Patience and perseverance in suffering

From the Novena to St. Rita of Cascia

Sacred Scripture: Romans 5:3-4

Meditation for Day 2

For twenty-two years Rita bore the sharp temper of her husband with patient love, and Saint Paul assures us that ‘suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope’ (Rom 5:3–4). Rita did not merely endure her trials — she transformed them into instruments of grace, even helping to soften her difficult husband by the witness of her calm charity. If you carry a burden that has grown heavy with time, place it before Saint Rita today and ask her to intercede for the endurance you need to persevere without bitterness.

Daily Novena Prayer (recited every day)

Closing Prayer

O excellent St. Rita, worker of miracles, from thy sanctuary in Cascia, where in all thy beauty thou sleepest in peace, where thy relics exhale breaths of paradise, turn thy merciful eyes on me who suffer and weep! Thou seest my poor bleeding heart surrounded by thorns. Thou seest, O dear Saint, that my eyes have no more tears to shed, so much have I wept! Weary and discouraged as I am, I feel the very prayers dying on my lips. Must I thus despair in this crisis of my life? O come, St. Rita, come to my aid and help me. Art thou not called the Saint of the Impossible, Advocate to those in despair? Then honor thy name, procuring for me from God the favor that I ask. [Here ask the favor you wish to obtain.] Everyone praises thy glories, everyone tells of the most amazing miracles performed through thee, must I alone be disappointed because thou hast not heard me? Ah no! Pray then, pray for me to thy sweet Lord Jesus that He be moved to pity by my troubles and that, through thee, O good St. Rita, I may obtain what my heart so fervently desires. (Pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father, three times.)