Zita, Italian saint (b. 1212)

Zita (c. 1212 – 27 April 1272; also known as Sitha or Citha) is an Italian saint, the patron saint of maids and domestic servants. She is often appealed to in order to help find lost keys.

She is often confused with St. Osyth or Ositha an important English Saint with a town named after her.

Zita entered domestic service at the age of twelve, and served the same family for almost fifty years. Through her diligence and fidelity, she became a trusted and valued servant. She spent her days in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. Zita was known for her kindness and generosity to the poor.