Rita of Cascia

Margherita Ferri Lotti was born in 1381 in Italy, married, and later widowed. After her husband's death she entered a small community of nuns that became Augustinian, where she practiced mortification of the flesh and became known for prayers that seemed to work. Miracles were attributed to her intercession, and she began to be depicted with a bleeding forehead wound — a partial stigmata. She died on 22 May 1457. Over four centuries later, Pope Leo XIII canonized her on 24 May 1900, and at the ceremony gave her the title "Patroness of Impossible Causes." In Catholic countries she also became p…