St. Rita of Cascia, May 22
Married young to a violent man, Rita (1381-1457) stayed faithful to him until he was murdered, then forgave his killers. As a widow she entered the Augustinian convent of Cascia. She is invoked for impossible causes and troubled marriages.
On the General Roman Calendar, May 22 is an optional memorial: Saint Rita of Cascia, religious.
Other saints on May 22
- Sts. Castus and Aemilius, martyrs in Africa (3rd century)
Name days on May 22
In countries that keep name days, May 22 is the day for people named Rita and Margarita. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Rita | May 22 |
| Margarita | May 22 |
May 22 on the calendar
May 22 is the 142nd day of the year (the 143rd in a leap year), with 223 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | Saturday |
| 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | Wednesday |
Keeping May 22
May 22 falls in May, the month of Mary. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Rita and Margarita, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around May 22
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| May 19 | St. Ivo of Kermartin |
| May 20 | St. Bernardine of Siena |
| May 21 | St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions |
| May 23 | St. John Baptist de Rossi |
| May 24 | Sts. Donatian and Rogatian |
| May 25 | St. Bede the Venerable |
The day before, May 21, is the day of St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions. The day after, May 23, belongs to St. John Baptist de Rossi. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.