St Zita

Zita’s parents were very poor, but very faithful Christians. She grew up knowing and loving Jesus very much. When she was 12 years old, she was sent to the nearby town of Lucca to work as a servant in the home of the Fatinelli family. The family was very rich and had many servants. Zita was a very hard worker and always did her jobs very well. She would get up very early in the morning so she could finish her chores before going to daily mass. She was very prayerful and loved to care for the poor too. It is said that one day Zita had begun mixing bread, when she felt she had to leave the Fatinelli home to help a poor person in need. The other servants were very upset at her for leaving the work she had started. They went to inform Mr. and Mrs. Fatinelli. When they brought them in to see what Zita had done, there were angels in the kitchen baking the bread. The Fatinelli family admired her hard work and respected her faith. She worked for them for 48 years. Zita died peacefully in the Fatinelli home on April 27th, 1278. It is said that a star appeared above the Fatinelli home above Zita’s room in the attic on the day she died. To celebrate her feast day, many Italians prepare a loaf of bread.