The San Frediano church
The facade of the church is decorated with a lavish thirteenth
century mosaic; the interior is worth seeing and houses
a richly carved baptismal font as well as a shrine to Lucca's
saint, Santa Zita. (details)
Instantly distinguishable from other Romanesque churches
of Lucca by its golden mosaic high on the facade, the church
of San Frediano is also of interest internally. The huge
twelfth century baptismal font, the Fonte Lustrale, lies
immediately at the entrance and is decorated with biblical
scenes attributed to three different craftsmen. The church
also houses a shrine to Santa Zita, Lucca's saint, whose
mummified body is brought out once a year when she may be
touched by the devout.
In S. Frediano’s Church there is a chapel built in
S. Zita’s honour: she is one of the most famous saints
of Lucca.
The Legend of Santa
Zita
In April, the square in front of the
San Frediano church in Lucca is full of flowers and plants.
If you walk away from the church and down the main road,
you'll soon come across the amphitheatre which also has
flowers on show and for sale. The narcissus (or daffodil)
is associated with the story of a local girl named Zita,
who was born hundreds of years ago and who went on to become
a saint.
Zita was born in Monsagrati, a small village
not far from Lucca.
She was employed as a domestic by the Fatinelli
family in Lucca, and every day she would give away leftover
bread to the local poor.
Mr. and Mrs. Fatinelli were good people
who had several workers. Zita was happy to be able to work
and send money to her parents. She tried to live responsibly.
She formed habits of praying that fit in with her schedule.
She rose early to go to daily Mass.
Zita was diligent in her work. She felt it was part of her
very self. But the other workers were annoyed. They tried
to do as little as they could get away with. They began
to pick on Zita and oppose her without their employers noticing.
Zita was hurt but she prayed for patience. She never told
on the workers. She insisted on doing her work as well as
possible no matter what they thought.
When one of the workers tried to kiss her, Zita fought him
off. He left the room with several scratches on his face.
Mr. Fatinelli questioned her privately about the incident.
She told him honestly what had happened. After that, Zita
became the head housekeeper. The Fatinelli children were
placed under her care. Best of all, the other workers stopped
persecuting her. Some even began to imitate her.
A jealous fellow employee betrayed her to the owner of the
house, who in turn challenged her.
When he asked her what she had in her apron,
legend has it that flowers fell out instead of the original
bread.
Zita spent her whole life with the Fatinelli
family. While others came and went, she stayed. She served
them lovingly. She loved them like she loved her own family.
By her example, she helped people see that work is beautiful
when it is done with Christian love. Zita died peacefully
on April 27,1278. She was sixty years old.
On April 27th, 1278, the bell of the church
of San Frediano (near where Zita worked and lodged) was
heard to ring. What was strange was that nobody was pulling
the ropes -- The ringing is said to have coincided with
Zita's last breath.
The Mummified body of St. Zita Patron saint of domestic
servants
Also known as Sitha; Citha
Memorial 27 April
Profile
At age twelve she became a domestic servant for a family
in Lucca, a position she kept all her life. She often gave
her own food, and sometimes that of her master, to those
poorer than herself, which caused her great trouble in the
household.
Born 1218 at Monsagrati near Lucca, Italy
Died 27 April 1272 at Lucca, Italy
Canonized 1696
Patronage
against losing keys, butlers, domestic servants, homemakers,
housemaids, lost keys, maids, manservants, people ridiculed
for their piety, rape victims, servants, servers, single
laywomen, waiters, waitpersons, waitresses.
Prayer to Saint Zita
Dear follower of the Son of God, you desired to become a
servant and died the death of a slave. You were not only
a faithful maid-servant but a practical lover of the poor.
Like Mary you could have said: "Behold the handmaid
of the Lord." Prompt domestics to be just and charitable,
seeing in their employers children of God and setting an
example for them as servants of God. Amen.
Zita has a wonderful lesson for
us all.
She reminds us that what we do is part of who we are. Our
work and our study take effort. But they are worth the trouble
because the Lord will reward our diligence in heaven.
Santa Zita event flower/street
market in the Anphiteathre every 27th April
Every year, on 27th April, in her honour in S. Frediano
square there are a lot of flowers and you can find a flower/street
market in the Anphiteathre. People buy a bunch of flowers
along the street and they have it blessed and they keep
it in their houses. The wild daftodil is the flower that
is usually connected with this saint.
for more informations on this event:
"Mostra dei fiori di Santa Zita"
Ente organizzatore: Centro Commerciale Città di Lucca
address: Lucca, via Fillungo 121
Tel.0583 494181 Fax 0583 48587
e-mail: info@confcommercio.lu.it |
