Group 4: BSA 1 PERFORMANCE

TASK IN ReEd 1
Saints: St. Rita of Cascia and St.
Magdalene of Nagasaki

SUBMITTED BY:
ALBARACIN, JESSICA ROSE
CANEN, JANINE
DAVIDE, KAY ELISE
HERMOSA, ROSEMARIE
LETRONDO, CLYDE ANGELIE
LIBRON, LORA JEANNE
MANAYAN, BARRYLOU

SUBMITTED TO:
MR. CHITO SY
 St. Rita of Cascia
I. LIFESTORY
 Wife, mother and a homemaker of
Roccaporena
 Born in 1381 in the village of Roccaporena,
near Cascia, Italy.
 Name of parents: Antonio and Amata Lotti
 Name of husband: Paolo Mancini (watchman)
 Her husband was ambushed and killed.
 Had the desire to join in a certain convent
which she used to visit at a young age (convent
of Augustinian Nuns)
 The couple had twin boys but both were dead
naturally after their father's death.
 Joined Augustinian Nuns of Saint Mary
Magdalene Monastery
 Implored her three patron saints — John the Baptist, Augustine, and Nicholas of
Tolentino for assistance in entering the monastery.
 When she was 36 years old, Rita pledged to follow the ancient Rule of Saint
Augustine.
 40 years after, she gave herself wholeheartedly to prayer and works of charity
 At the age of 60, she was meditating before an image of Christ crucified, as she
was long accustomed to doing.
 A small wound appeared on her forehead - an external sign of stigmatization
 St. Rita died at the age of 76 on May 22, 1457, the same date was observed for
her feast day.
 “Remain in the holy love of Jesus. Remain in obedience to the holy Roman Church.
Remain in peace and fraternal charity.”
 Thus, the saint of the thorn became the saint of the rose, and she whose
impossible requests were granted her became the advocate of all those whose
own requests seem impossible as well.

II. OAR CONTRIBUTIONS

 St. Rita of Cascia as peacemaker
 Now alone in the world and without family responsibilities, Rita once more turned
her thoughts to the desired vocation of her youth, that of joining the Augustinian
Nuns of Saint Mary Magdalene Monastery. Some of the religious of the community,
however, were relatives of the members of the political faction considered
responsible for Paolo’s death, and so as not to tempt the harmony of the convent,
 Rita’s request for admission was denied. Fortunately, she was not to be easily
dissuaded from following what she knew to be God’s plan for her. She implored
her three patron saints — John the Baptist, Augustine, and Nicholas of Tolentino
to assist her, and she set about the task of establishing peace between the hostile
parties of Cascia with such success that her entry into the monastery was assured.
 For the next forty years she gave herself wholeheartedly to prayer and works of
charity, striving especially to preserve peace and harmony among the citizens of
Cascia.

III. DIMENSIONS OF FAITH

 BELIEVING
 With a pure love she wanted more and more to be intimately joined to the
redemptive suffering of Jesus, and this desire of hers was satisfied in an
extraordinary way.
 During the last four years of her life Rita was confined to bed and was able to eat
so little that she was practically sustained on the Eucharist alone

 DOING
 Now alone in the world and without family responsibilities, Rita once more turned
her thoughts to the desired vocation of her youth, that of joining the Augustinian
Nuns of Saint Mary Magdalene Monastery.
 At the age of thirty-six Rita pledged to follow the ancient Rule of Saint Augustine.
For the next forty years she gave herself wholeheartedly to prayer and works of
charity, striving especially to preserve peace and harmony among the citizens of
Cascia.

 ENTRUSTING
 Unexpected and violent death of Paolo inflicted upon Rita was only compounded
by the fear she felt that her two teenage sons, moved by the unwritten law of the
“vendetta,” would seek to avenge their father’s death. Rita’s only recourse was to
prayer and persuasion.
 Despite her great burden she could still thank God that they had died in peace,
free of the poison of murder to which hatred and revenge might have otherwise
drawn them.

Reference: https://st-rita.org/the-story-of-st-rita-of-cascia/
 St. Magdalene of Nagasaki
I. LIFESTORY
Magdalene was born in 1611 near Nagasaki,
Japan, the daughter of devout Christian parents.
While she was still young her mother, father, and
siblings were martyred for the faith. In 1624 she
became acquainted with two Augustinians,
members of the Recollect Congregation, Francis of
Jesus and Vincent of Saint Anthony, and was
attracted by their deep spirituality. She became an
Augustinian tertiary, teaching catechism to the
young, seeking alms for the poor, encouraging her
people in times of persecution. When these two
friars were martyred, she placed herself under the
spiritual guidance of two other Augustinians who
eventually also received the crown of martyrdom.
In 1629 she sought refuge in the hills of Nagasaki, sharing the sufferings of her fellow
Christians, baptizing the young and visiting the sick. Because many Christians were
renouncing their faith in the face of torture, she decided to encourage them through
her own acceptance of persecution. In September 1634, dressed in the habit of a
tertiary, she turned herself in to the anti-Christian civil authorities. In October of that
same year she was subjected to the torture of the pit for 13 days. On the last day the
pit was filled with water and she was drowned. Her body was burned and her ashes
were dispersed to prevent the Christians from having any relics of her. Magdalene
was beatified in 1981 and canonized by John Paul II on October 18, 1987.

II. OAR CONTRIBUTIONS

 When the Augustinians arrived in Japan. As a committed Christian, Magdalene
made herself known to them. She served as a catechist and interpreter for the
early Augustinian missionaries.
 In 1632 the Augustinians Francis of Jesus Terrero and Vincent of Saint Anthony
Simoens, who had been her first counselors, were burned to death because of
their Christian faith. This served to make Magdalene's faith and commitment to
Christ even stronger. She located two other Augustinian Friars, Martin of Saint
Nicholas Lumbreras and Melchior of Saint Augustine Sánchez. They continued to
develop her appreciation and practice of Augustinian spirituality. Eventually these
two Friars were also martyred. Magdalene then took as her spiritual guide Jordan
of Saint Stephen, a Dominican. Since Dominicans also follow the Rule of
Augustine, the spirit of Augustine continued to grow in her.
  Moved by her strong Christian conviction, Magdalene voluntarily declared herself
a follower of Jesus. She was threatened, ridiculed and tortured, but her Christian
witness was strong.

III. DIMENSIONS OF FAITH

 Believing
Being Faithful to their calling, the first Augustinian missionaries arrived in
Japan to spread the Gospel of Jesus. She became an Augustinian tertiary,
teaching catechism to the young. In their work of evangelization the missionaries
emphasized the promotion of religious associations and gave special attention to
the Augustinian Third Order. However, it was quite difficult for Christians to live
their faith publicly. To approach the missionaries for doctrinal and religious
nourishment was risky for themselves as well as the friars.

 Doing
As an active and enthusiastic Christian, Magdalene made contact with the
first Augustinian and though communication was difficult, she worked with them as
an interpreter and later as a catechist. In 1629 she sought refuge in the hills of
Nagasaki, sharing the sufferings of her fellow Christians, baptizing the young,
visiting the sick and sustaining those who have grown weak in their faith. The brave
spirit and conviction of this Augustinian Tertiary moved her to go voluntarily to the
jailers and declare herself a follower of Jesus Christ. Magdalene was arrested and
had to face all kinds of promises and threats from her persecutors. On the last day
the pit was filled with water and she was drowned. Her body was burned and her
ashes were dispersed to prevent the Christians from having any relics of her.

 Entrusting
Magdalene was attracted to the Augustinian interiority and communitarian
spirit she presented herself to be part of the third order. Among her close friends
were the Augustinian priests Fathers of Jesus Terrero and Vincent of Saint
Anthony Simoens who also served as her spiritual guide and companion, received
the crown of martyrdom by burning them alive by the Japanese. Their martyrdom
did not waver Magdalene’s faith; rather it strengthens by it. After this, she met other
Augustinian Friars, Martin of Saint Nicholas Lumbreras and Melchoir of Saint
Augustine Sanchez, who eventually was also martyred. She continues to flee and
hide, but she did not renounce her faith. She also remains steadfast in her task of
evangelization amidst the persecution.

Reference: http://augustinians.net/index.php?page=mnagasaki_en