# St. Rita, Patron Saint of Marriage, on a Day of Lament and Hope
*2018-05-22*

> Bill Young reflects on the feast of St. Rita, shares personal experiences of marriage retreats and prayers, and offers a meditation on weeping, contrition, and the promise of a new Pentecost.

## Why St. Rita’s Feast Matters to Us

Today, May 22, is the feast of St. Rita, the patron saint of marriages. My wife and I have been navigating the usual struggles of married life, and we recently attended a marriage retreat. The timing felt providential—just after we had consecrated our marriage to Our Lady of Fatima on May 13. Though my wife declined to attend Mass with me that day, the retreat helped us refocus on our covenant.

## A Prayerful Journey and a Vision of Our Lady

After the retreat, we visited a parish about a half‑hour away, where the pastor had once prayed for us when we were trying to have a child. That prayer was answered with a healthy baby boy. My wife later described a vision of a young girl—half‑white, half‑black—whom she believes was a youthful image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This resonated deeply because December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is my birthday.

## A New Pentecost and the Call to Weep

This past Sunday was Pentecost. I meditated on the Holy Spirit’s gift of tongues and imagined a future “new Pentecost” when all peoples might understand the Gospel in their own language. That hope led me to the theme of today’s reading from the booklet *One Bread, One Body*: “A Clean Weep.” The text reminds us that there is a proper time for mourning, that true sorrow leads to repentance and ultimately to joy in heaven.

## Prayer of Contrition and the Apostles’ Creed

I read a brief act of contrition from the booklet: “My God, I am truly sorry for my sins because they offend You. With Your grace I resolve never to offend You again.” I followed it with the Apostles’ Creed, affirming our faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the communion of saints, and the resurrection of the body.

## Upcoming Spiritual Opportunities

We have just completed a 33‑day “Morning Glory” devotion with Fr. Michael Gaitley, and we plan to begin a second series on Marian consecration in June or July. I also announced a Catholic conference in Miami (June 8‑10) featuring Archbishop Thomas Wenski and several bishops, with a modest registration fee and a free concert on Saturday night.

*In the midst of our struggles, we are invited to weep with sincere contrition, trusting that God’s mercy turns our tears into the joy of salvation.*