Medallas de Santa Zita

The Story of St. Zita

St. Zita was born around 1212 in Monsagrati, a small village near Lucca in Tuscany, Italy, to a poor but devoutly Catholic family. At the age of twelve she entered the service of the Fatinelli household in Lucca, a prosperous family of wool merchants, and she would remain in their employ for the next forty-eight years — her entire adult life. The early years were not easy: fellow servants resented her piety and her habit of giving away her own food rations to the hungry, and her employers initially viewed her generosity as wasteful. Over time, however, her unwavering cheerfulness, her obvious holiness, and the practical excellence of her work won over even her harshest critics. A story treasured by her devotees tells that she once spent so long in prayer before Mass that she feared she had neglected her bread-baking duties, only to return and find the loaves perfectly baked — the work completed, tradition says, by angels. Another account describes her lending her employer's fur coat to a shivering beggar at the door of the cathedral on a bitter winter night; when the coat was miraculously returned, the beggar was understood to have been Christ himself. Zita also ministered regularly to prisoners and the sick during whatever free hours her schedule allowed. She died peacefully on April 27, 1272, and was canonized by Pope Innocent XII in 1696. Her incorrupt body is still venerated today in the Basilica of San Frediano in Lucca.

Why Catholics Wear a St. Zita Medal

The spiritual tradition behind a St. Zita medal is rooted in the Catholic conviction that ordinary work — sweeping floors, preparing meals, caring for a household — is not merely secular labor but a genuine participation in God's creative and redemptive work. Zita embodied this theology long before it was formally articulated, and her medal has been worn by domestic workers across centuries as a sign that their vocation is honored by the Church. Most St. Zita medals depict her in the simple dress of a medieval servant, often holding a bag or keys — the keys referencing her role as a trusted household steward and her patronage of those who have lost keys. That lost-keys patronage has made her something of a patron for practical, everyday moments of distress, much as St. Christopher is invoked for safe travel. The medal serves as both a devotional reminder and a professional identity marker: the person wearing it is someone who finds holiness in service. Inscriptions typically read "St. Zita, Pray for Us," a simple petition that connects the wearer to nearly eight centuries of domestic workers who have asked for the same intercession.

Our St. Zita Medal Collection

Rosarycard.net carries St. Zita medal necklaces in three metals — sterling silver, 14kt gold filled, and 14kt solid gold — across multiple sizes so every budget and preference is served. All medals are made in the USA by Bliss Manufacturing, a family-owned company with decades of experience producing Catholic religious jewelry to the highest standards of craftsmanship. Every piece is backed by a lifetime guarantee, which means you are not just buying a necklace — you are investing in a devotional object that can be passed down. Chain lengths range from 18 to 24 inches, and several styles are available in engravable versions for a personalized touch. Orders over $40 ship free. If you are building a gift set around a theme of service and charity, consider pairing a St. Zita medal with a St. Martha medal — patron of hospitality — or a St. Elizabeth of Hungary medal , the great patron of charitable service to the poor. Browse our complete patron saint medals collection for additional options, or visit our dedicated patron saint of domestic workers page for curated gift ideas.

Giving a St. Zita Medal as a Gift

The most natural gift moment for a St. Zita medal is National Housekeeping Week, celebrated the second full week of October each year — a time when hotels, hospitals, and private households traditionally recognize the people who keep their spaces clean and running. A sterling silver St. Zita medal necklace is a gift that goes far beyond a bonus or a gift card: it tells the recipient that their work has spiritual meaning and that the Church has honored people like them for centuries. The feast day of April 27 is a second ideal occasion, particularly for Catholic households that observe the liturgical calendar or for employers who want to mark the day with something lasting. A St. Zita medal also makes a meaningful retirement gift for a longtime housekeeper or domestic employee — a way of saying that forty or fifty years of faithful service mirrors the life of the saint herself. Buyers are often grateful employers, parish communities, Catholic schools with housekeeping staff, or family members honoring a relative who has devoted their life to caring for others. Every order from rosarycard.net arrives in gift-ready packaging, and free shipping applies to all orders over $40.