16/08/2026
16 August | St. Roch (San Roque)
He was born in Montpelier, France, which is near Spain, and also not too far from the coast of Italy. He was the son of the governor of Montpelier. His mother was thought to be barren, so to many, his very birth was considered miraculous. Another miraculous sign of his birth was, he was born with a red cross on his chest. As he grew, the cross grew also. He was a spiritual boy from an early age, due to the influence of his saintly mother. That influence was to stop when he was 20 years old, as both his parents died. On his deathbed, Rochโs father made him governor of Montpelier, a position which he did not want at all. He turned over the governorship to his uncle, gave away all his wealth, and left Montpelier, to journey as a mendicant pilgrim to Italy. Tradition tells us that he was inspired to become a pilgrim and help heal the sick by a visit to Montpelier from Pope Urban V.
He began his travels to areas which had been hit hardest by a plague. Wherever he went, healings took place. He traveled to Acquapendente, Cesena, Rimini and Novara, before he found his way to Rome. He most likely traveled by sea to Orbetello, then traveled inland to Acquapendente, which is near to Rome. But then weโre told his journey took him to the northeast, to Cesena, Rimini and Novara, on the Adriatic coast, before he went to Rome.
Miracles and healings followed him. Upon entering a town, he immediately went to the public hospitals in all these cities. The greatest amount of sick people would be centered in the hospitals. All whom he encountered and prayed over were amazed at the miracles which took place through his prayers. At times, he would just touch the sick person and a healing took place. People clamored after him. Wherever he went, sick people sought him out. Remember, this was at the heat of a severe plague. People were dying in the streets. A miracle worker like St. Roch was a Godsend. They considered him that. There is a tradition that while in Rome, St. Roch healed a cardinal from the plague by making the sign of the cross on his forehead. The mark miraculously remained on the head of the cardinal.
While he realized that the Lord had given him this great gift of healing, he never took himself seriously. He took what he did seriously. But he knew how the Lord was working through him. Finally, he himself fell victim to the plague. He was forced to leave Piacenza, where he was ministering to the sick, and go out deep into the forest. He did not want to come in contact with people, for fear they might catch his disease. It was extremely contagious. He put together a makeshift hut and lay down, praying and waiting for death. But the Lord was not finished with him yet. He sent a dog to bring bread. The dog licked his wounds. The healer, St. Roch, was healed by a dog. The dog belonged to a nobleman named Gothard. He followed the dog as he went to St. Roch to minister to him. Upon seeing St. Roch, he tended to his needs until he was nursed back to health. St. Roch believed the Lord was calling him back home. So he returned to Montpelier. An unfortunate incident occurred which cut short his life, but not his ministry. He was not recognized by his uncle, the governor, or perhaps the uncle feared Roch might want his position of governor back. Whatever the case, he was thrown in jail as a spy. He languished there for five years and died.
It would seem like a terrible ending, especially dying in anonymity and disgrace. However, an old tradition tells us: โanon an angel brought from heaven a table divinely written with letters of gold into the prison, which he laid under the head of St. Roch. And in that table was written that God had granted to him his prayer that is to wit, that who that calleth meekly to St. Roch, he shall not be hurt with any hurt of pestilence. โ In addition, townspeople recognized that it was him by his birthmark, the cross on his chest. In death, he achieved what he tried to avoid during his lifetime, recognition, and praise. He was immediately proclaimed a Saint by the people.
He is credited with more miracles in the years after his death, than in the 30 some odd years he lived on earth. The most spectacular and greatest number of miracles attributed to St. Roch took place in Constance, Italy during the Council, which took place in 1414, many years after his death. During the time of the Council, which was also the time of the plague, prayers to the Saint were ordered by the Council. Almost immediately, the plague ceased, and the plague victims were healed. His popularity grew, and spread all over Europe. Till today, you can find the initials VSR (Viva San Rocco) over doorways in Europe, as a prayer to ward off the plague. His relics were transferred to Venice where a church was built in his honor. He was named Patron of that city. Each year, on his feast, the Doge (Duke of Venice) would process through the city with the Saintโs relics. His relics are still in that church. A confraternity was formed in his name. It became so popular that it was raised to the level of Arch confraternity. It was given special favors by various popes over the years which are still in effect.
PRAYER
O Blessed Saint Roch, patron of the sick, have pity on those who lie upon a bed of suffering. Your power was so great when you were in this world, that by the Sign of the Cross, many were healed of their diseases. Now that you are in Heaven, your power is not less. Offer, then to God our sighs and tears and obtain for us that health we seek through Christ our Lord
Source: Catholic365
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