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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The Grotto of Santa Rosalia


In 2009 several witnesses claimed they saw Santa Rosalia appear in the caves of the famous hermit in the ruins in Sicily. Others, however, have seen an image far from reassuring, admitting that they have come across a black hooded figure. A group of young tourists recorded these disturbing images.

Santa Rosalia hooded figure - click for video

NOTE: There was an innuendo in 2005 that a small group of pilgrims disappeared in the cave of Santa Rosalia. Of course, believers would say that this is impossible since saints only represent 'good'. Honestly, I don't know if that incident has anything to do with this video. Back in the early 1980's, I was told of a woman who swore that she had witnessed a being in the grotto when she was a child...saying it was shrouded in a hooded black robe with skeletal hands and feet. Is there any truth to these reports. At the time I originally looked into this mystery, I contacted officials in Palermo and was directed to the group who managed the shrine. I never received an answer to my inquiry...Lon

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SANTA ROSALIA, PATRON SAINT OF PALERMO


Saint Rosalia (1130–1166), also called La Santuzza or "The Little Saint", is the patron saint of Palermo, Sicily, El Hatillo, Venezuela, and Zuata, Anzoategui, Venezuela.

Devoutly religious, she retired to live as a hermit in a cave on Mount Pellegrino, where she died alone in 1166. Tradition says that she was led to the cave by two angels. On the cave wall she wrote "I, Rosalia, daughter of Sinibald, Lord of Roses, and Quisquina, have taken the resolution to live in this cave for the love of my Lord, Jesus Christ."

Santa Rosalia, clearly holds a special place in the hearts of many Sicilians. During the first week of June every year in Santo Stefano Quisquina, there is a special celebration to commemorate her miraculous intervention that saved Palermo from the Black Plague. Rosalia was the daughter of Duke Sinibaldo, Lord of the Quisquina and the Roses, who was a cousin of King William II of Sicily. Like Saint Francis of Assisi, Rosalia turned her back on a life of ease and chose to devote herself to prayer and solitude. The legend says that in 1159 she retired to a hermetic existence in a remote cave on Monte Pellegrino, the rocky cliff high above the Bay of Palermo. Nothing was heard from her again until 1624, when the plague arrived in Sicily.

Salvation to Sicily came in the unexpected form of La Santuzza, who appeared in a vision to a hunter lost on Monte Pellegrino. "Don't worry," she said "I will protect you and I will protect the city". She revealed to him the site of the cave in which she had lived as a hermit and told him to go back to Palermo and alert the archbishop and rulers of the city. The hunter did as he was instructed, and those leaders found her remains and displayed them through the streets of Palermo. Within three days, the plague ended. After this St Rosalia would be venerated as the patron saint of Palermo, and a sanctuary was built in the cave where her remains were discovered. - chestofbooks.com / ferlita.com

Take a look at the video of the shrine. It is quite beautiful and well maintained - PALERMO - Santuario Santa Rosalia - click for video


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