(1218-1272) Zita was born to a poor family in the Tuscany region of Italy and became a domestic servant at age 12 in the city of Lucca. The other household servants mistook her humility as posturing and did not like her. Eventually, the mistress of the house put Zita in charge of almsgiving, allowing her to visit and serve the sick and poor without hassle. She often invited homeless women to share her food and offered them a safe place to sleep. Zita made it to Mass every morning before work and was placed in charge of the household when the mistress died. Her reputation for holiness and goodwill spread so greatly that Dante even referenced her in his Divine Comedy. 300 years after her death, Zita’s body was found to be incorrupt, meaning that her body had defied natural decomposition. She is a patron saint for housekeepers, household chores, and lost keys.
Ignoring judgements of worldly people that couldn’t understand her motives and finding holiness in the midst of nominal tasks mark Saint Zita’s life. How do these lessons apply to your recovery?
“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
Reflection by Brad Farmer