Calendar of Ritian events in Cascia
1st Sunday in May
Family Vocation Day.
In memory of Rita’s family life, lived Christianly with simplicity and industriousness, many families take part in the feast, receiving the gift of a souvenir parchment and rose.
In memory of Rita’s family life, lived Christianly with simplicity and industriousness, many families take part in the feast, receiving the gift of a souvenir parchment and rose.
May 12-20
Novena.
Nine days to prepare for the feast of May 22. At the end of each celebration in the Basilica, the faithful can approach the silver and crystal urn that houses Rita’s body.
The Sunday in May before the feast – Procession of the Standard
The procession, now called “dello Stendardo”, was established by the Municipality of Cascia in 1731 to thank the then Blessed Rita for her protection of the town during the earthquake of 1730. Over time, the “Processional Standard” commissioned by the Municipality of Cascia in 1614 also came to be carried in the procession on May 22, the feast of the Saint. This depicts Rita’s entry to the Augustinian monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene on one side, and the saint in the act of receiving the stigmata on the other.
May 20-22 – Feast of Saint Rita
May 20
Presentation of the Saint Rita International Recognition Award.
Every year, an important figure from the world of news media presents the women receiving the Recognition Award to the community: the award aims to identify the women of today who are “bearers of the Ritian message around the world”.
May 21
Saint Rita International Recognition Award.
The women protagonists of the prestigious award receive a parchment that attests their work as Ritian women: that is, those women who have distinguished themselves for having contributed to bringing dialogue and peace to our days. The Saint Rita of Cascia International Recognition Award was established in 1988 by the Municipality of Cascia to highlight the fact that even today there are people who live the values of forgiveness, peace, solidarity, dedication, faith and love, already embodied by the humble woman from Roccaporena, Cascia.
Transit of Saint Rita.
The liturgical ceremony of the Transit commemorates the death of Rita: the moment when the suffering of the woman becomes peace and her name enters history.
Torch.
Every year, Cascia relives the tradition of the evening in which many rushed to the monastery to accompany Rita on her return to the Father. Thousands of burning flames create a unique spectacle, while an athlete arrives with the torch at the churchyard of the Basilica. The torch is then delivered to the representative of the town twinned with Cascia, who lights the votive tripod.
May 22
Historical Parade.
This is a re-enactment in costume of the life of Rita and the people of her time. Every pilgrim seems to recognise themselves in one of the figures representing Rita, in the guise of daughter, wife, mother, widow and nun, but also the people of Rita, the common people, the same that flood the arcades, alleys and squares of Cascia.
Pontifical.
Solemn liturgical celebration in honour of Saint Rita.
Blessing of the roses.
At the end of the Pontifical, the numerous pilgrims present raise their roses towards the sky, as if to gather as much grace as possible from the blessing given by the celebrant, so as to share it with their family and loved ones on returning home.
