If you are looking for the St. Rita of Cascia novena prayer, this page offers the full novena and a brief biography of this beloved saint, known as the Patroness of Impossible Causes.
The St. Rita of Cascia Novena is a powerful Catholic prayer for those facing impossible or hopeless situations. Known as the Patron Saint of the Impossible, St. Rita is invoked when all human solutions fail and only divine help can provide hope.
Many Catholics turn to her novena to ask for healing, peace, reconciliation, or special favors that seem beyond reach. St. Rita’s story of endurance and unwavering faith inspires those who suffer from difficult marriages, family conflict, or incurable illness.
Below is a 9-day prayer guide to help you deepen your devotion and seek St. Rita’s intercession. You can pray this novena at any time, but especially around her feast day on May 22nd.
Novena to St. Rita of Cassia
Patroness of Impossible Cases
May 13th to May 22nd
Begin each day with the Sign of the Cross.
Preparatory Prayer
O Holy Saint Rita,
you are the saint of the impossible and advocate for all those who suffer.
You who bore the wounds of Christ in your own life,
teach me to embrace God’s will with courage and patience.
I come to you seeking your powerful intercession for my needs.
Grant me the grace to endure all trials with faith and hope.
Amen.
Closing Prayer
Saint Rita,
helper of the hopeless,
please pray for me to Jesus,
that through your intercession I may receive the grace I so desperately need.
Help me to bear my burdens with strength and peace,
and to grow ever closer to God.
Amen.
Day 1
O Holy Patroness of those in need, St. Rita, whose pleadings before the divine Lord are almost irresistible, who for your lavishness in granting favors has been called the Advocate of the Hopeless and even of the Impossible; look down with mercy upon me in my present trial and show the power of your intercession.
(Mention your request here)
Pray: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be
Day 2
Holy St. Rita, you were true to your divine calling in life and endured many sufferings with heroic patience. Obtain for me grace to accept the sorrows that come into my life and to unite them with the sufferings of Jesus.
(Mention your request)
Pray: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be
Day 3
O Glorious St. Rita, your love for Jesus was so strong that He rewarded you with a thorn from His crown. Help me to love Jesus with all my heart, and to be willing to bear my own crosses in union with Him.
(Mention your request)
Pray: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be
Day 4
St. Rita, you forgave those who harmed your family and chose peace over revenge. Obtain for me the grace to forgive others, to let go of anger, and to live in the peace of Christ.
(Mention your request)
Pray: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be
Day 5
Faithful St. Rita, you gave your life to prayer and service after all was taken from you. Help me to remain faithful to God in difficult times and to trust in His plan for my life.
(Mention your request)
Pray: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be
Day 6
Gentle St. Rita, you were called to live in charity and humility. Teach me to love with a generous heart, even when I feel forgotten or rejected.
(Mention your request)
Pray: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be
Day 7
O Blessed St. Rita, during your life you bore wounds of the heart and body. Be with me in my suffering and help me offer it to God with courage and hope.
(Mention your request)
Pray: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be
Day 8
St. Rita, your hope never failed even when things seemed impossible. Inspire me to place all my hope in God and to believe that with Him, all things are possible.
(Mention your request)
Pray: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be
Day 9
Powerful intercessor, St. Rita, I finish this novena with confidence in your prayers. Present my needs to God and help me to accept His will with peace and faith.
(Mention your request)
Pray: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be
Conclude each day with:
St. Rita, patron of impossible causes, pray for us.
Who is St. Rita of Cascia?
St. Rita is a Catholic saint known for her life of suffering, forgiveness, and miracles. She is the patron of impossible causes and abused women.St. Rita was an Italian wife, mother, widow, and later an Augustinian nun who lived in the 14th–15th century. She is known for her incredible patience, forgiveness, and deep faith in the face of great suffering.
Despite being forced into a difficult marriage and losing her husband and two sons, she forgave her husband’s killers and dedicated her life to prayer. Later, as a nun, she received a mystical wound on her forehead, symbolizing her union with Christ’s suffering.
Because of her endurance and miraculous answers to prayer, she is called the Patron Saint of Impossible Causes.
When is the feast day of St. Rita?
Her feast day is celebrated on May 22nd.
Can I pray the St. Rita Novena for a family problem?
Yes. St. Rita is often invoked for family conflict, especially in marriages and situations of broken relationships.
A deeper look at St. Rita’s story
St. Rita of Cascia was born in 1383 in Roccaporena, a small village near Cascia in Umbria, Italy. Her given name was Margarita, but everyone affectionately called her “Rita.” From a young age, she desired to enter religious life. However, as was the custom of her time, her parents arranged a marriage for her when she was still a teenager.
She was married to Paolo Mancini, a wealthy but violent and hot-tempered man. Their marriage lasted for 18 years, marked by suffering and emotional hardship. Despite the abuse, Rita remained faithful, humble, and prayerful — and her patient love gradually softened her husband’s heart. Eventually, Paolo converted and changed his ways, but was later murdered by political enemies.
Their two sons, seeking revenge, wanted to kill their father’s murderers. Fearing that they would commit a grave sin, Rita prayed that God would take them first if necessary to save their souls. Her prayers were answered — both sons died of illness shortly after, and Rita believed their souls were saved.
Now alone, Rita sold everything she owned and gave it to the poor. In 1413, she entered the Augustinian Monastery in Cascia, where she dedicated the rest of her life to prayer, penance, and service.
One day, while meditating on the Passion of Christ, she received a miraculous wound on her forehead — one of the thorns from Jesus’ crown appeared to pierce her skin. This wound never healed and became a visible sign of her deep union with Christ’s suffering.
St. Rita grew old, became seriously ill, and died on May 22, 1457. She was canonized in 1900 and is honored as the Patron Saint of Impossible Causes.
More Powerful Novenas
- St. Jude Novena – For Hopeless Cases
- St. Joseph Novena – For Work and Family
- Novena to the Holy Face of Jesus – For Protection and Reparation
- More Catholic Novenas
If this novena was helpful, consider bookmarking it or sharing it with someone in need of St. Rita’s intercession.