MinxterBLOOM

St. Rita and the Fig Tree by Zoequixote

Rita is often invoked as the patron of abused women and those in bad marriages.  Of course, in her narrative, love transformed her difficult husband.  I believe in the transformative power of love; however, this story can be disasterous for a lady-in-waiting. Instead, I would rather focus on her ability to bring forth figs, roses, and even grapes in a winter garden. This makes her a companion of St. Jude, who patrons the hopeless.  Improbable is more hopeful than impossible. 

Rita, short for Margarita, was surrounded by a cloud of white bees when she was an infant.  More on that, and Ambrose, next.