# Saint Rita of Cascia

> Italian Augustinian nun

**Wikidata**: [Q153024](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q153024)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_of_Cascia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saint-rita-of-cascia

## Summary
Saint Rita of Cascia was an Italian Augustinian nun renowned for her religious devotion and posthumous veneration. As a member of the Augustinian order, she is celebrated in Catholic tradition, with multiple churches and geographic locations named in her honor, reflecting her enduring spiritual influence.

## Biography
- **Born**: [Date and place not specified in source material]  
- **Nationality**: Italian  
- **Education**: [Not specified]  
- **Known for**: Her role as an Augustinian nun and the establishment of churches and municipalities named in her honor.  
- **Employer(s)**: Augustinian monastic order  
- **Field(s)**: Religious life, monasticism  

## Contributions
- **Churches Founded**:  
  - Santa Rita da Cascia in Campitelli Church (Rome, 1653).  
  - Santa Rita da Cascia alle Vergini Church (Rome, 1689).  
- **Geographic Legacy**:  
  - Inspired namesakes such as the municipality of Santa Rita de Cássia (Bahia, Brazil), the village of Sånta Rita-Sumai (Guam, U.S.), and Villa Santa Rita (Buenos Aires, Argentina).  
  - Associated with the ghost town of Santa Rita (New Mexico, U.S.).  

## FAQs
- **Q: Where is Saint Rita of Cascia venerated today?**  
  A: She is honored in churches such as Santa Rita da Cascia in Campitelli and Santa Rita da Cascia alle Vergini in Rome, both established in the 17th century.  
- **Q: What geographic locations are named after her?**  
  A: Municipalities and villages in Brazil (Santa Rita de Cássia), Guam (Sånta Rita-Sumai), Argentina (Villa Santa Rita), and the U.S. (Santa Rita, New Mexico) bear her name.  
- **Q: What religious order was she part of?**  
  A: She belonged to the Augustinian monastic order, a key affiliation highlighted in her historical identity.  

## Why They Matter
Saint Rita of Cascia’s significance lies in her spiritual legacy, which inspired the construction of dedicated churches in Rome and the naming of global geographic locations. Her veneration sustained Augustinian traditions and influenced Catholic devotion, particularly in regions where her namesakes reflect cultural and religious ties. Without her historical presence, the Augustinian order’s reach and the cultural footprint of her namesakes would lack a unifying spiritual figure.

## Notable For
- **Churches in Rome**: Santa Rita da Cascia in Campitelli (1653) and Santa Rita da Cascia alle Vergini (1689).  
- **Global Namesakes**: Municipalities, villages, and neighborhoods across Brazil, Guam, Argentina, and the U.S.  
- **Aliases**: Recognized as "Rita of Cascia," "Margherita Lotti," and "St. Rita of Cascia" among others.  

## Body
### Religious Vocation  
Saint Rita of Cascia was an Italian Augustinian nun, a female member of a monastic order dedicated to spiritual life. Her primary identity revolves around her affiliation with the Augustinian tradition, though specific dates and biographical details are not provided in the source material.  

### Legacy in Architecture  
Her veneration led to the establishment of two notable churches in Rome:  
- **Santa Rita da Cascia in Campitelli Church** (founded in 1653).  
- **Santa Rita da Cascia alle Vergini Church** (founded in 1689).  
These institutions serve as physical testaments to her enduring influence within Catholic religious practice.  

### Geographic and Cultural Impact  
Beyond religious architecture, her name is commemorated in diverse global locations:  
- **Brazil**: The municipality of Santa Rita de Cássia in Bahia.  
- **Guam**: The village of Sånta Rita-Sumai.  
- **Argentina**: The Villa Santa Rita neighborhood in Buenos Aires.  
- **United States**: The ghost town of Santa Rita in New Mexico.  
These namesakes underscore her cross-cultural recognition, blending religious homage with municipal identity.  

### Distinctions  
Her aliases, including "Margherita Lotti" and "St. among us," reflect varied cultural and linguistic interpretations of her significance. The absence of documented philosophical or scholarly works emphasizes her role as a spiritual figure rather than an academic or writer.  

### Absence of Philosophical Attribution  
While the source material links her to the broader category of "philosopher" (a person with extensive philosophical knowledge), no specific philosophical contributions, writings, or teachings are documented, distinguishing her legacy as devotional rather than doctrinal.  

### Summary of Influence  
Saint Rita of Cascia’s historical footprint is defined by her monastic affiliation, the architectural legacy of churches in Rome, and the global dispersion of her name across municipalities and landscapes. This combination of religious and geographic commemoration distinguishes her as a figure of sustained, multifaceted cultural resonance.

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. BnF authorities
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. Find a Grave
6. Enciclopedia delle donne
7. Catalogue of the Library of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
8. Autoritats UB
9. Documenta Catholica Omnia
10. VcBA (identifier)
11. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
12. National Library of Portugal
13. Sapere Encyclopedia
14. [Source](http://www.preghiereperlafamiglia.it/Santa-Rita.htm)
15. [Source](http://www.katolikus.hu/szentek/0522.html)
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. Evolución del Calendario Romano postconciliar (1969–2014)
18. IdRef
19. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani
20. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
21. Enciclopedia Treccani
22. LIBRIS. 2012