I have only one item that belonged to my grandmother. Since it is all I have of hers, it is extremely precious to me. It was sent to me by my cousin. Her dad was the oldest child and seems to have inherited whatever few possessions exist. I am so grateful for this link to my grandmother, but when it first arrived, it was a bit of a mystery. It was a piece of cloth with the images of three men:

It’s clear, by the halos, that these were saints. The only word I could make out was the one beneath the middle person: S Alfio. That was my great grandfather’s name, my grandmother’s father. I am guessing this embroidered fabric is similar to the holy cards I own with images of saints. I was determined to discover who these saints were.

Thankfully we live in an era where information can be found simply by typing in a few phrases. I discovered Alfio, Filadelfo, and Cirino, were brothers born in third-century Italy. Devout Christians, they faced persecution under Emperor Decius around 250 AD. Arrested in Rome, they endured a grueling journey to Lentini, Sicily, stopping in Trecastagni in 252. Despite torture, they refused to renounce their faith. On May 10, 253, Alfio, 22, Filadelfo, 21, and Cirino, 19, were martyred in brutal ways. Their steadfastness sparked devotion, especially for Alfio, with miracles attributed to them. In Trecastagni, on May 10, a vibrant festival, dating to the 1500s, honors them.

Given its unique style and Pedara’s proximity to Trecastagni, I believe this came from my grandmother’s hometown. I knew I had to weave this keepsake into the story so I imagined how she came to own this. It makes an appearance in the first chapter and in chapter twelve. I hope this glimpse into the history of this image deepens your connection to my book.