It all started with a dream. On her deathbed on May 26, 1624, Girolama Gatto dreamed of a maiden dressed in white who promised her healing if she would climb Mount Pellegrino to give thanks. Girolama honored the promise and climbed the mountain, but her fever returned.

She drank the water dripping from a cave on the mountain, fell into a deep sleep, and dreamed again of the maiden, who revealed to her the location of her relics. In the dream, Girolama recognized the maiden as Rosalia, and after awakening, her strength returned and she was healed.