Saint It Out Loud

“Isolation and the Patron Saint of Palermo, Italy”

“In the afternoon they came unto a land in which it was always afternoon, all around the coast the languid air did swoon, breathing like one that hath a weary dream.” - Lord Alfred Tennyson

Are you weary of social distancing, teleworking and this pandemic?We have been isolated from our church, our families and our normal routine.Some of us may feel as in the poem the Lotus Eaters which describes ‘one that hath a weary dream’.We are hoping to wake up and everything will be normal again. St. Rosalia can show us greatness in these times of isolation and social distancing.Enjoy the inspiration of St. Rosalia.

St. Rosalia of Palermo, Sicily was a descendant of Charlemagne.At a young age she experienced a profound conversion from the vanities of the world to God.Tradition tells us that she was led there, to that cave, by two angels and on the wall of which she inscribed the following:“I, Rosalia, daughter of Sinibaldi, Lord of Roses and Quisquina, have taken the resolution to live in this cave for the love of my Lord, Jesus Christ.”She remained in the cave entirely hidden from the world.She embraced isolation and self-imposed social distancing- does this sound familiar?

She practiced great mortification and lived in constant communion with God.Eventually, she left and relocated to Mount Pellegrino, about three miles from Palermo, her move was intended to ‘triumph entirely over the instincts of flesh and blood’, in the sight of her paternal home.She died alone, in 1160, an end to a strange and wonderful life and unknown to the world.Several centuries later, in 1625, her body was discovered during the pontificate of Pope Urban VIII.

One year earlier in 1624, a plague beset Palermo.During this time Saint Rosalia appeared first to a sick woman, and a hunter, to whom she indicated where her remains were to be found.She ordered this hunter to bring her bones to Palermo and have them carried in procession throughout the city.The hunter climbed the mountain as asked and brought her bones out of the cave.Her remains were carried around the city three times, as she had requested during the apparition, and the plague ceased.Saint Rosalia was venerated as Palermo’s patron saint and her sanctuary was built in the cave where her remains were discovered.

In this time of isolation can we carve out additional time to exercise perseverance and triumph over our own flesh and blood?During this time can we draw on our faith and ‘carry her bones’ to ask God for protection during this pandemic?Is it possible to shed some of the vanities of this world now and when this pandemic ends and offer it up to our crucified Lord Jesus Christ?

St. Rosalia was not the first saint to isolate herself from the world.Many saints knew the necessity of distance from the temptations of the world.It is not possible for us to completely isolate ourselves and live in a cave as a hermit, yet, perhaps spiritually we can isolate our vices and temptations and live the great faith of St. Rosalia, especially if they are short quiet times with the Lord or in the Blessed Sacrament.

The isolation and distancing from a secular world can only draw us nearer to Christ and make our hearts receptive to the graces he offers.We can at once be strengthened in our faith, nor be crippled by fear and extoll the courage of the hunter who paraded her bones that ended the plague.

St. Rosalia’s actions brought her closer to God and her story has not lost its efficacy today.We can grow in love to Christ by her example.Let us pray to St. Rosalia to intercede for us for strength and faith in the chaos and the silence.May we mirror St. Rosalia and her great desire to be in communion with Christ.

St. Rosalia pray for us!