St. Agrippina Feast - August 2006 - Boston

Saint Agrippina Di Mineo was a beautiful blond princess who was unmercifully tortured to death by the Emperor Valerian in 256 AD. After her death, her body was taken from Rome to Mineo, Sicily, by three holy women; Bassa, Paula and Agatonica.
The story of their journey is full of the miraculous. The fragrance that accompanied the body of St. Agrippina wherever it went, the veneration accorded her by the sailors and the farmers, the miraculous light weight of the reliquary so that the three young girls could carry it, the quickness of the voyage from Rome to Sicily, the miraculous cloud that covered the girls and transported them and the relics at certain times of danger in the journey, the angels that protected them from harm, the devils that were defeated and swept out at the sight of the sacred relics, and the miracle of Teogonia - these are all signs that it was the will of God that Agrippina should be the Saint of this blessed city of Mineo.
As the sacred tradition affirms, the relics of St. Agrippina arrived in Mineo on Wednesday, May 17, in the year 261. Her feast day is celebrated on the first weekend in August. Each year for the past 86 years, groups of devoted people come together in Boston's North End to renew their faith in Saint Agrippina, as was the custom in Mineo, Sicily. Each year everyone is invited to witness the respect and honor that is bestowed on this young, beautiful martyred Saint.

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No matter how much the North End changes, these festivals keep memories alive- history alive. Nothing will ever change that. Hardworking immigrants came to a new country & brought their treasured customs & traditions with them from Italy. Every year, each saint society took time out to celebrate together; with family, friends & neighbors. Their parents, grandparents &great grandparents are watching over it all & smiling. I think it's beautiful and I hope it goes on forever. Salute!