Saint Rita of Cascia (Born
Margherita Lotti 1381 - May 22, 1457) was an
Italian widow, and
Augustinian nun. She is venerated as a saint in the
Roman Catholic Church. Rita was married at an early age. The marriage lasted for eighteen years, during which she is remembered for her
Christian values as a model wife and mother who made efforts to convert her husband from his abusive behavior. Upon the murder of her husband by another feuding family, she sought to dissuade her sons from revenge.