Delia was among the very first Sicilian communities to welcome the Saint as its Patroness—an act of devotion promoted and supported by the ruling feudal family, the Lucchese-Spatafora.
The Marquis of Delia, Don Giuseppe Lucchese, formally obtained a precious bone fragment of the Saint (the relic) directly from Cardinal Doria as early as April 10, 1625. He was one of the eight nobles entrusted by the Palermo Senate with organizing the decorations and festivities for the first Festino di Santa Rosalia, and one of the six nobles honored to carry one of the canopy poles during the procession.
The actual transport of the relic to Delia was a crucial moment, made possible through the mediation of the Jesuit Fathers from the nearby estate of Cappellano, who were entrusted with the sacred task of bringing it to the town. The official authorization of the cult, as well as permission to celebrate the annual feast and procession, was granted by the Vicar General of the Diocese of Agrigento on August 18, 1625.
The Saint’s presence in the town is still evidenced by valuable sacred objects preserved in the Mother Church of Santa Maria di Loreto. The bone fragment is set in a sumptuous silver reliquary, a masterpiece of silversmithing commissioned in 1694 from Palermo artisans by Donna Vincenza Spatafora, wife of the founding Baron of Delia and mother of the Marquis Giuseppe. The commission was a votive act of gratitude to the Saint for sparing the local community from the devastating effects of the 1693 earthquake that struck eastern Sicily.
At the same time, the church’s main altar is adorned with a large 17th-century oil painting on canvas, attributed to Pietro D’Asaro of Racalmuto, also known as the One-Eyed Painter of Racalmuto. It depicts Saint Rosalia interceding to protect Delia. Local scholars believe that the landscape below the Saint is not merely allegorical but a true perspective view of the town as it appeared after its refoundation—offering a rare historical glimpse of the settlement. The altar dedicated to the Saint was first built inside the Mother Church during its reconstruction between 1712 and 1737. Originally located in the left arm of the transept, it was later moved in 1956 to the left nave, where it remains today.
This rich artistic and devotional heritage attests to the vitality of the cult, whose solemn festivities were still actively funded by the municipal treasury up to the mid-19th century.
However, with the collapse of the feudal system and the consequent loss of noble patronage, combined with a crisis in the local clergy, devotion to Saint Rosalia declined sharply. For a long period—lasting well into the 20th century—the popular fervor waned, and the invaluable reliquary was even entrusted to the private care of a faithful woman to ensure its safety and preservation. Fortunately, this historical bond was never completely broken. In recent years, there has been a marked revival of devotion, fueled by renewed interest in the community’s historical and spiritual roots. This resurgence has led to the relic’s return to the Mother Church and, above all, to the creation of the Saint Rosalia Committee of Delia, whose purpose is to promote the memory of the Patroness and restore the celebrations to the splendor worthy of her historical importance to the town.