SAINTS FOR ALL SEASONS
SAINT ZITA OF LUCCA

By Brother Patrick

Pope Francis says: “The saints are not superheroes, nor were they born perfect. They are like us, like each one of us. They are people, who before reaching the glory of heaven, lived normal lives with joys and sorrows, hopes and struggles. What changed their lives? When they recognized God’s love, they followed it with their whole heart, without reserve or hypocrisy. They spent their lives serving others. They endured suffering and adversity without hatred and they responded to evil with good by spreading joy and peace. This is the life of a saint (11-1-13).”

Among the saints, there are men and women. Some are old. Some are young. Some are rich. Some are poor. Some are priests. Some are deacons. Some are religious brothers or sisters. Some are hermits. Some are healers. Some are virgins. Some are visionaries. Some are martyrs. Some are miracle makers. Some are soldiers. Some are peacemakers. Some are popes, preachers, or teachers. And some are kings or queens.

Among the saints, there are also God’s little ones. They are meek. They are poor. They are quiet. They are humble servants in the Lord’s vineyard. They lived small lives. Or so thinks the world. Among these saints is Zita of Lucca (1212-1272). She was born into a poor family in a mountain village in Tuscany. A devout and simple faith may be the only lasting gift that her parents could afford to give their daughter.

During the 13th century, it was common for poor families to entrust their daughters into the care of convents or wealthy families. Zita became a household servant for the Fatinelli family in Lucca, a hill town located between Pisa and Florence. She was sent to school for a year, then trained as a maid.

Zita soon distinguished herself as a young woman of deep faith, profound humility, and boundless generosity. She rose hours before the family so that she could pray or attend Mass. In her limited free time, Zita visited the sick and tended to their basic needs. Her small attic room, isolated from the main house, became a place where poor and hungry women could find shelter and a good meal. She kept one-third of her wages, gave one-third to her parents, and gave the rest to the poor.

Impressed by Zita’s faith and hard work, the Fatinelli family gave her responsibility for the whole household’s almsgiving. As the family matriarch lay dying, her final prayer was that Zita take charge of the entire house. Zita agreed and stayed for the rest of her life. Before long, word of Zita’s holiness spread beyond the bounds of the estate.

During a period of famine, Zita took food from the family’s kitchen to feed the poor. When her employer challenged her for choosing the hunger of strangers over the hunger of his family, the pantry was miraculously restocked. During a cold winter, Zita took bread from the family kitchen, concealed it beneath her cloak, and gave it to the poor. A jealous co-worker reported her, but when the family patriarch confronted Zita, she opened her cloak and it was filled with spring flowers.

Zita is perhaps best remembered for leading a poor beggar to the village well for a cool drink. As Zita lowered a jug down into the well, she made the sign of the cross over it. So when the man brought the jug to his lips, he found that the water had been turned into wine.

On April 27, 1272, the local people say that a star appeared over the attic room where Zita had slept for nearly fifty years. She died peacefully that night on what would become her feast day. After Zita’s death, the Church attributed 150 miracles to her prayers and intercessions. In 1580, more than 300 years after her death, Zita’s body was found incorrupt. In 1696, she was canonized. Saint Zita of Lucca is still widely venerated as a miracle maker and patron of household chores, domestic workers, waiters and waitresses, and lost things — especially lost keys. In our time Saint Zita is also venerated as a powerful patron of single women.

In celebration of her feast in 2022, the Vatican newspaper published a profile called: Saint Zita: The Unservile Servant. It reads in part: “Her story could have been the same as that of so many girls over time, characterized by abuse, fatigue, harassment, violence, sexual abuse, and the risk of kidnapping by thieves of household servants destined for prostitution. Instead, Zita managed to change her destiny. Thanks to her faith, her strength, her nights of prayer, her fasting to bring food to the poor, her courage in challenging the rules, her masters became her patrons!…Zita, the little servant from Lucca can now be considered the protector of domestic workers and patron saint of homemakers and caregivers, the strong and determined women who live among us and work little miracles every single day.”

And so, we pray: Glorious Saint Zita, example of Christian virtue, intercede for us and for our needs. Inspire in us diligence in our work and patience in all our trials, so that by following your example and being helped by your prayers, we may united with you in the life to come, where there are no tears or sorrows, only gladness and everlasting happiness. Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Saint Zita of Lucca, pray for us! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us!

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Brother Patrick Garvey is co-founder and spiritual director of the Assisi Project. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Saint John Seminary, and the Catholic University of America. He is a writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and university lecturer. He also serves as an Associate Minister in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in Massachusetts. On October 3, 2023, the Feast of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Patrick was consecrated as a diocesan hermit by Bishop Mark O’Connell, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston. For more information about the Assisi Project and our ministries with adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

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ABOUT US

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. Please support our ministry via Pay Pal (see link below) or mail a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. The Assisi Project Podcast is produced by the Assisi Project, Inc. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. May the Lord give you peace!

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