Cascia

Cascia, Umbria Region, Italy

Cascia is a town in a rather remote area of the mountainous southeastern corner of Umbria, about 21 km from Norcia on the road to Rieti in the Lazio. Cascia's principal claim to fame is as the home of Saint Rita of Cascia, who was born in the nearby frazione of Roccaporena in 1381 and died there in 1457.

After her canonization in 1900, a large shrine was built in Cascia, which is still an important place of pilgrimage; and the house where she was born may still be visited.

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Info

Altitude: 653 m a.s.l -- Population: about 3200 inhabitants -- Zip/postal code: 06043 -- Phone Area Code: 0743

History

Saint Rita (1381 – May 22, 1457) was born at Roccaporena near Cascia. Her parents arranged her marriage, despite the fact that Rita repeatedly begged them to allow her to enter a convent. Rita's husband was a man of quick temper, and made enemies in the region. One night he was killed.
While Rita continued to care for her sons, it became clear as they grew up that they were intent upon exacting revenge for the death of their father. Rita sought to persuade them otherwise, telling them that such a killing would be murder. She also prayed that they would not carry out their plans. Both sons died of natural causes within the year.
With her husband and sons gone, she was able to become a nun and entered the monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene at Cascia at age 36 and stayed there until her death in 1457. She was beatified by Urban VIII in 1627; she was canonized on May 24, 1900 by Leo XIII. Her feast day is May 22.
A large sanctuary of Saint Rita was built in the early 20th century in Cascia: it and the house in which she was born are among the most active pilgrimage sites of Umbria.