St. Rosalia

Saint Rosalia (1130–1166), was a hermit and mystic who lived during the 12th century in Sicily, Italy. She was a member of the noble Sinibaldi family but chose to withdraw from her privileged life to live as a hermit in a cave on Mount Pellegrino near Palermo. Rosalia dedicated herself to a life of prayer, penance, and contemplation of God. She is often depicted as holding a crucifix and a skull, symbols of her asceticism and meditation on the Passion of Christ. After her death in 1166, Rosalia’s remains were discovered in the cave in 1624, and she became known as a patron saint of Palermo. Her feast day is celebrated on September 4th, and she is venerated for her humility, self-denial, and devotion to a life of solitude and spiritual reflection.