[Frontispiece: ST. RITA RECEIVES HER MIRACULOUS WOUND] LIFE OF ST. RITA OF CASCIA, O.S.A. from the Italian BY VERY REV. RICHARD CONNOLLY O.S.A., D.D. R. & T. WASHBOURNE 4 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON BENZIGER BROS.: NEW YORK, CINCINNATI AND CHICAGO 1903 Nihil Obstat: FR. JOANNES L. CONDON, O.S.A., CENS. DEPUTATUS. PERMISSION TO PUBLISH We approve of the publication of the 'Life of St. Rita of Cascia,' from the Italian, by the Very Rev. Fr. Richard Connolly, O.S.A., D.D. FR. W. O'SULLIVAN, O.S.A., VICAR PROVINCIAL. CORK, _Feast of St. Patrick_, 1903. Imprimatur: HERBERTUS CARDINALIS VAUGHAN, ARCHIEPISCOPUS WESTMONASTERIENSIS. CONTENTS PART I RITA IN THE WORLD CHAPTER I. CASCIA: A GLANCE AT ITS HISTORY II. RITA'S PARENTS III. RITA'S WONDERFUL CONCEPTION IV. RITA'S BIRTH V. THE WHITE BEES OF ST. RITA VI. RITA'S CHILDHOOD VII. RITA'S LOVE OF RETIREMENT VIII. RITA'S MARRIAGE IX. RITA AS WIFE X. DEATH OF RITA'S HUSBAND AND CHILDREN--RITA AS WIDOW PART II RITA IN THE CLOISTER I. RITA'S MIRACULOUS ENTRY INTO THE CLOISTER AND HER RECEPTION II. RITA AS NOVICE--HER PROFESSION III. RITA'S CHARITY IV. OTHER VIRTUES WHICH RITA PRACTISED IN THE CLOISTER V. RITA'S OBSERVANCE OF THE RELIGIOUS VOWS VI. RITA'S PENANCES VII. RITA'S SPIRIT OF PRAYER VIII. A THORN FROM THE SAVIOUR'S CROWN OF THORNS WOUNDS RITA'S FOREHEAD IX. RITA GOES TO ROME TO GAIN THE INDULGENCE OF THE JUBILEE X. RITA'S LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH PART III RITA IN HEAVEN I. WONDERFUL EVENTS THAT HAPPENED AT RITA'S DEATH--BURIAL OF HER SACRED BODY II. MIRACLES WROUGHT BY GOD THROUGH RITA'S INTERCESSION BEFORE HER BEATIFICATION III. EFFICACY OF THE RELICS OF ST. RITA IV. MARVELS OF ST. RITA'S SEPULCHRE V. IMMEMORIAL WORSHIP OF ST. RITA VI. SOLEMN BEATIFICATION OF RITA VII. MIRACLES WORKED BY RITA AFTER HER BEATIFICATION VIII. MORE RECENT MIRACLES OF ST. RITA IX. HER CANONIZATION X. THE THREE MIRACLES APPROVED FOR HER CANONIZATION CONCLUSION Part I RITA IN THE WORLD LIFE OF ST. RITA OF CASCIA CHAPTER I CASCIA: A GLANCE AT ITS HISTORY