Saint Zita

Her life:

+ Zita was born near Lucca, Italy.

+ At the age of 12 she began to work as the servant of a wealthy family. She remained in their service for the rest of her life.

+ Zita was initially disliked by the other servants because of her piety and humility but she late won their respect through her sincerity, warmth, and hard work.

+ Zita was especially loved by the poor in the region and she is especially remembered for her kindness and charity.

+ Saint Zita died on April 27, 1278. She was canonized in 1748 and was declared the patron saint of domestic workers in 1935. Her shrine in Lucca’s Basilica of San Frediano is a popular place of pilgrimage.

+ A legend from the life of Saint Zita relates that one day, when she was supposed to be baking bread for the family, a poor person came to the house asking for food. While Zita was serving the poor person, another servant who disliked Zita’s piety told the family that Zita was neglecting her duties. Going to the kitchen, hoping to surprise Zita when she returned, the servant was surprised to see angels baking the break while Zita was away. This legend gave rise to the tradition of baking special loaves of “St. Zita’s Bread” each year on her commemoration.

For prayer and reflection:

“Receive the joy of your glory, giving thanks to God,
who has called you into the heavenly kingdom, alleluia.”—Alternate entrance antiphon for the Second Sunday of Easter

Spiritual bonus:

On the Second Sunday of Easter—the Octave of Easter—the Church proclaims the story of the appearance of the Risen Lord to the Apostles, including Thomas, who comes to believe that the Lord has truly been raised. During the Jubilee Year in 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II designated the Second Sunday of Easter as the Feast of Divine Mercy.

Prayer

God of everlasting mercy,
who in the very recurrence of the paschal feast
kindle the faith of the people you have made your own,
increase, we pray, the grace you have bestowed,
that all may grasp and rightly understand
in what font they have been washed,
by whose Spirit they have been reborn,
by whose Blood they have been redeemed.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter)

Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.