St. Zita was born c. 1212 in Monsagradi, near Lucca, in Tuscany. At the age of twelve she was placed in service to the Fatinelli family at their palazzo in Lucca, next to the Church of St. Frediano.
Zita's hard work, "even supplying the deficiencies of her fellow servants, far from gaining for her their love and esteem and that of her employers rather brought upon her every manner of ill-treatment of both the former and, through their accusations, of the latter. The incessant ill-usage, however, was powerless to deprive her of her inward peace, her love of those who wronged her, and her respect for her employers. By this meek and humble self-restraint she at last succeeded in overcoming the malice of her fellow-servants and her employers, so much so that she was placed in charge of all the affairs of the house."
"Using the ample authority given her by her employers, she was generous in almsgiving, but careful to assist only those really in need."
Zita died in her attic room in the palazzo on April 27, 1272, having served the Fatinelli for 48 years.
"After her death numerous miracles were wrought at her intercession, so that she came to be venerated as a saint in the neighbourhood of Lucca, and the poets Fazio degli Uberti (Dittamonde, III, 6) and Dante (Inferno, XXI, 38) both designate the city of Lucca simply as 'Santa Zita'."
Click here to see how Treasure Chest presented the story of "St. Zita: The Little Cook," to parochial school children in 1948.
Click here for some images of St. Zita.
