L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017 www.italoamericano.org 18 L'Italo-Americano SIMONE SANNIO T here has never been any doubt that the U mbria region in the heart of Italy is a real "Land of the Saints". Flocks of people come to this side of the Bel Paese every year in order to pay homage to the likes of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Valentine of Terni, among others. In the meantime, though, pilgrims and visitors also man- age to "restore their spirits" by enjoying the peacefulness of the Umbrian landscape, its wine and food, and the joyfulnes s of ancient local traditions: folklore, art, history and faith often go hand in hand in Italy, but this is all the more true for Umbria, where they seem to be inextrica- bly tied to one another. We are trying to disclose the uniquenes s of this beautiful region by tracing the origins of some of its saints and traditions within the walls of centuries-old hamlets and sanctuaries. The "classic route" in this regard would surely encompass Assisi and St. Benedict's native Norcia. In our three-part itinerary, how- ever, we will move on to less- crowded places in order to get a fairer glimpse of all that Umbria has to offer: we will focus on the tow n s of Cas cia, Todi, and Gubbio, while also telling the stories of their patron saints and visiting their major shrines. Our first step, the mountain village of Cascia, is to be found jus t a few kilometers from Norcia, in the southeastern part of Umbria that was struck by the recent Central Italy earthquakes. Inhabited already in Roman times, this little town in the V aln erina valley is know n, above all, as the home of one of the most venerated saints in the w orld, S anta Rita da Cas cia (1381-1457). Even today, her spiritual presence is still all around the place and continues to influence the rhythms of the local community. S aint Rita w as born as Margherita Lotti in the nearby, impenetrable locality of Roccaporena. M arried at a young age to a vicious man by the name of Paolo Mancini, she endured her husband's abuses for many years while bringing up th eir tw o children in the Christian faith. Upon Paolo's assassination by a rival family and her sons' premature death, Rita took refuge in prayer, even- tually joining – at age 36 – the M onas tery of S t. M arie Magdalene in Cascia, where she would live as an Augustinian nun until her own death, assist- ing the sick and the poor, but also performing countless mira- cles. Rita spent her whole life here in Cascia, so one should not be surprised by the past and present devotion of her fellow citizens. The clois tered monas tery in which the Saint lived for forty years now bears her name: you can still find the Old Choir and the frugal cell where Rita used to pray, as well as the Oratory of the Crucifix where – according to the legend – she received her distinctive stigma on the fore- head from a light sparking from Christ's crown of thorns. As for the people of Roccaporena, they decided to build a new Sanctuary not far from Rita's native house, but also a tiny chapel on the spur known as the Rock of Prayer, from which the Saint was said to seek contact with God. The worship of Saint Rita started immediately after her death, when as much as 46 of her miracles began to be report- ed in the s o-called Codex Mir aculor um (Code of M iracles ): thus , Rita s oon gained her worldwide reputation as P atrones s of Impos s ible Causes, abused wives and wid- ows. Over the centuries, the Saint's fame grew to such an extent that – by the beginning of the 1900s – the little monastery in Cascia became overcrowded with pilgrims from all over the world. A more suitable place of worship was thus needed: the result was the construction of the majestic Basilica of Saint Rita, completed in 1947 with a stately consecration. Cascia's Basilica nowadays stands as the major monument to this little town's history, art, and devotion. Under its two long spires, the church's white traver- tine facade reveals some evoca- tive low reliefs remembering important episodes from the life of Rita. But it's the general view of the interior, with its multi-col- ored neo-Byzantine style, that leaves you absolutely breathless: the frescoed walls and mosaic columns, all covered in a bluish shade, give the whole place a lively atmosphere. It is also very solemn, though, because of the haunting chapel including the finely decorated tomb with the Saint's still incorrupt body. Every year, on May 22, the people of Cascia gather around the Basilica to celebrate Saint Rita's Feast. On this occasion, they re-enact the Saint's life and times by parading through the hamlet's uphill lanes in historical costumes, while all pilgrims bring a red rose (symbol of Saint Rita) for the blessing, a yearly ritual renewing their endless devotion. The little town of Cascia is known, above all, as the home of one of the most venerated saints in the world, Santa Rita da Cascia — Photo by LisovS A portrait of Santa Rita da Cascia ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES Umbria, Land of Saints and Traditions (Part I): Cascia

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