Year: 1871

In the May number Of the Catholic World


there is told a sample legend of Italian tradition


which Is briefly as follows:


lscha. like all Italian localities has its patron


saint; they call her Santa Restuuta.


When persecution was raging in Egypt. in the


third century, says the simple legend, the body
of young maiden, with a milestone tied round


her neck, foated across the sea- aud rested in a
creek on the south side of the Island. The
creek is called after the martyr to this day. and
above it are rocks whose black mass literally
overhangs and roofs in part Of the bay. just
where her body rested, in sandy, barren place,
lilies grew up, and continued to bloom they are
there now and are very peculiar as well as very
lovely, sort Of cross between the Ills and the
iris. with delicately pointed petals, FIVE in num-
ber, and tall, smooth stem with very little
verdure. Not only do these flowers grow no.
where else in the Island or out of it. but they
will not even grow in land of their own sandy
soil if transplanted with quantity of it slse-
where. The milestone that was around the
saints neck is said to be imbedded in a wall in
the neighborhood of her church there is such
stone whether the same or not no one can tell.
Later on, a church was erected over the remains
Of the martyr and she was chosen patroness Of
the Island. A very curious Byzantine figure,
gilt all over, and very nearly liie-sze, was made
Of wood, and placed over the altar In one hand,
she was pictured as holding book Of the Cos
pels, and, III the other a full-rgged vessel
When the south of Italy was invaded by Saracen
hordes, Ischia did not escape pillage, and, Of
course, Judging the most precious things to be in
the church, as they always were in Catholic
times, the marauders rushed to Santa Restitutas
shrine, and attempted to carry off the golden
statue, as they believed it to be- The statue,
naturally was a movable one, aud used to be
carried in procession on certain stated occasions.
But now it remained rooted to the spot, and no
effort Of the stalwart in6dels could move it a
hairs breadth from its pedestal. In rage aud dis
appointment. one Of them struck at it savagely
with his scimetar, and a mark upon its knee
still attests this outrage. The sacriege was
promptly punished. for the men themselves now
found they were unable to move. and remained
invisibly chained at the foot Of the miraculous
image. If they were released, the legend does
not say; let Us hope that they were freed by
faith, and that conversion followed this strange
sign. The statue remained immovaDle ever since,
and another image had to be carried in process
sion, with the addition Of the miraculously-
riveted Saracens, in a small painted group on the
same stand as the figure itself Whether the
legend be absolutely true, or only partly so,
whether fact and figure be mixed together, and
things spiritual be typfed under tangible forms,
it is not for to decide, but the simple faith Of
the happy islanders is certainly to be admired,
and even to be envied. They have rejoicings,
fireworks, PROFESSIONS songs, and services, and a
military parade of what National Guards they
can muster to celebrate their Saints anniversary;
they are proud Of her, and point out her statue,
and tell her history to strangers with the same
enthusiasm with which soldiers speak Of iavodte
General