Feast of Saint Rita of Cascia with the Blessing of the Roses

A tradition of faith in the Canavese mountains

On May 22nd, the parish church of Valprato Soana fills with the faithful to honor Saint Rita of Cascia, one of the most beloved figures in Italian popular devotion. In this small municipality of the Soana Valley, located in the Province of Turin at the foot of the Gran Paradiso National Park, the feast is a heartfelt moment of reflection and tradition, led by the parish priest Father Gian Paolo and Deacon Massimo.

The solemn Mass and the blessing of the roses

The heart of the day is the solemn Holy Mass, celebrated in the late afternoon. At the end of the liturgy, the traditional blessing of the roses, holy images, and rosaries takes place: the faithful can then take these items home, keeping them as a sign of protection under the saint's gaze.

Why roses?

The rose has always been linked to Saint Rita. Tradition tells that, while on her deathbed, the saint asked her relatives for a rose from her family's garden: despite it being mid-winter, a blooming rose was found on the indicated bush. From that miracle comes the custom, still alive today, of blessing and distributing roses on the day of her feast, a gesture that is renewed with great participation in Valprato Soana.

An appointment for the Soana Valley community

More than a major event, the Feast of Saint Rita in Valprato Soana is a community occasion: a moment when the inhabitants of the village and neighboring towns meet in the parish church to renew an ancient devotion. For those visiting the Soana Valley, it is also an opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the alpine Piedmont, far from mass tourism circuits, where religious traditions still mark the rhythm of village life.