St Rita Project

While doing a New Year clean out I got this idea of donating my Evening Wear / Long Dress's to our community for women who can't afford to buy or have a new one made.

Plan : a deposit of R 500 is paid and get refunded R400 on return. The R 100 will cover dry cleaning.

I really feel so strongly about " Making a difference" and "paying it forward" to the less fortunate than us.

The name : Saint Rita is the Patron saint of impossible and desperate causes.

Although she wanted to be a nun, she married at 12 years old to a man her parents chose. She was abused by her alcoholic husband for 18 years.

Rita is the saint of impossible causes because of all the miracles associated with her throughout her life. It is believed that 5 days after Rita was born, a swarm of bees hovered over her while she was sleeping. They went inside her mouth without stinging her and remain her primary symbol.

Eventually, Rita's dream of becoming a nun came true, and she did get accepted into a convent after her husband and sons died. Other miracles happened when Rita was directed by her convent's Mother Superior to plant and water a stick as exercise in obedience. So Rita did just that, and after a year of watering daily it bloomed into a beautiful grape vine that still thrives to this day. The grapes are harvested annually from the convent and some are sent to the pope, while the grape leaves are said to lend healing qualities.

Saint Rita reportedly sends signs of her presence. If you smell flowers when none are present, or you unexpectedly see pink roses, especially in winter or if they are out of season.... that is Saint Rita. Before she died, her cousin came to visit her. She asked her cousin to bring her a rose from the garden of her childhood home. Her cousin went anyway thinking that none would be there since it was January and lo and behold! A rose bush was blooming. After returning to St. Rita with the rose, her cousin went back to the garden to fetch two figs. Sure enough, a bare fig tree had exactly 2 ripe figs hanging from it.

After her death, many miracles were reported. The town's church bells rang. Her wound no longer festered but now a jewel took its place. St. Rita's body also reportedly glowed and smelled of perfume. A cousin whose arm was paralyzed was mysteriously healed at her gravesite. As well as the frail, old carpenter who asked St. Rita to heal him so he could have the strength build the casket.

Interestingly, St. Rita is placed inside a glass tomb much like the story Snow White. Over the centuries, followers say they have witnessed her levitate, her eyes open, and her head turn to the side and look at people.

Her attributes are roses, bees, and figs.
Sunday is her sacred day. Her feast day is May 22

Never ask St. Rita to bless you with patience or she will bless you with an abusive spouse so you can learn patience the hard way!