As the feast of St. Rita of Cascia (22 May) approaches, the tradition of the Italian diocese of Spoleto-Norcia, in whose territory the Saint’s birthplace Cascia is situated, to twin itself with a European place where devotion to the saint is particularly strong is being renewed. The place chosen for 2006 is Malta: from 28 to 30 April a delegation of the diocese of Spoleto-Norcia visited Valletta, capital of the island state. Led by Archbishop Riccardo Fontana, the delegation was received by the civic authorities of Valletta, by the Apostolic Nuncio, by the Archbishop of Malta and by the Provincial of the Augustinians of the island. The “Torch of Faith” was lit during a eucharistic celebration in the church of St. Augustine, sanctuary of St. Rita for Malta, on Saturday 29 April. The torch will arrive in the central piazza of Cascia on 21 May and on the following day – liturgical feast of the saint – a pontifical mass will be presided over by the archbishop of Malta in the basilica in which the mortal remains of St. Rita are venerated.
