From Italy to Spain my path keeps crossing with the Patron Saint of Lost Causes
In my previous story, I shared the remarkable tale of St. Rita of Cascia, the disfigured saint whose perseverance and mystical life left a deep impression on me. If you missed it, you can catch up here.
So imagine my surprise—and delight—when I learned that my last Camino Francés pilgrimage would end in Santiago de Compostela during the preparations for Dia Santa Rita de Cassia — the Feast Day of this very same saint.
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The Rose Market Outside San Agustín
The celebration begins not in the pews but in the streets outside Iglesia de San Agustín, where local flower merchants fill the square with color and fragrance.
Women of all ages—dressed in puffer jackets and purposeful expressions—examine rose bouquets like they’re shopping for their own mother’s birthday. They touch a petal, lift stems to their noses and deliberate as if each rose carries a prayer in waiting. And in a way, it does. Because on Dia Santa Rita de Cassia , the faithful offer roses to the saint as symbols of impossible hopes and prayers not yet answered.
RELATED: St Rita of Cascia | The Disfigured Saint Who Impacted the World You’ll Love
Outside the church doors, an artisanal baker from Touro near Arzua, sells a confectionery tradition associated with Dia Santa Rita de Cassia. Rosquillas de Bama, a type of aniseed doughnut, are sold at festivals and romarías around Galicia.
Inside the Church: Music Gold and the Scent of Devotion
As I stepped into San Agustín Church, my eyes adjusted to the dim, cool interior. The golden retablo at the front shimmered with carved grapevines twisting around old columns that have surely seen centuries of devotion.
Soft organ music filled the space as parishioners quietly found their seats. The scent of hundreds of roses mingled with the fragrance of candle wax and old stone. There was an expectant hush, and I could feel I was in a holy place made more sacred by the shared prayers of the Galician faithful who had come from near and far.
Ten Masses for the Faithful on Dia Santa Rita de Cassia
Dia Santa Rita de Cassia is no ordinary day in Santiago de Compostela. Ten separate Masses were scheduled to honor her, and the crowd I joined was only one wave of many to come.
It felt especially fitting that the celebration was held in San Agustín Church, as St. Rita of Cascia was herself an Augustinian nun. The very stones of the building seemed to echo her legacy of faith, perseverance and devotion.
Adding to the beauty of the day, my friend and well-known Camino author Johnnie Walker served as organist for all the Masses. He’s a regular at San Agustín, and his heartfelt playing, woven with reverence, brought a sacred stillness to the room.
Another dear friend, Stephen, who frequently sings at the church, also lent his voice to the service I attended. Hearing his rich vocals echo through the sanctuary was deeply moving, especially on a day so heavy with symbolism and grace.
The music swelled as the priest entered and voices rose in song. I couldn’t understand every word, but I understood every emotion: longing, faith, gratitude and hope. It was clear that Santa Rita is loved here, not just remembered.
A saint born in 1381 in Roccaporena, Italy, Rita of Cascia endured a violent marriage, the loss of her sons and many years in an austere convent. She’s known as the Saint of Impossible Causes, a woman who bore her suffering with such grace and faith that she is now venerated around the world.
Today, in this church in Spain, she was being honored with rose after rose, prayer after prayer.
A Church Rooted in Augustinian Tradition
Though the Jesuits now run San Agustín Church, its roots go back to the Augustinian Order, which originally founded the church in the 17th century. The Jesuits were granted use of the building in the early 1900s and continue to preserve it as a living place of worship today.
That layered history made the celebration of Dia Santa Rita de Cassia feel all the more meaningful. Since St. Rita was an Augustinian nun, it seemed fitting that her feast day would be honored in a space first consecrated by her own religious community.
The blend of past and present—Augustinian beginnings and Jesuit stewardship—echoed the spirit of the day: reverent, hopeful and deeply rooted in enduring faith.
A Quiet Moment at Santa Rita’s Side Altar
After Mass the congregation slowly moved toward the side altar dedicated to Santa Rita, a space softly lit. Pilgrims brought their roses here, leaving them in vases on steps or gently tucked beside a painted statue of the saint.
I lingered for a moment, taking photos, when a woman approached me quietly and handed me a single red rose. I hesitated—was this meant for the saint? But she smiled warmly and pressed it into my hand.
I took the rose. Not just as a souvenir but as a reminder of how Santa Rita keeps showing up in my life—in Italy, in stories and now here in Galicia. Maybe she’s trying to tell me something. Or maybe she simply walks with those of us who still believe in miracles.
The Scent of Roses and a Memory to Carry
As I stepped back out into the sunshine of Santiago, rose in hand, I could still hear faint music coming from the church. The square outside had filled again, more bouquets were being purchased and more Masses were yet to come.
On Dia Santa Rita de Cassia the entire city seemed to pause and exhale. Even the impossible felt somehow possible.
So, whether you’re facing your own lost cause or simply longing for a rose-scented moment of peace, I invite you to pause, remember Santa Rita, and carry her quiet strength with you.
She might just surprise you with a rose of your own.
When is Dia Santa Rita de Cassia?
Dia Santa Rita de Cassia or the feast day of St Rita of Cassia is celebrated on May 22, the day of her death in 1447.
The Church of San Agustín in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, has a long-standing tradition of welcoming pilgrims from all over Galicia. Get updated information at the Archidiócesis de Santiago de Compostela.
The Santuario de Santa Rita de Cassia in Italy also attracts pilgrims throughout the year, but especially on May 22.
Read more about the Italian celebration of the feast day of St Rita of Cascia the disfigured saint who impacted the world.
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Hi, I’m Stacey
UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Travel is a travel blog focused on immersive travel that highlights food, wine and the spirituality of place. You can count on me for accurate reports and insightful analysis as your trusted travel writer since 2008.
As the author of several spiritual and walking guides, I occasionally write about life as a Camino de Santiago pilgrim. See my Amazon author page here. You may review my credentials as a professional travel writer on LinkedIn.
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5 thoughts on “Dia Santa Rita de Cassia: Honoring the Saint of Impossible Causes in Santiago de Compostela”
What a beautiful story
Thanks so much, Janis! Where are you off to next?
What a beautiful story!
Thanks so much, Janis! I appreciate your kind words about the dia Santa Rita de Cassia story. Make sure to catch my previous story, St Rita of Cascia | The Disfigured Saint Who Impacted the World
Thanks for your kind words, Janis! Where are you off to next?