SAINT ROCH / SAN ROQUE / SAINT ROCCO
SAINT ROCH
During this time of coronavirus pandemic, we may wish to invoke the intercession of St Roch. Who was he? It is believed that St Roch lived during the period of 1348-1378. His feast day is August 16.
For many centuries, St. Roch has been considered the protector against plague and pestilence. While little is known of his actual life, according to legend, he was born to a noble family in Montpelier, France. At the age of twenty, when his parents died, he gave up his fortune and took up the life of a mendicant pilgrim. While on a journey to Rome, he encountered a number of plague-stricken cities. There he courageously nursed the sick and effected many cures supposedly by making the sign of the cross.
Eventually, Roch himself was also struck by the plague. Some say that he was driven out of the city because of the plague. However, it is believed that in order to not seek help in a hospital, he dragged himself into the woods to die. There he was discovered by a dog who brought him food and cured him by licking his wounds. Upon recovering, he resumed his ministry, caring for the sick and curing many people, along with their livestock. Eventually, he returned to Montpelier, where he died.
St Roch is often depicted in the company of a dog. At the church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, one of the statues is indeed of St. Roch with his dog.
“O blessed St Roch,
Patron against plagues and of the sick,
Have pity on those who lie upon a bed of suffering.
Have pity on those who lie upon a bed of suffering.
Your power was so great when you were in this world.
By the sign of the Cross, many were healed of their diseases.
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.”
Offer, then, to God our sighs and tears
And obtain for us that health we seek,
Through Christ our Lord.”
Amen.
Reference to Robert Ellsberg, Blessed Among Us, Liturgical Press, 2016
SAN ROQUE
Durante este tiempo de pandemia del coronavirus, es posible que deseemos invocar la intercesión de San Roque. ¿Quien era él? Se cree que San Roque vivió durante el período de 1348-1378. Su fiesta es el 16 de agosto.
Durante muchos siglos, San Roque ha sido considerado el protector contra la plaga y la peste. Si bien se sabe poco de su vida real, según la leyenda, nació en una familia noble en Montpelier, Francia. A la edad de veinte años, cuando sus padres murieron, renunció a su fortuna y tomó la vida de un peregrino mendigo. Durante un viaje a Roma, se encontró con varias ciudades afectadas por la peste. Allí cuidó valientemente a los enfermos y supuestamente realizó muchas curas haciendo la señal de la cruz.
Finalmente, el mismo Roque también fue golpeado por la plaga. Algunos dicen que fue expulsado de la ciudad debido a la plaga. Sin embargo, se cree que para no buscar ayuda en un hospital, se arrastró al bosque para morir. Allí fue descubierto por un perro que le trajo comida y lo curó lamiendo sus heridas. Al recuperarse, reanudó su ministerio, cuidando a los enfermos y curando a muchas personas, junto con su ganado. Finalmente, regresó a Montpelier, donde murió.
St Roque a menudo se representa en compañía de un perro. En la iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Monte Carmelo, una de las estatuas es de San Roque con su perro.
"Oh bendito San Roque,
Patrón contra las plagas y los enfermos,
Ten piedad de los que yacen sobre una cama sufriendo.
Tu poder era tan grande cuando estabas en este mundo.
Por la señal de la Cruz, muchos fueron sanados de sus enfermedades.
Ahora que estás en el cielo, tu poder no es menor.
Ofrece, pues, a Dios nuestros suspiros y lágrimas.
Y obtener para nosotros esa salud que buscamos,
Por Cristo nuestro Señor".
Amén.