Sunday, December 11, 2011

St. Rita Print

Sharing today a recent acquisition from my local antique store.  It is an antique print on tin of St. Rita.




I paid $30 for this print, on markdown from $40.  It is about 16"x20" and the plaster frame measures larger.  Yes, there is damage to the frame.  I did not care. 

I had been watching her at the antique store for a long time.  Things at home would need rearranging to accomodate her if I made this purchase.  Two weeks ago, I just up and bought her; enough already.  

Dan helped me to change around our wall decor in our family room.  He also gave me some (early) Christmas presents (!) since he didn't want to help me rearrange twice. 









Are you familiar with St. Rita?  I will make a long story short.  (This is condensed from Novena, The Power of Prayer, by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua).

Before she was born, an angel visited her mother and gave her this name.  She was an only child.

She was a child who had an overwhelming desire to become a nun.  Her parents said no.  She ended up in a terrible and violent marriage.  Ater almost 20 years, her husband was murdered.  Her sons were going to avenge his death.  She prayed their souls would not be stained with blood.  They were suddenly stricken with a terrible illness, repented, and died.

All she had lived for was gone.

She made several attempts to join a convent, but was turned down because of her prior marriage.  She kept praying about it, and had a mystical vision that she should try again.  The nuns accepted her with overwhelming support.

She devoted herself to caring for the older sick nuns.  Her prayers were said to be very powerful.

She was always prayerful and mediated on Christ's passion.  She had begged to feel Christ's suffering.

In meditation, a thorn from the crown pierced her forehead. The wound never healed.









She is often seen with roses because at her death the roses in her garden bloomed off-season so they could be used to adorn her casket.  Her body lies incorrupt in the city of Cascia.  It is the scene for countless miracles.

Many women ask for her help with marital problems because they can identify with her difficult life.







Here is where we hung her on our family room wall.  I'm so glad I finally made the purchase.

Linking up this week with






14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the story behind the picture. Thank you for sharing!

blessings,

kari

Cheree @ The Morning Latte said...

Of of my favorite saints. :o)

Cheree @ The Morning Latte said...

(oops--"one" of...)

Yvonne@StyleBurb said...

I'm so glad you bought the print. Sometimes purchases like this are meant to be.

I have to say that I'm not familiar with most of the history of saints, but after reading about St. Rita I definitely want to know more.

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Wonderful painting! Thanks for the background story! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Noble Vintage said...

Hi Andrea!! You are the winner of the Favorite Things Giveaway! :) send me a note via email so I can get all of your goodies to you and let Kathryn know what you'd like on the towel.
congrats!
pinkpostcard@comcast.net

Mikey Fuller said...

Beautiful painting! I just love it!!!

Now Following!!!

~mikey @ shabby french cottage
www.shabbyfrenchcottage.com

shabbyfufu said...

Thanks for stopping by Andrea! I am somewhat familiar with Saint Rita....in fact I have a tiny little French statue of her on my website. Lovely painting...

Janet

outjunking said...

How beautiful is this painting. The back story was just as beautiful.
Lisa

Desire Empire said...

Beautiful and it looks great on your wall. Intersting about the roses

RuthSMac. said...

I never hear about her, Thanks for sharing her story, I love the part of the roses too.

On Crooked Creek said...

Andrea,
This print is enchanting in it's chippy state! So meaningful the message it brings to viewers! Thank you for your sweet comment and visit On Crooked Creek. Hope you'll stop by again soon.
Fondly,
Pat
P.S. We "ladies" of the Prairie must stick together!!!

sweetpea said...

andrea, thank so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave me a sweet comment. i love the look of your blog and the print you scored is beautiful! it looks lovely in your home! happy holidays to you and your family.

hugs,

shelley

Reba and Eldarose, sisters, friends and co-bloggers said...

Hi Andrea,

You left a lovely comment on our blog so I came to visit yours. I am so glad I did. I loved the story of St. Rita. I went to Catholic school my whole life, took religion classes in college and I have taught Sunday school for the last 11 years and I had never heard the story of St. Rita before. It is a great story. Beautiful. And I love that you put up her picture in your home. It is a fantastic find.

Sincerely,
Eldarose

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