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Incorruptible Body of St. Rita:
14 May 2019
The gift of incorruptibility either partial or total preservation of the body or parts thereof long after one has died, in some cases hundreds of years, is a gift that God bestows upon his beloved saints. Most of the time, the incorruptible bodies of such saints are found to be intact when their bodies are exhumed as part of their canonization process. There are many such cases of incorruptible bodies preserved in Churches all around the world.
Today we look at one of the most notable saints whose body remains incorrupt even after almost six centuries – St. Rita of Cascia who died in the year 1457 AD.
The incorruptible body of St. Rita is kept at the Basilica of St. Rita in Cascia, Italy in a glass case and can be seen by faithful who travel to the Basilica seeking her intervention in their needs. Her body is well preserved and appears as though she is sleeping. Her flesh is milk-white; her mouth is slightly parted, so that one may see her white teeth. Her eyes are half-opened, though they had remained closed from the time of her death until the day of her solemn Beatification. She is believed to have opened her eyes several times later.
In addition to the incorruptible state of the body, there are many other mystical events surrounding the intact body. The body of St. Rita is known to elevate itself at times to touch the network of wires that covers the coffin. This is especially noticeable on the feast day of the Saint May 22nd, and when the bishop of Spoleto, or the provincial of Umbria, makes his visits to Cascia to venerate the Saint's body.
The habit and veil which St. Rita wore from the time she entered the convent until she died and which served for her funeral shroud are still intact and in good condition. From time to time the nuns are known to place pieces of linen or woollen cloth on the body of St. Rita. They then cut the cloth into very small pieces, and distribute them among the faithful. These pieces of cloth have been the means for thousands of miracles.
There is yet another mystical event related to the incorruptible body. A sweet odor or fragrance is known to emanate constantly from the body of St. Rita. This sweet odor is at times more noticeable than at others. Sometimes it perfumes the atmosphere beyond the limits of the Church, especially when any favor has been obtained from God through the intercession of St. Rita. On these occasions the nuns ring the large convent bell in thanksgiving to God for showing Himself so wonderful in His humble servant St. Rita. On one particular occasion, the sweet odor and heavenly fragrance coming from the body was so noticeable that the nuns were most anxious to know the cause. A few days later a lady, the wife of an eminent physician of Sinigaglia, came to the convent and informed the nuns that her son, whose life had been despaired of by her husband and other physicians, had been cured through the intercession of St. Rita. In thanksgiving for this great favor, the overjoyed mother had brought a large silver votive offering, to be placed on the tomb of the Saint.
Another supernatural grace is manifested in the wonderful healing power of the oil of the lamp that is kept constantly lighted before the tomb of St. Rita. Many remarkable cures have been effected in favor of those who, having faith and confidence in the intercession of St. Rita, anointed the afflicted parts of their bodies with a few drops of this oil.
These mysterious events are neither explainable nor can be understood by human knowledge. These are ways that God chooses to show His favour on souls that have lived their lives in holiness and are a role model to follow.
Brief Background:
St. Rita was an Italian widow and an Augustinian nun who was married and had two sons. She was widowed after 18 years of marriage and soon after lost her two sons too. She subsequently joined an Augustinian community of religious sisters where she lived the rest of her life in prayer and mortification. She was beatified by Pope Urban VIII in 1626 and was canonized on May 24 1900 by Pope Leo XII. Her feast day is 22 May. She is a saint for impossible causes. She is also the patron saint of sterility, abuse victims, loneliness, marriage difficulties, widows, the sick, bodily ills and wounds.