are all pilgrims – journeying toward a deeper encounter with God.
Pilgrimage is not just about traveling to holy places but about moving through the landscape of our daily lives, seeking to walk more closely with Christ. Whether we are making a physical pilgrimage to a sacred site, or navigating the ordinary path of our lives, each step we take is an opportunity to deepen our faith and trust in God’s promises.
This concept of pilgrimage has deep roots in Scripture. The Israelites, for example, embarked on a long and difficult journey from slavery in Egypt to the promised land, facing hardship and uncertainty along the way. Yet throughout their journey, God provided for them, leading them with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. In the same way, our pilgrimage through life is filled with challenges, but we can trust that God is with us, lighting our path and guiding us to Himself.
Scripture also teaches us that hope is a gift from God, one that we must nurture and carry with us on our journey. In his letter to the Romans, Saint Paul prays, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This verse reminds us that hope is not
something we can create on our own. It is a gift from God, a grace that sustains us when we feel weak or discouraged. As pilgrims of hope, we are called to trust in God’s promises and to share our reason for hope with others along the way.
The life of Saint Rita of Cascia beautifully embodies this spirit of a pilgrim. Oftentimes depicted as a saint with a life marked by suffering, Saint Rita was certainly no stranger to the pains of murder, sickness, and war. Yet despite these overwhelming trials, Rita remained steadfast in her faith. Her story reminds us that even in the darkest moments, hope is not lost. She trusted in God’s plan and embraced the grace that came through her suffering. Saint Rita’s journey teaches us that true hope does not come from avoiding pain, but from allowing God’s mercy to transform our struggles into opportunities for deeper faith.
As pilgrims of hope embarking on this Jubilee Year, we are encouraged to live each day with the confidence that God’s grace is transforming us. Just as Saint Rita found hope in the midst of suffering, we too are called to open our hearts to God’s mercy and allow it to renew our spirits. Whether on a physical pilgrimage or in the ordinary moments of life, let us take each step with hope, trusting that God’s love will guide us on our journey toward the eternal destination we seek.
“Dear devoted pilgrims, Rita offers her rose to each of you.”
Saint John Paul II
b Portrait by Ruben Ferreira, rubenferreiraart.com
P ilgrims of HOPE
A Journey of Grace and Renewal
Praying with the Pilgrim of Peace
Saint Rita of Cascia, faithful pilgrim and peacemaker, we turn to you in trust and prayer. Your life, filled with hardship and grace, is a testament to the power of hope and reconciliation. As you journeyed through suffering with unwavering faith, intercede for us that we may find peace in our own struggles. Guide us to be instruments of God’s mercy, seeking harmony in our relationships and courage on our path. Through your intercession, may we grow in holiness and be filled with hope, always trusting in God’s love and the promise of His peace. Amen.
Journey through Peace
One of the most memorable pilgrimages in Christian history was made by Saint Francis of Assisi. Known for his radical love for God’s creation and his commitment to poverty, Saint Francis felt a deep call to travel to the Holy Land. In 1219, during the Fifth Crusade, Francis made a bold journey to Egypt to meet with the Muslim Sultan Melek-el-Kamel. His goal was not to engage in battle but to bring peace and to share the message of Christ’s love.
Francis’s pilgrimage was not one of physical distance alone, but a journey of deep spiritual transformation. When he reached the Sultan, he spoke of peace and the love of God, showing that pilgrimage is as much about inner transformation as it is about the external journey. The Sultan, impressed by Francis’s courage and humility, offered him safe passage and a hearing, though Francis did not convert the Sultan. His journey, however, became a testament to the power of peace, humility, and the pilgrim’s heart, walking boldly into unknown territory with hope and faith.
Conversion of Sultan Melek-el-Kamel by Benozzo Gozzoli
Saint Rita of Cascia
Winter 2025
Mission
Founded in 1907 by the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia is a Roman Catholic community of prayer and worship deeply rooted in Augustinian spirituality. Inspired by the life of Saint Rita of Cascia, an Augustinian saint known as a healer, reconciler, and peacemaker, the Shrine seeks to inspire people from all walks of life to live these virtues as they come to know and encounter God and others.
Cover: Pilgrimage of Saint Rita by Giovanni Battista Cascia, Italy
Contributors to this issue are: Jonathan Jerome Paul Koenig
Fr. Michael Di Gregorio, O.S.A.
Chesley Turner
Design: accent communications, inc.
We Love to Hear from You
Your comments and questions, stories of favors received, or experiences related to Saint Rita are most welcome. Email: editor@SaintRitaShrine.org.
The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia was founded by the Augustinian Friars of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova in 1907 and continues to be served by them under Executive Director Jonathan Jerome.
Saint Rita’s Walking Cane
The image that you see on the front cover of the magazine depicts Saint Rita with a walking cane as she makes a pilgrimage from Cascia to Rome. The walking cane she used later in life became more than just a tool for support; it symbolized her enduring strength in the face of hardship and her unwavering commitment to the will of God. Tradition holds that Saint Rita, while walking with her cane, often prayed fervently, offering her suffering as an act of love
for Christ. Her cane also served as a reminder that even in her frailty, she continued her pilgrimage of faith, walking humbly in the footsteps of Christ, trusting in God’s grace to guide her through every challenge.
This image was originally painted by Giovanni Battista, an Italian artist, and is part of a series that depicts the life of Saint Rita that is hung near her incorrupt body in the Basilica of Saint Rita in Cascia, Italy.
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Pilgrims from the Missionary Catechists of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus with Sister Anna Maria Mannarà, sacristan of the Basilica of Saint Rita in Cascia, holding Saint Rita’s walking cane.
Rita on Pilgrimage to Rome for the Canonization of Nicholas of Tolentino by Giuseppe Ugonia
“Saint Rita of Cascia was a woman, wife, mother, widow and nun of her time.”
Pope Francis
Rita the PILGRIM
On the Solemn Feast of the Ascension last year, Pope Francis announced the celebration of a Jubilee Year to begin on Christmas Eve 2024 with the official opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us,” he said, “and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.”
In response to the Holy Father’s declaration, millions of people across the world will set out as pilgrims to holy sites in Rome and elsewhere to be renewed in faith and to recommit themselves to the message of mercy, charity, and justice. For devotees of Saint Rita, this great event of Jubilee in the life of the Church recalls important moments of her own faith journey, including two exceptional pilgrimages from Cascia to Rome and three extraordinary experiences of grace and blessing.
The first was in the Jubilee Year 1450. Rita, already a nun of the Augustinian Monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene in Cascia for over 30 years and marked with the wound of the thorn since 1442, expressed a burning appeal to go with several nuns of the community to visit the holy sites in Rome. Her companions, however, considered the wound she bore a possible source of humiliation and shame and so tried to dissuade her. So unwavering was her desire that she prayed for the removal of the wound’s appearance, which, when achieved, permitted her to accompany them. On her return to Cascia at journey’s end, the wound reappeared and remained until Rita’s death seven years later.
At the age of 61, Rita received a partial stigmata of a thorn in her forehead while meditating in front of an image of Christ of Holy Saturday.
Pope Francis opening the Holy Door in Vatican City, Romein Rome
The second pilgrimage of our saint to Rome occurred during the Jubilee of 2000 when Pope John Paul II explained to thousands gathered in Saint Peter’s Square:
Among us today is an illustrious pilgrim who joins us from heaven in our prayer. It is Saint Rita of Cascia, whose mortal remains, brought to Rome by the Italian police, accompany the crowds of those who devotedly call upon her with affectionate familiarity and confidently bring to her the problems and anxieties that weigh upon their hearts.
Today it is as if the shrine of Cascia had been moved to Saint Peter’s Square. And you have come to venerate her, dear pilgrims, from every part of the world. Together with her, you intend to renew your deepest sentiments of fidelity and communion to the Pope, as she did in her lifetime.
“Deeply rooted in the love of Christ, Rita found in her faith unshakeable strength to be a woman of peace in every situation.“
The mortal remains of Saint Rita, which we venerate here today, are a significant sign of what the Lord accomplishes in history when he finds humble hearts open to his love. Here we see the frail body of a woman who was small in stature but great in holiness, who lived in humility and is now known throughout the world for her heroic Christian life as a wife, mother, widow, and nun. Deeply rooted in the love of Christ, Rita found in her faith unshakeable strength to be a woman of peace in every situation.
These two events, separated by 550 years, recall the presence of Saint Rita in the Eternal City during significant periods of Jubilee, but between them in 1900, she had a central role to play in that year’s observance of the Holy Year as well, when she was proclaimed a saint on the 24th of May, the first woman to be so honored in the 20th century. Pilgrims of Hope is the theme of this Jubilee, reminiscent of the invitation of John Paul II 25 years ago as he declared himself “pleased to offer [Saint Rita] again as a sign of hope, especially to families.”
Saint John Paul II praying before Saint Rita in Saint Peter’s Square
The incorrupt body of Saint Rita arrives in Vatican City
Across the country they travel to Rita
In2024, the Shrine welcomed over 3,500 pilgrims and retreatants from 100 different groups – schools, parishes, young adults, religious orders, and families. These patrons came from 16 different states and districts across the country. Some groups came from as far as Canada, Belize, and Turks and Caicos. Compared to the 63 pilgrim groups in 2023 and the 46 pilgrim groups in 2022, there is no question that this essential ministry of the Shrine is growing in unprecedented ways! There is no question that devotion to Saint Rita – our companion, intercessor, and patroness – remains strong and vibrant throughout the United States and beyond.
More often than not, pilgrims visit the Shrine with two expectations in mind: to learn more about Saint Rita and to seek her powerful intercession. Relying on the
Shrine’s 118-year-old artwork and statuary, and the help of dedicated docents, pilgrims’ expectations are met and exceeded during their visit to the Shrine, without fail. By offering personalized welcomes, guided tours, scavenger hunts, retreat talks, small-group reflections, private Masses, penance services, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, veneration of the Saint Rita relic, and much more, the Shrine ensures that each of its 3,500 visitors encountered Rita’s message of faith, forgiveness, peacemaking, and healing in an intentional and creative way.
And so, during this Jubilee Year, we encourage you to make your own pilgrimage to the Shrine to experience what’s possible with God through the intercession of Saint Rita of Cascia. We hope to see you soon!
Photos left, top to bottom: Paul Koenig explaining the Jesus of Holy Saturday relief; Pilgrims pray in front of the Work of Peace mural; Fr. Bob Guessetto, O.S.A., giving pilgrims a tour; Fr. Michael Di Gregorio, O.S.A. blessing patrons with the relic of Saint Rita at the Shrine’s monthly Healing Mass
Photo top: Norwood-Fontbonne Academy 8th grade class at Mass while on retreat at the Shrine
“The staff did a great job. Our time really had it all – fun bonding, reflection, service, spirituality. The students got a lot out of it, and it bore much fruit in our evening reflection. I look forward to the next visit!”
– Augustinian Friar from Merrimack College (North Andover, MA)
“Celebrating the Eucharist at the Shrine moved all the youths’ hearts. That already is a miracle. The experiences they shared were unbelievable!”
– Youth and Young Adult Group (San Antonio, TX)
2024 pilgrimage retreat and testimonials
“I learned so much about Saint Rita that I didn’t know. Both tour guides were amazing! I also enjoyed going to Confession. Wow! What a powerful experience with a wonderful priest!”
– St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (Toms River, NJ)
“We appreciated the accommodating hospitality, especially the reserved parking spot and meeting room. The staff was attentive and welcoming!” – Saint John Paul II Seminary (Washington, D.C.)
“Everything was absolutely amazing. From the tour being easily planned to the Healing Mass. I will definitely share our experience with friends and return in the future.”
– Pilgrim from Ocala, FL
Photos clockwise: St. Ambrose Parish (Philadelphia, PA); Saint Hilary of Poitiers School, 3rd grade class (Rydal, PA); Saint Peter’s Catholic Church (San Francisco, CA)
YEAR
1. To give thanks for favors granted.
According to the Vatican document The Shrine: Memory, Presence and Prophecy of the Living God, “One enters a shrine above all to give thanks, conscious that God loved us even before we were capable of loving him; to express our praise of the Lord for his marvelous works (see Psalm 136).”
2. To seek consolation under difficult circumstances and during times of grief.
3. To enjoy an atmosphere conducive to inner peace and prayer.
“Shrines represent an extraordinary school of prayer, where the persevering and trusting attitude of the humble testifies in a special way to their faith in the Lord’s promise: ‘Ask and it shall be given to you’ (Matthew 7:7),” states The Shrine.
Schedule a Jubilee Year pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia in Philadelphia
1. Call the shrine or submit a request form at the shrine website: saintritashrine.org/visit.
2. Confirm your visit date with shrine staff.
3. shrine staff will work with you to Plan your visit and tailor it to the needs of your grouP.
Rest your hands on the same pillow that once held Saint Rita’s hands.
Article reprinted with permission from Liguori Publications
4. To celebrate healing in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.
5. To be on hallowed ground, sanctified by generations of the faithful who helped make the sacred place a powerhouse of prayer.
Based on an established shrine’s reputation as a sanctuary of hope and healing, some people initially visit out of curiosity, wanting to witness for themselves what others have experienced. While pilgrims may be encouraged and strengthened by others’ testimonials, ultimately, they seek a profound experience of their own.
6. To be nourished by the Eucharist.
“At shrines the means of salvation are to be supplied more abundantly to the faithful by the diligent proclamation of the word of God, the suitable promotion of liturgical life especially through the celebration of the Eucharist and of penance, and the cultivation of approved forms of popular piety” (Code of Canon Law, 1234, §1).
7. To petition God for special requests, often through intercessory prayer.
“Going on pilgrimage to the shrines is one of the People of God’s most eloquent expressions of faith,” Pope Francis said, “and it manifests the piety of generations of people who have humbly believed and entrusted themselves to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the Saints.”
8. To find God’s mercy through the sacrament of penance (confession).
Pope Francis describes a shrine as “truly a privileged space to meet the Lord and physically touch his mercy. To confess in a shrine is to have the experience of physically touching the mercy of God.” Moreover, indulgences – an expression of the fullness of God’s mercy – are typically granted at designated shrines and holy places during Jubilee Years, when specific conditions are met.
Seven Pilgrims walked 110 miles from the Bronx to South Philadelphia
The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia, in partnership with Modern Catholic Pilgrim and the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, sponsored a walking pilgrimage from Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish in the Bronx, New York, to the Shrine in South Philadelphia during the week of March 3, 2024. Seven young adults walked 110 miles over the course of seven days before reaching us at the Shrine.
As the pilgrims made their journey, they followed in the spiritual footsteps of Saint Augustine of Hippo and many of the saints he inspired. This pilgrimage was led by Augustinian Friar Fr. Jeremy Hiers, O.S.A. Watch the video: youtube.com/SaintRitaShrine
Pilgrims arrive at the Shrine, greeted by enthusiastic crowds for Mass and a reception in the Cascia Center
Pray before the Eucharist in the Blessed Sacrament chapel.
God is truly present in the people that journey with you. “ ”
P ilgrim
’
a Pilgrim’s journey
By Chesley Turner, Director of the Center for Church Management at Villanova University
“Letting go and letting God” has never been my skill set. I have always been a Martha (and I maintain that if Jesus had been hungry, he probably wouldn’t have had much to share with Mary and the disciples at that dinner, but I digress).
What I mean to say is this: I tend to overthink and over-orchestrate things, particularly when I’m in charge. So when it came to taking 14 Villanova School of Business students to Italy on a one-week Pellegrinaggio, I was more than a little stressed out. I arrived in Italy exhausted already, having spent weeks running every possible permutation of issue, complaint, problem, crisis, backup plan, and definition of “success.”
Then we landed, and our Pellegrinaggio began.
s Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You that You are unchanging and limitless! Each step I take on this journey of life, whether the path is rocky or smooth, I find that You always have another measure of love, another measure of grace, and another outpouring of love for this humble pilgrim. I am truly grateful. Amen. a prayer from a patron of the Shrine
Pilgrims from Villanova University’s School of Business on the roof of the Augustinian Curia overlooking Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Chesley Turner can be found in the middle of the group, with Fr. Kevin DePrinzio, O.S.A., on the end.
Students praying at the tomb of Saint Monica in the Basilica of Saint Augustine in Rome.
And immediately, God showed up for me. By the time we had gotten through customs and were waiting for bags, I looked at the students – many of whom were first-time international travelers –and rather than seeing entitlement or worry or impatience, I saw joy, excitement, and caring. I watched usually anxious and stressed students drop all of that preoccupation to be truly present with one another. And with me.
As the trip progressed, each stop held a treasure. How can you beat visiting Ambrose’s Cathedral, climbing to the roof of the Duomo, and celebrating Mass in Pavia? We were welcomed with open arms (and food!) by the Augustinian community at Santo Spirito in Florence. We visited San Gimignano, where my business students asked a million thoughtful questions about Benozzo Gozzoli’s frescos. We sat with the cloistered nuns in Lecceto as Sr. Stephanie shared what called her to contemplative life. We climbed to rooftops in Rome and celebrated Mass with a Cardinal in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica. I even gave a private tour of St. Augustine’s Basilica in Rome, after which my students – now, somehow, more friends than charges – sat silently (silently!) in St. Monica’s chapel, together, praying.
The sites were remarkable. Of course they were. But what I came to realize is that while God is accessible through the beauty and the history that comprises the geography of Pellegrinaggio, he is truly present in the people that journey with you.
This was my lesson. This was what got me out of my head, and onto my feet. This was what we realized, together. While the artwork and the churches and the remains of saints help orient you, God is in the person who walks beside you. God is in the person who sits next to you on the bus and doesn’t ask about what you do but wants to know more about who you are. Or just wants to sit silently. God decides to laugh and walk home in the rain under overpriced umbrellas rather than wait for an overpriced Uber. God sees you light up when you see Caravaggio’s Madonna of the Pilgrims and says, “Tell me what you see” because He’s excited you’re excited.
God turns your attention away from worries toward contentment and joy because He is present, both in the people you walk beside and also – and this is important – in you yourself as you accompany them.
Student pilgrims outside the Basilica of Saint Augustine in Rome on a rainy night.
The pilgrim group visiting the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan.
Saints Commuting with the
Commuting or traveling often feels like a necessary evil – wasted time between home and work. But what if you could turn those minutes or hours into an opportunity for spiritual growth? Drawing inspiration from the lives of the saints, particularly the Augustinians, as well as modern media, here are practical and creative ways to grow in your faith during your daily travels.
1. Pray the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet. Saint Augustine deeply valued the power of prayer in all aspects of life, including the ordinary. He wrote, “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” Transform your commute into a time of prayer by reciting the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet. There are numerous apps and podcasts that guide you through the prayers, making it easy to engage whether you’re driving or on public transport.
2. Listen to Catholic Podcasts or Audiobooks. Incorporating faith into your commute is easier than ever. Much like Saint Monica, who prayed fervently for her son Augustine’s conversion, you can use your travel time to nourish your spiritual life. Tune in to Catholic podcasts like The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz or Catholic Stuff You Should Know. For a deeper
Mosaic of Lamb of God with Virgin Mary and Saints
dive, try listening to The Confessions of St. Augustine, or The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis.
3. Transform Your “Mindless” Moments into Reflection Time. Saint Teresa of Ávila often emphasized the importance of being present with God, even in everyday tasks. Use your commute as a time to reflect on the daily Gospel reading or to practice mindfulness. Think of the commute as a spiritual retreat where you center yourself in God’s presence, letting go of stress and focusing on gratitude.
mindless moments
4. Practice Small Acts of Kindness. The teachings of Saint Katharine Drexel, a Philadelphia native, emphasize love and service. While commuting, practice small acts of kindness –holding the door for someone, offering your seat to someone in need, or simply smiling. Even in busy, frustrating traffic, offering your sufferings for the good of others can transform your commute into a meaningful spiritual experience.
acts of kindness
5. Watch Uplifting Catholic Media. Inspired by soon-to-be saint Carlo Acutis, we know that in the digital age, we have access to powerful
watch catholic media
media. Watch short, faith-filled videos during your commute breaks or on public transport. The Chosen series offers a beautiful portrayal of Jesus’ life and teachings that can deepen your understanding of and love for Christ. Engaging with Catholic media in this way can turn a typical TV show into a spiritual practice.
6. Offer Your Commute as a Prayer of Sacrifice. Servant of God Bill Atkinson was known for his devotion to offer every action as a prayer. Follow this tradition by offering the time, inconvenience, or stress of your commute as a small sacrifice to God. Ask Him to use your time for His purposes, to bless your day ahead, and to open your heart to His will.
prayer commute as a
By incorporating these practical, accessible practices into your daily commute, you can transform ordinary travel into extraordinary spiritual growth. Just as the saints turned the mundane into opportunities for grace, you can too, drawing closer to God even during your busiest moments.
