The Memorial of Saint Zita of Lucca
Saint Zita of Lucca is the Patron Saint of
• Against losing keys
• Butlers
• Domestic servants (proclaimed by Pope Pius XII)
• Homemakers
• Housemaids
• Lost keys
• Maids
• Manservants
• People ridiculed for their piety
• Rape victims
• Servants
• Servers
• Single laywomen
• Waiters, waitstaff, waitresses
• Lucca, Italy
Saint Zita of Lucca Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Feast Day, Beatification Date, Canonization DateMatrimony/Holy OrdersNot Married who became Saints
Saint Zita of Lucca brief life History |
|
Date of Birth | 1212 AD |
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Country of Birth | Italy in Europe |
Profession | Domestic Servant |
Place of Work | Lucca, Italy |
Date of Death | 27 April 1272 (aged 59-60) |
Place of Death | Lucca, Italy |
Feast Day | 27 April |
Beatification | By Pope Innocent X in 1652 |
Canonization | By Pope Innocent XII on 5 September 1696 |
Patron Saint of | • Against losing keys • Butlers • Domestic servants (proclaimed by Pope Pius XII) • Homemakers • Housemaids • Lost keys • Maids • Manservants • People ridiculed for their piety • Rape victims • Servants • Servers • Single laywomen • Waiters, waitstaff, waitresses • Lucca, Italy |
Saint Zita of Lucca Short life History
Saint Zita of Lucca is also known as Cita, Sita, Citha, Sitha
She was born to a very poor but pious family. At age twelve she became a domestic servant for the wealthy Fainelli family in Lucca, Italy, a position she kept all her life; she looked at it as a way to serve God. She often gave her own food, and sometimes that of her master, to those poorer than herself, which caused her to get in frequent trouble with her employers and the other servants in the house who resented her.
One anecdote relates a story of Zita giving her own food or that of her master to the poor. On one morning, Zita left her chore of baking bread to tend to someone in need. Some of the other servants made sure the Fatinelli family was aware of what happened; when they went to investigate, they claimed to have found angels in the Fatinelli kitchen, baking the bread for her.
However, she did such a fine job she was eventually placed in charge of the house, and entrusted with its keys. She attended daily Mass before beginning her duties, and would go to a nearby monastery to pray in private. Her reputation was such that Dante in the Inferno referred to the city of Lucca as “Santa Zita”.
Today’s Catholic Quote:
St. Benita Zita died peacefully in the Fatinelli house on April 27, 1272. It is said that a star appeared above the attic where she slept at the moment of her death. She was 60 years old, and had served and edified the family for 48 years. By her death, she was practically venerated by the family.
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