Feast of St. Rosalia

 

St. Rosalia was born in Palermo, Sicily, and was a descendent of Charlemagne and the daughter of Sinibald, the Lord of Roses. As a girl, she rejected earthly things and moved to a cave to live a life dedicated to God. She lived on a nearby mountain, then moved to Mt. Pellegrino within sight of her father's house. She died in 1160.

In 1664 at the height of a terrible plague (probably bubonic), St. Rosalia appeared in a dream to a a sickened citizen of Palermo. Rosalia instructed her to go to the mountain and find her remains, then parade them through the streets. She did, and the plague disappeared. St. Rosalia was immediately declared Palermo's patron saint. She is still revered in Palermo, especially during the anniversary of the translation of her relics on June 15. On that day, a huge celebration and parade take place. The photo is one I took of St. Rosalia's float from this summer's parade (I'm not sure why she's strapped to the foremast of a ship).