Feast of Santa Rita in Cascia (May 22) and the Blessing of the Roses
On May 22, the feast of Santa Rita is celebrated in Cascia, the Umbrian town in the Valnerina where the saint's body is kept in the Basilica dedicated to her. It is the date of her death, and the feast brings pilgrims and devotees to Cascia from all over the world. On the morning of the 22nd, the statue of Santa Rita, covered in roses, arrives in procession from Roccaporena, the village where the saint was born. It is accompanied by a historical procession in costume that recalls episodes from her life. After the Solemn Pontifical Mass, on the square in front of the Basilica, the crowd raises roses toward the sky for the blessing.
Roses are the saint's symbol. Tradition says that Rita, ill in her cell in the monastery of Cascia, asked a cousin in the month of January to bring her some figs and a rose from the house in Roccaporena. In the middle of winter the cousin found a rose in bloom. Since then Santa Rita has been linked to this flower, and those who take part in the blessing then take the blessed roses home. Around the solemn day the feast lasts several days, with the novena, the arrival of the Fiaccola della Pace e del Perdono (Torch of Peace and Forgiveness) and the celebration of the Transito (the saint's passing) on the eve.
When the Feast of Santa Rita in Cascia (May 22) and the blessing of the roses take place
The Feast of Santa Rita is celebrated every year on May 22, the day of the saint's liturgical memorial, as she died in Cascia on May 22. The anniversary is celebrated in many sanctuaries and parishes, but the heart of the celebrations is Cascia, in the province of Perugia. Here the feast is organized by the Augustinian communities together with the municipality.
The program goes beyond the solemn day. The Celebrazioni Ritiane last several days around May 22. Before the feast there is the novena: in 2026 it was held in the Basilica di Santa Rita from May 12 to 20, with the Rosary for peace recited every evening together with the Augustinian nuns and friars.
Celebrants, guests and details change every year: before planning the trip, it is best to check the official program for the current year.
One useful piece of information concerns the state of the Basilica. After the earthquake of October 30, 2016, the Basilica and the Monastery of Santa Rita were closed as a precaution. The Basilica reopened to worshippers on December 4, 2016, after being made safe by the Fire Brigade, and in spring 2017 the restoration of the interior was completed. The work mainly concerned the paintings on the drum of the dome.
The program of the Feast of Santa Rita in Cascia (May 22) and the blessing of the roses
The three most important days are the arrival of the Torch, the eve with the Transito and May 22, with the procession, the Pontifical Mass and the blessing of the roses.
The Fiaccola della Pace e del Perdono opens the festivities. In recent years it has been lit in a different city each time and then brought to Cascia: in 2024 it came from Enna, in 2025 from Piacenza. In 2026 it was lit in Chicago, twinned with Cascia for the occasion and the birthplace of Pope Leo XIV. The Pope blessed it on May 20 during the general audience in St. Peter's Square. The same evening, in Roccaporena, the arrival of the torch was accompanied by prayer and the climb to the Scoglio. According to tradition, Rita often climbed this rock to pray.
On May 21, the eve of the feast, the Riconoscimento Internazionale Santa Rita (Santa Rita International Award) is presented to the honored women, called "Donne di Rita". This is followed by the solemn celebration of the Transito di Santa Rita. In the evening, the torch travels from Roccaporena to Cascia in a motorcycle torch relay. On its arrival the votive tripod is lit, marking the official start of the festivities.
May 22 begins early, with the festive ringing of the bells of Cascia. From the early hours of the morning, Masses follow one another in the Sala della Pace and in the Basilica. The most awaited moment of the morning is the arrival of the procession from Roccaporena with the statue of Santa Rita, together with the Corteo Storico (historical procession) that recalls the life of the saint and the community of her time, accompanied by the Cascia band. In 2019 the procession started from Roccaporena and, at the entrance to the town, joined the one from Cascia to reach the square in front of the Basilica together. The procession in 15th-century dress counted hundreds of participants in costume, along with the civil authorities with their banners and the confraternities.
Then the Solemn Pontifical Mass is celebrated, which in recent editions has taken place in the Sala della Pace. In 2026 it was presided over by Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, archbishop emeritus of Kraków; in 2025 by Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general for the diocese of Rome. At the end of the celebration, on the square in front of the Basilica, the Supplica a Santa Rita (Plea to Santa Rita) is recited and the blessing of the roses takes place. The rite recalls the rose that bloomed in winter in Roccaporena. By tradition, the blessed roses are kept at home or given to a sick or lonely person as a sign of comfort.
In the afternoon the Masses continue in the Basilica. On the evening of May 22, 2026, there was a music show in Piazza San Francesco and fireworks. On May 23 the program offered a round table on the iconography and symbols of Santa Rita and the closing, at Palazzo Santi, of the exhibition for the 125 years since the canonization. The morning celebrations of the 22nd are broadcast live on the Sanctuary's YouTube channel and social media profiles, for those who cannot be in Cascia.
Other events in the area are collected on the page events and food festivals in the Sibillini.
How to get to the Feast of Santa Rita in Cascia (May 22) and the blessing of the roses
A car is the most practical way to reach Cascia. The town is reached from the Valnerina, on scenic but very winding roads. From Rome, take the Autostrada del Sole to the Orte exit, continue toward Terni in the direction of the Valnerina and then follow the SS 209 and the SS 320 to Cascia. From Bologna, take the Autostrada Adriatica to Civitanova Marche, then the expressway for Macerata and Tolentino. At Muccia, take the turnoff for Visso and the Valnerina.
Cascia has no train station. The most used stations are Spoleto and Foligno: from there, continue by bus or taxi, with about 40-50 minutes of mountain road. Buses connect the area with Spoleto, Terni and Norcia, but services are not frequent and it is best to check timetables before leaving. The stop closest to the Sanctuary is a short walk away.
On May 22 many more people than usual arrive. Parking lots are located near the Sanctuary and are signposted. Pedestrian paths connect the Basilica, the Monastery and services. It is best to arrive early, to park calmly and find a spot along the procession route. Those with walking difficulties should allow more time for getting around, with lines and crowds.
Roccaporena is the starting point of the procession. It is a hamlet of Cascia at 707 meters above sea level and preserves many places linked to the life of the saint: her birthplace, her married home, the Church of San Montano where Rita was married, the Scoglio and the Santuario di Roccaporena, opened to worshippers in 1948.
Where to stay for the Feast of Santa Rita in Cascia (May 22) and the blessing of the roses
Cascia's economy is largely based on hosting pilgrims, and many places to stay are around the Basilica. Several hotels in the center are just steps from the Sanctuary, and many are equipped to host organized groups and pilgrimages. There are also religious guesthouses. The Monastery of Santa Rita, on the other hand, is cloistered and it is not possible to stay there. Some accommodation options are also available in Roccaporena, the saint's birthplace.
For the nights of May 21 and 22 it is best to book early. Staying in Cascia makes it possible to follow the arrival of the procession and the morning celebrations on foot, without having to set off at dawn.