St. Zita of Lucca
Posted on April 27, 2020 by admin No comments
Born: 1218 at Bozzanello, Monte Sagrate, Tuscany, Italy
Died: 27 April 1272 at Lucca, Italy of natural causes, buried in the church of San Frediano in Lucca• her tomb was re-discovered in 1580
Beatified: 1652 by Pope Innocent X, during the recognition proceedings, her remains were found to be incorrupt
Canonized: the office in her honour approved by Pope Leo X, 5 September 1696 by Pope Innocent XII (cultus confirmed), added to the Roman Martyrology in 1748 by Pope Benedict XIV
Patronage: against losing keys, butlers, domestic servants (proclaimed by Pope Pius XII), homemakers, housemaids, lost keys, maids, manservants, people ridiculed for their piety, rape victims, servants, servers, single laywomen, waiters, waitstaff, waitresses, Lucca, Italy.
Feast: 27 April
Zita (c. 1212 – 27 April 1272; also known as Sitha or Citha) is an Italian saint, the patron saint of maids and domestic servants. She is often appealed to in order to help find lost keys.
Life
Zita was born in Tuscany in the village of Monsagrati, not far from Lucca where, at the age of 12, she became a servant in the Fatinelli household. For a long time, she was unjustly despised, overburdened, reviled, and often beaten by her employers and fellow servants for her hard work and obvious goodness. The incessant ill-usage, however, was powerless to deprive her of her inward peace, her love of those who wronged her, and her respect for her employers. By this meek and humble self-restraint, Zita at last succeeded in overcoming the malice of her fellow-servants and her employers, so much so that she was placed in charge of all the affairs of the house. Her faith had enabled her to persevere against their abuse, and her constant piety gradually moved the family to a religious awakening.
Zita often said to others that devotion is false if slothful. She considered her work as an employment assigned to her by God himself, and as part of her penance, and obeyed her master and mistress in all things as being placed over her by God. She always rose several hours before the rest of the family and employed in prayer a considerable part of the time which others gave to sleep. She took care to hear mass every morning with great devotion before she was called upon by the duties of her station, in which she was employed the whole day, with such diligence and fidelity that she seemed to be carried to them on wings, and studied when possible to anticipate them.
One anecdote relates a story of Zita giving her own food or that of her master to the poor. On one morning, Zita left her chore of baking bread to tend to someone in need. Some of the other servants made sure the Fatinelli family was aware of what happened; when they went to investigate, they claimed to have found angels in the Fatinelli kitchen, baking the bread for her.
Death and canonization
Zita died peacefully in the Fatinelli house on April 27, 1272. It is said that a star appeared above the attic where she slept at the moment of her death. She was 60 years old, and had served and edified the family for 48 years. By the time of her death, she had become practically venerated by the family. After one hundred and fifty miracles had been attributed to Zita’s intercession and recognized by the church, she was canonized in 1696.
Her body was exhumed in 1580, discovered to be incorrupt, but has since become mummified. Saint Zita’s body is currently on display for public veneration in the Basilica di San Frediano in Lucca.
Her feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is April 27. To this day, families bake a loaf of bread in celebration of Saint Zita’s feast day.
Veneration
Soon after Zita’s death a popular cult grew up around her, centering on the Basilica of San Frediano in Lucca. This was also joined by prominent members of the city. Pope Leo X sanctioned a liturgical cult within the church in the early 16th century, which was confirmed upon her canonization. In 1748, Pope Benedict XIV added her name to the Roman Martyrology.
During the late medieval era, her popular cult had grown throughout Europe. In England she was known under the name Sitha, and was popularly invoked by maidservants and housewives, particularly in event of having lost one’s keys, or when crossing rivers or bridges. Images of Saint Zita may be seen in churches across the south of England.
Prayer to St. Zita of Lucca
Dear follower of the Son of God, You desired to become a servantAnd died the death of a slave. You were not only a faithful maid-servant. But a practical lover of the poor. Like Mary You could have said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” Prompt domestics to be just and charitable, Seeing in their employers children of God And setting an example for them as servants of God. Amen.
Prayer to St. Zita of Lucca
Heavenly Redeemer, may we seek to serve You as St. Zita did, through service to her brothers and sisters on earth. We pray that we do not despise authority but in humility and love, seek to do Your Will by serving others. Amen.
Prayer to St. Zita of Lucca
Santa Zita, “Servant of God,” by your intercession, may we be delivered from any evils that threaten us. [State petition]
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Santa Zita, pray for us. Amen.
Prayer to St. Zita of Lucca to find lost keys
Santa Zita of Lucca, I invoke you and call you to help me to find my house keys. Santa Zita of Lucca, please help me find my keys. Thanks to you, by the power of Our Lord, Amen.
Prayer to St. Zita of Lucca
Glorious St Zita, Example of Christian virtues, intercede for me in this my necessity (name it). Obtain for me also diligence in all my duties and patience in all my trials, so that, following your example and being helped by your intercession in the miseries of this life, I may be united to you in the life to come, where there shall be no more weeping and sorrow, but joy and gladness and everlasting happiness. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
Prayer to St. Zita of Lucca
O glorious St Zita, who did labour as a maid all your life, being cherished and trusted by the family you worked for, yet bullied and mistreated by your fellow servants, and now enjoy your heavenly reward, have pity on us all who still labour in this vale of tears.
Novena to St. Zita of Lucca
You toiled in the Fatinelli household. Help us to give value to housework and the routine tasks of life. Intercede for us so that we can look after other’s needs with serenity and joy.
Beloved St Zita, you said, “A servant is not holy if she is not working. Work-shy piety in people of our position is a sham.” Graciously help us to work for the good of others, but always to put Christ first.
Help us also to learn from Christ, as you did, not to worry and fret, but to trust in God’s all-powerful providence. St Zita, so humble, so pure, so patient and of such compassionate love for Our Lord, I confidently have recourse to you.
I entreat your charity, O great Saint, graciously hear me and obtain from God a favourable answer to the request I now humbly lay before you (mention your petition).
I am firmly convinced that through your merits, through the scorn and sufferings you endured, united to the merits of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus, I will obtain what I ask of you, dear St Zita, and in the joy of my heart I will bless God, Who is admirable in His Saints. Amen.