9 Days Novena to St. Rita for Impossible Cases – Full Prayers and Devotional Content

Definition

The Novena to St. Rita for Impossible Cases is a nine-day Catholic devotional prayer practice seeking the intercession of St. Rita of Cascia (1381–1457), known as the patron saint of impossible causes, difficult marriages, infertility, and abuse. Born in Roccaporena, Italy, St. Rita’s life of suffering, holiness, and miracles—especially her partial stigmata—makes her a powerful advocate for desperate situations. This novena is often prayed leading up to her feast day on May 22 or during times of great need.

Full Prayers

These prayers are adapted from the traditional Novena to St. Rita, as found on sources like praymorenovenas.com and saintritashrine.org, presented in English for clarity. Each line represents a key prayer or petition for each day.

O God, through St. Rita’s intercession, grant our impossible causes according to Your will.
St. Rita, patroness of the hopeless, pray for us to trust in God’s infinite mercy.
Holy St. Rita, advocate of the impossible, present our petitions to Jesus, our Savior.
O St. Rita, model of patience, guide us through suffering to hope in God alone.
Saint of the impossible, intercede for healing in broken marriages and families.
St. Rita, pierced with Christ’s thorn, pray for us to bear our crosses with love.
Glorious St. Rita, generous in forgiveness, ask God to grant us peace and strength.
O holy patroness, help us persevere in prayer for the conversion of sinners.
St. Rita, mystical rose, lead us to eternal joy through your powerful prayers.

Daily Prayer Structure:

Begin with: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Recite: “O God, in Your infinite tenderness You have been pleased to regard the prayer of Your servant Rita, and to grant to her supplication that which is impossible to human foresight, skill, and effort, as rewards for her compassionate love and firm reliance on Your promises. Have pity on us in times of adversities and comfort us in our calamities, that even the unbelievers may know that You are the recompense of the humble, the defense of the helpless, and the strength of those who trust in You. Grant this in the Name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.”
Follow with: One Decade of the Rosary.
Conclude with: “Our Father” (once), “Hail Mary” (three times), “Glory Be” (once), and “St. Rita, pray for us.”

7 Real Life Stories and Bible Stories

These stories highlight reported miracles through St. Rita’s intercession and parallel Bible stories about faith and divine intervention.

Real Life: A Nigerian woman prayed the novena for delayed payments in 2024, and the issue was resolved, crediting St. Rita’s intercession.
Bible Story: The centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13), healed through faith in Jesus’ authority.
Real Life: An African prayed the novena for a visa to Austria after a denial; it was granted quickly, attributed to St. Rita.
Bible Story: The Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28), whose persistent faith led to her daughter’s healing.
Real Life: A couple prayed the novena for fertility issues, conceiving twins, naming them after St. Rita and St. Jude.
Bible Story: Hannah’s prayer for a child (1 Samuel 1:9-20), answered with the birth of Samuel.
Real Life: A grandmother prayed the novena for her stepson’s mother to return to the Church; she did, baptizing her son.
Bible Story: The prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), welcomed back with mercy.
Real Life: A mother prayed the novena for her son’s hospital recovery in 2024; he was discharged healthy.
Bible Story: The healing of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43), restored through faith.
Real Life: A student prayed the novena for her dissertation in 2024, passing and graduating, thanking St. Rita.
Bible Story: Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6:16-23), saved by trust in God.
Real Life: A Filipino family prayed the novena for a relative’s impossible legal case in 2023, and it was resolved favorably.
Bible Story: The woman with a hemorrhage (Mark 5:25-34), healed by touching Jesus’ cloak in faith.

7 Comments by People

These are inspired reflections from devotees, based on devotion to St. Rita, with some drawn from online testimonies.

“St. Rita answered my prayer for delayed payments. She’s the saint of the impossible!” – Clara, Nigeria.
“My visa was granted after praying to St. Rita. Her intercession is powerful!” – Joseph, Kenya.
“We named our twins after St. Rita for her miracle in our infertility struggle.” – Maria, USA.
“St. Rita brought my stepson’s mother back to the Church. It was a lost cause!” – Teresa, Texas.
“My son recovered in the hospital thanks to St. Rita’s novena. She’s our hope!” – Elena, California.
“I passed my dissertation with St. Rita’s help. Her prayers never fail!” – Anna, London.
“Our legal case was hopeless, but St. Rita’s intercession saved us.” – Rosa, Manila.

10 Bible Verses

These verses align with the novena’s themes of hope, perseverance, and trust in God’s power for impossible situations.

Matthew 19:26: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Luke 1:37: “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Psalm 34:17: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”
Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Mark 11:24: “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Psalm 55:22: “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.”
Isaiah 40:31: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”
Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.”
Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Jeremiah 32:27: “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Devotional Associated with the Topic

The Novena to St. Rita for Impossible Cases is rooted in her extraordinary life of suffering and holiness. Known for miracles like honeybees swarming harmlessly around her as a baby and her miraculous convent entry, St. Rita is venerated at shrines like the National Shrine of St. Rita in Philadelphia and her basilica in Cascia, Italy. Devotees pray for hopeless causes, drawing inspiration from her stigmata—a thorn wound on her forehead—and her devotion to the Eucharist. The devotion includes the Rosary, Eucharistic adoration, and acts of forgiveness, reflecting St. Rita’s compassionate love. Pilgrims often leave roses, symbolizing her “mystical rose” title, at her shrines.

3 Stories of Random Catholic Saints

These saints’ stories reflect themes of perseverance and trust, resonating with St. Rita’s life.

St. Jude Thaddeus: Patron of hopeless causes, Jude’s intercession has aided many in desperate situations, complementing St. Rita’s role.
St. Monica: Prayed for years for her son Augustine’s conversion, showing perseverance akin to St. Rita’s patient suffering.
St. Therese of Lisieux: Embraced small sacrifices with love, reflecting St. Rita’s humble endurance through trials.

5 Stories of Jesus Christ’s Encounters with People

These Gospel stories highlight Jesus’ compassion and power, aligning with St. Rita’s intercessory role for impossible cases.

The Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28): Her persistent faith led to her daughter’s healing, showing trust in Jesus.
The Woman with a Hemorrhage (Mark 5:25-34): Touched Jesus’ cloak in faith, receiving healing for a hopeless condition.
The Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8:5-13): His faith in Jesus’ authority resulted in a miraculous healing.
The Raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-44): Jesus overcame death, proving His power over impossible situations.
The Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52): Persistently called to Jesus, receiving sight through faith.

10 Prophetic Declarations

These declarations proclaim God’s promises through St. Rita’s intercession, inspired by the novena.

I declare that St. Rita will intercede for my impossible causes before Jesus.
Through her prayers, I proclaim hope in God’s power to overcome all trials.
I declare that broken marriages will find healing through St. Rita’s intercession.
By St. Rita’s faith, I proclaim conversion for those far from God.
I declare that my petitions will be answered according to God’s holy will.
Through St. Rita’s suffering, I proclaim strength to bear my cross with love.
I declare that families will find peace through her powerful prayers.
By her compassion, I proclaim comfort for those facing abuse or despair.
I declare that St. Rita will guide me to trust in God’s mercy alone.
Through her intercession, I proclaim eternal life in Christ’s kingdom.

10 Prophetic Words from Catholic Priests

These are inspired by Catholic teachings, reflecting St. Rita’s role as patroness of the impossible.

“St. Rita’s prayers will lead your impossible causes to Jesus’ heart.” – Fr. Jose, Manila.
“Through her intercession, find hope in God’s limitless power.” – Fr. Miguel, Chicago.
“St. Rita guides broken families to Christ’s healing love.” – Fr. Antonio, Lagos.
“Her faith inspires conversion in the hardest hearts.” – Fr. Pedro, Cascia.
“Trust St. Rita to carry your petitions to God’s throne.” – Fr. Carlos, Louisiana.
“Her suffering teaches us to bear trials with love for Jesus.” – Fr. Vicente, Dublin.
“St. Rita’s prayers bring peace to those in despair.” – Fr. Ramon, Mexico City.
“Through her compassion, find strength in impossible times.” – Fr. John, Philadelphia.
“St. Rita leads you to trust God’s mercy for all needs.” – Fr. Michael, Cebu.
“Her intercession opens the path to eternal life with Christ.” – Fr. Luis, Lisbon.

10 Prayer Points

These prayer points are for daily reflection during the St. Rita novena.

Pray for impossible causes to be resolved through St. Rita’s intercession.
Ask for healing in broken marriages and family relationships.
Seek strength to bear suffering with patience and trust in God.
Petition for conversion of sinners and those far from faith.
Pray for comfort for those facing abuse or despair.
Ask for hope to trust in God’s power over all obstacles.
Seek peace for families and communities in conflict.
Pray for fertility and protection for mothers, inspired by St. Rita.
Ask for perseverance in prayer during trials and hardships.
Petition for eternal life through St. Rita’s prayers to Jesus.

Meditation Writeup

Meditation on St. Rita: Hope in the Impossible

Find a quiet space and picture St. Rita of Cascia, a rose in her hand, her forehead marked with a thorn wound, standing before Jesus. Close your eyes and reflect on Matthew 19:26: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Imagine yourself beside her, entrusting your hopeless situations to her care.

Consider your burdens—unresolved conflicts, desperate needs, or seemingly impossible dreams. Like St. Rita, who endured trials with faith, offer these to Jesus through her intercession. Visualize her presenting your prayers to Him, surrounded by divine light. In silence, repeat, “St. Rita, pray for us.” Feel her compassionate presence, guiding you to hope. Conclude by thanking her for her advocacy, committing to trust in God’s power to make the impossible possible.