This year too, a river of faithful accompanied the traditional procession in honor of Santa Rita da Cascia, one of the most heartfelt religious celebrations in the city of Messina. From the small sanctuary in Via Santa Marta the procession unfolded between prayers, songs and the scent of roses, symbol of the saint of impossible cases, attracting hundreds of devotees from different city districts.
For the occasion, the small church dedicated to Santa Rita was adorned with hundreds of white and blush roses which embellished the altar and the entrance to the sanctuary, creating an atmosphere of strong spirituality and meditation. The same colors also enveloped the statue of the saint, recalling purity, hope and rebirth.
The blessing and message to the faithful
The blessing to those present was given by Don Giuseppe Di Stefano, parish priest of the Madonna delle Lacrime community of Villaggio Padre Annibale in Bordonaro, together with Father Francesco Pati, rector of the sanctuary of Santa Rita, and Father Salvatore Alessandrà.
During the celebration Don Giuseppe Di Stefano addressed a message to the faithful inviting the city to become “the symbol of a flowering garden”, recalling the values of friendship, commitment and solidarity in the sign of mercy and forgiveness witnessed by Santa Rita.
The procession between faith and tradition
The simulacrum of the saint, placed on the historic wooden vara, was carried on the shoulders of the members of the Ceri Messinesi Group and the brotherhoods of San Camillo and Santissimo Crocifisso, who accompanied the procession with devotion along the streets of the neighborhood.
Many faithful, some barefoot and wearing the saint’s traditional dress, followed the procession, touching the simulacrum as a sign of faith and entrusting their prayers and requests for grace to Saint Rita.
The notes of the Bordonaro band also accompanied the religious procession, helping to create a climate of intense popular and spiritual participation. A simple but deeply felt celebration that renews every year the strong bond between the Messina community and Santa Rita da Cascia.