Saint Zita

The poets Fazio of Umberti andDante memorialized her in their works, linkingher name to the city of Lucca, city of which theSaint is patron, in addition to being the patronsaint of housekeepers and maids.

Because of her abilities and virtuesZita was given, by her owners, care of the whole family. One morning she went to

Holy Communion in the nearby Church ofSaint Frediano and she was so fervent in herthanksgiving that she lost track of time. Thiswas the day she was supposed to bake bread.She ran home worried about recuperating thelost time. She opened the cupboard and foundto her astonishment that the flour was alreadymixed and rising and she had only to cook it inthe oven. She searched and questioned anyonewho might have done this, but in vain. TheLord then revealed that the Angels had prepared the bread while she was at prayer.

One evening Saint Zita was preparingfor the midnight Mass of Christmas. Heavysnow had fallen in Lucca and since Zita hadgiven away all the warm wraps she owned to thepoor, her mistress insisted that she wear her furcoat. The Saint before entering the Church ofSaint Frediano, saw a poor man seated on thesteps who was freezing in the cold. She gave thepoor man the fur coat and asked him to return

it to her, as it was not hers. At the end of theMass, Zita remained in prayer for a long time.When she left the church it was already pastdawn. The poor man was nowhere in sight andhe had taken the fur coat with him! Zita didnot think much of the reproaches from herowner but felt bad that she had made the poorman wait so long. She made her way home and

met with expected blame from her employer.Around dinner-time there was a knock at thedoor. It was the poor man carrying the fur coat.When he went to take his leave a blinding lightfilled the room. Everyone was astonished. A joynever felt before pervaded their souls. Thatpoor man was the Guardian Angel of Saint Zita.

An ancient manuscript narrates thatone year a famine severely struck the city ofLucca. Grain became very expensive due toprofiteering. After Zita had given all the breadin the house to the poor one morning, and notknowing what to do to provide for other poorpeople that came to her at the house of theFatinelli’s, she gave them the contents of alarge case filled with fava beans her patron wassupposed to sell. When the owner ordered herto verify the contents of the case and give it tothe buyer, Zita, trusting in Providence, openedit up and saw that the case was once again filledto capacity.

Daughter of poor peasants, she was bornat Monsagrati, close to Lucca. Because of thegreat poverty of her family she was sent at only12 years old, to go to work in the home of thenoble family Fatinelli. Because of her greatgoodness and generosity, she made herselfvalued by all. She died in that home in 1278.

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