Saint of the Day
Summary: St Zita, patron saint of domestic servants and those engaged in household chores. Many miracles are associated both during her lifetime and for those who have had recourse to her after she died. She is specially honoured in the Basilica of St Frediano (reputedly an Irish saint, possibly could be Finiano) in Lucca in northern Italy.
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
A Domestic Servant in Lucca
Zita was born at Montsegradi, a village near Lucca, Italy, at the beginning of the thirteenth century. Her mother raised her in the love and fear of the Lord. Her older sister became a Cistercian nun and her uncle Graziano was a hermit whom the local people regarded as a saint. At an early age, (about 12 years) Zita went to work as a domestic servant for a rich family called Fatinelli in Lucca. Each morning she would awaken early and pray before attending Mass.
Diligent and Trustworthy
Because she worked so hard, Zita’s fellow servants thought she was trying to shame them. They became very jealous of her and were mean to her at every opportunity. But they soon found that Zita was not mean-spirited as they were, but a genuine saint. The Fatinelli family put her in charge of the household and made her the governess of their children.
Angels Watch over her baked bread while she prays
One day after putting some bread in the oven to bake, Zita went up to her “chapel” in the attic to pray. The sweetness of being with God was so delightful that Zita lost all track of the time. When she came to her senses, she rushed back to the kitchen, sure that the bread would be burned and the kitchen full of smoke. But instead she found the beautifully smelling freshly-baked bread laid out on the kitchen table. Were the angels watching over her baking while she talked with God?
Generous to a Fault
Zita was generous to a fault even with what did not belong to her. She shared her own food with whoever came to the Fatinelli household door and sometimes would even give food from the pantry to the many hungry beggars who came looking for help. When Signor Fatinelli became aware of this, he became enraged. One day when he found that Zita had given away the entire store of dried beans from the pantry, he dragged her into the pantry to show her what she had done. Miraculously, though, and to his shock, when they got to the pantry, the full store of the dried beans was replenished.
The Fur Mantle and the Angel Door
Another story tells of Signor Fatinelli finding Zita heading off to Mass on a cold Christmas morning without a coat. He gave her his own fur mantle and wrapped it around her as she went out, but said, “Remember, I want that back.” At Mass Zita met a poor beggar and giving him the mantle said, “This will keep you warm for now.” After Mass she went to get the mantle, but the beggar had gone. One can imagine Signor Fatinelli’s rage when Zita returned home from Mass to explain why she had no mantle. But the day after Christmas, a stranger came to the Fatinelli’s door with the fine fur mantle, good as new. Neighbours recognised that this was no ordinary beggar, but an angel come to test the compassion of the local Christians. The door where Zita gave the mantle to the beggar is still to this day called the Angel Door.
Her Death and Veneration
Zita died on the 27th April in the year 1272, aged sixty. She had served the Fatinelli family for forty-eight years. A judicial process has approved one hundred and fifty miracles that were wrought in behalf of those who had recourse to her intercession.
Body preserved
In 1580 Zita’s body was found, whole and entire, and it is kept with great respect richly enshrined in St. Frediano’s Church in Lucca, Italy, next to the Fatinelli house where she worked. Her face and hands, uncovered, can be viewed through the crystal glass. Pope Leo X granted an office in her honour, and the city of Lucca pays special veneration to her memory.
Summary: St Maughold It was on the Isle of Man that this saint is said to have landed on from Ireland. He has a number of variations to his name: one is Machalus and another is MacCaille. Is he the patron saint of the Isle of Man?
Patrick Duffy writes about some of the traditions associated with him.
Maughold 1
Towards the north-east corner of the Isle of Man near Ramsey is the parish of Kirk Maughold. It has a headland called Maughold Head (373 feet), which derives its name from St. Maughold, or Machalus. Tradition says the saint landed at the foot of this headland towards the close of the 5th century and established himself in a cave in the mountain side.
An Irish prince and pirate
The legend about Maughold or Machalus is that he was an Irish prince who was a pirate. It is said that St Patrick baptised him and then urged him to change his life: as a penance for his previous crimes, Patrick ordered him to abandon himself to God in a wicker boat without oars. Maughold is said to have come ashore on the Isle of Man at the headland known today by his name. He entered into a cave in the mountains there and lived a life of austerity and piety. He was eventually chosen by the local people as their bishop.
St Maughold’s Holy Well or Sacred Spring
St Maughold’s Well
There is still a church and graveyard dedicated to the saint at the place near where he landed. On the brow of the hill not far away there is a holy well. A ledge of rock nearby is called St Maughold’s “chair”. A favourite devotion of pilgrims has been to sit on the ledge, invoke the saint’s help, drink the water of the well, which is said to prevent poison.
Martyrology of Oengus
The Martyrology of Oengus describes our saint as
“a rod of gold,
a vast ingot,
the great bishop MacCaille.”
Machalus 2
St MacCaille of Croghan, Co Offaly
There is another saint of this name: St MacCaille, a bishop, associated with Croghan, Co Offaly. St Brigid is said to have approached him with seven companions wanting to dedicate themselves as virgins to God. She received their vows. Later they moved to Ardagh and St Brigid came to St Mel for their profession. St MacCaille was present during the ceremony. A mysterious manifestation of the Holy Spirit caused St Mel inadvertently to read over her the prayer episcopal consecration. When St MacCaille protested, Mel said he was convinced that this had happened according to the will of God and insisted that the consecration should stand.
And another?
There was a chapel near Chapeltown in Banffshire, Scotland, known as Kilmaichlie, which seems to refer to the Isle of Man saint, who may have had some connection with Scotland – either through himself or his disciples.