St. Rosalia
Feast Day: September 4
In 1624, a deadly plague struck the city of Palermo, Sicily.
People were dying in the streets.
Then a woman claimed she had seen a vision of a saint who told her where to find her remains.
They searched a cave on a mountain above the city.
They found the bones.
They carried them through the city in procession.
And the plague began to fade.
That saint was Rosalia.
St. Rosalia, pray for us.
Who Was St. Rosalia?
Rosalia was born around 1130 in Palermo, Sicily, into a noble Norman family.
She grew up surrounded by wealth and privilege, likely connected to the royal court.
But as a young woman, she felt called to give it all up for God.
A Hermit in a Cave
Rosalia left her comfortable life and went to live alone in a cave, devoting herself to prayer and penance.
An inscription carved into the wall of a cave at Quisquina, attributed to her, reads:
“I, Rosalia, daughter of Sinibald, for the love of my Lord Jesus Christ, have resolved to live in this cave.”
— Traditional inscription
She later moved to a cave on Mount Pellegrino, overlooking Palermo.
There she lived in prayer until her death around 1166.
She was in her thirties.
Forgotten, Then Found
For centuries, Rosalia was honored locally, but her burial place was forgotten.
Then came the plague of 1624.
After her remains were found on Mount Pellegrino and carried through Palermo, the city credited her prayers with ending the plague.
She was declared the patron saint of Palermo.
Santuzza
The people of Palermo affectionately call her “Santuzza,” the little saint.
Every July, the city holds a huge festival in her honor, with a procession of a giant decorated cart.
On September 4, the traditional date of her death, pilgrims climb Mount Pellegrino to her shrine in the cave.
What St. Rosalia Teaches Us
Rosalia teaches us that nothing is more valuable than God.
She had wealth, beauty, and comfort.
She gave them up because she found something better.
She also teaches us the value of silence and prayer in a noisy world.
Most of us are not called to live in a cave.
But we can all find a quiet corner to be alone with God.
When Is the Feast of St. Rosalia?
St. Rosalia is honored on September 4, and also with a great festival in Palermo every July.
Prayer Inspired by St. Rosalia
Lord Jesus Christ,
St. Rosalia left everything to live for You alone.
Help us love You above all things.
Protect the sick and those suffering from disease,
and teach us to find time for silence and prayer.
St. Rosalia, pray for us. Amen.
