan. But she was not to be easily dissuaded, and prayed for the assistance of her three favorite saints — St. John the Baptist, St. Augustine and St. Nicolas of Tolentine — as she set about the task of establishing peace between the warring parties of Cascia. Her success in forging peace between the feuding clans, no mean feat, assured her entry into the monastery.

At age 36, Rita took her vows to follow the ancient rule of Saint Augustine to live in unity of mind and heart with her fellow followers as together they pursued God. For the next 40 years, she devoted herself to prayers and works of charity, to caring for the sick and needy and to preaching peace and harmony among the citizens of Cascia. Her pureness of love and complete obedience to God had made her want to even be more intimately joined to and shared in the redemptive suffering of Jesus, and at age 60 while meditating before an image of the crucified Christ, her desire was fulfilled in an extraordinary way. A small wound, as though inflicted from a single thorn that crowned Jesus’ head, mysteriously appeared on her forehead, and for the remaining 15 years of her life, Rita continued to be an inspiration to her sisters in religion and to all who came to visit her through her courage and joyful disposition despite her suffering. A relative who visited her a few months before her death witnessed firsthand the extraordinary powers of her request. Asked if she had any special requests, Rita answered only that a rose be brought to her from the garden of her parents’ home in Roccaporena. It was a small favor to ask, but quite an impossible one in the month of January. Nevertheless, the relative returned to Roccaporena, and to her amazement, found a single, brightly colored blossom in the bush where Rita said it would be. Picking it up, she hurried back to the monastery in Cascia and presented the rose to Rita who thanked God for this sign of His love. Thus, Rita was hence known as the saint of the rose whose requests, however, impossible they may seem, were granted her. Soon, she became the advocate of those whose requests seemed impossible as well. Rita returned to the Lord in peace on May 22, 1457. As a special sign of God’s favor, granted only to a small number of those the Church has raised to sainthood, Rita’s body has remained incorrupted over the centuries. It is venerated today at the basilica erected near the monastery of Cascia that now bears her name. Her feast is observed on the anniversary of her death.

Her Intercession

St. Rita’s body has remained incorrupted over the centuries. It is venerated today at the basilica named after her.

With nothing else to lose, I prayed St. Rita’s nine-day novena. I had never felt the power and meaning of every single word in a prayer until that time when I was praying for my very life. There were many mistakes I had made in my life involving my priorities and my family that I would have given anything for the chance to rectify them. I prayed to Saint Rita and beseeched her intercession with the Lord to heal me of my disease and to grant me more years so I could reform my ways and lead a good life. With tears rolling down my face, I recited the prayers each night. It was a truly humbling experience. 

Today, after eight years of surviving cancer, more than all the medical treatments I have received, it is my firm belief that it was, and still is, the powerful intercession of Saint Rita with the Lord that has kept me alive all these years. More so, my pledge to go on a pilgrimage to honor her shrine in Cascia was granted last year, as I mustered all my strength to beat the cold winter and travel all the way to Italy to venerate her. 

Pilgrimage

Cascia is a small town nestled atop the cool mountains of Umbria where the temperatures dip to eight degrees Celsius in the winter months. Situated some 150 kilometers northwest of Rome, it can be reached by car or a combination of a two-hour train ride from the Tiburtina train station, through the diverse Roman countryside, to the Spoleto train station. We then took an hour-long bus ride going to Norcia, passing through the winding roads, bridges and mountain tunnels before transferring to another bus that will continue the travel up close to the unspoiled hills and valleys, flowing rivers and streams of refreshing Umbrian province, to finally get to Cascia. It was an easy-going trip all the way to Cascia.

With a permanent population of only around 3,500, Cascia is a closely-knit town with residents knowing just about everyone who lives there. But there are many small hotels and inns that line the main road leading to the town proper as the population invariably swells during the peak summer months when many of the tourists arrive. From where the bus finally unloads all its passengers, you can see the basilica standing sturdily on the highest point of the town. Built in 1947, many renowned Italian artists have contributed their talent to various mural paintings, chiseled marble stones, pillars, brass grills, glass and woodwork, iconic images and carved inscriptions that make up what the basilica is today. A series of scale mobile or escalators have been erected at the base along the town’s main commercial street leading up to a few steps of the basilica at the top for the benefit of visitors. At the patio, just outside the basilica’s main entrance, is one of the best spots to get a sweeping view of the picturesque Umbrian countryside. Inside the basilica, primary-hued stained glass skylights depicting religious icons and saints permeate the two rows of pews and the main tabernacle. And on the far left-end corner, resting safely at a distance behind an intricately Seine-designed brass railing, lies the glass casket bearing the uncorrupted remains of the Lady of the Rose. On Sundays, after the Mass, the basilica distributes prayer stampitas of St. Rita and fresh rose petals.

Inside the basilica, near the monastery of Cascia, that bears Santa Rita de Cascia’s name

The privilege of having made the pilgrimage and personally paying homage to the living remains of Saint Rita leaves a happy feeling that lingers to this day. The disease that struck me is nothing compared to the opportunity of truly reforming my life, improving my relations with family, and turning away from vices. Eight years ago, I was a lost soul, but after being converted and many firsthand experiences of impossible miracles thereafter, I find life easier and more enjoyable in spite of the limitations brought about by my condition. Here in Manila, an outpouring of impossible prayers and petitions are promised as the San Agustine Church marks Saint Rita’s 555th anniversary on May 22, 2012 with the traditional Mass, procession and distribution of long-stemmed roses afterward.