August 16 - San Roque de Montpellier Saint Roch (Latin: Rochus; Italian: Rocco; French: Roch; Spanish and Portuguese: Roque; c. 1295 – 16 August 1327) was a Christian Saint, a confessor whose death is commemorated on 16 August; he is specially invoked against the plague. -FRANCISCAN TERTIARY 1295 - Born at Montpellier France 1327 – Died John - His father, governor of that city Libera- His mother, -His made her prayers to our Blessed Lady, praying devoutly for to have a child, and was in very contemplation, in which she heard the voice of an angel saying: “O Libera, God hath heard thy prayer, and thou shalt receive of him grace of thy petition” Our lady of the Table- the Title of the Blessed Mother, where San Roque’s parent made devotion. -At his birth St. Roch is said to have been found miraculously marked on the breast with a red cross - His devout mother fasted twice in the week, and the blessed child Rocke abstained him twice also, -When he came to five years of age, he disposed him to the works of penance - And in the twelfth year of his age he fasted many and divers fastings for Christs love - When he was 17 years old, Pope Urban V visited his home town. At that time Rocco has decided to make a pilgrimage to Rome - In that time the father of S. Rocke was sick and saw his last end approach, and called to him his son Rocke, and said: O mine only son Rocke, thou seest well that I shall shortly finish my life; alway the will of God be fulfilled, and four things, with my lordship and heritage, I leave to thee, and command thee to accomplish. First, like as thou hast begun that thou serve busily God. Secondly, that thou remember poor people, widows and orphans. Thirdly, I constitute and ordain thee governor and dispenser of all my treasures, that thou dispend them in charitable and meek works. And fourthly that, with all diligence thou haunt and frequent the hospitals of sick and poor men. These foresaid things Rocke promised to his father to fulfil them to his power. - Twentieth year of his age he buried also his devout mother - Deprived of his parents when about twenty years old, he distributed his fortune among the poor, handed over to his uncle the government of Montpellier, and in the disguise of a mendicant pilgrim, set out for Italy, but stopped at Aquapendente. - He clad himself with the habit of a pilgrim, and covered his head with a bonnet, a scrip on his shoulder, and a pilgrims staff in his right hand, and so departed. Aquapendente - which was stricken by the plague, and devoted himself to the plague-stricken, curing them with the sign of the cross. St. John Hospital at Water-hanging – The name of the Hospital in the Aquqpendente. Vincent- had the rule of the hospital Water-hanging. “I see,” said Vincent, “that your charity and faith are not of a common kind, but your youth and delicate health will never endure the hard work and deadly sickness of this house.” “Why,” said St. Roch, “is it not mentioned in Holy Scriptures that with God nothing is impossible? Is it not written that we must practice charity if we wish to stand on the day of the last judgment?” Angleria - a cardinal of province of Lombardy - He blessed Rocke came into this cardinals place - a bright ray and heavenly, shining out of the forehead of Rocke -And after three years the cardinal, being old, died, and Rocke forsook Rome and came to the town of Armine. - And when that town was delivered, he went to the city of Manasem in Lombardy. -Cesena - He next visited, and other neighbouring cities and then Rome. - He visited Mantua, Modena, Parma, and other cities with the same results. -And from thence went to Piacenza, for he understood that there was great pestilence. - And when he had been long in the hospital of Piacenza, and had helped almost all the sick men therein, about midnight he heard in his sleep an angel thus saying: “O Rocke, most devout to Christ, awake and know that thou art smitten with the pestilence, study now how thou may’st be cured” -One night, when he was quite worn out with fatigue and want of sleep, he threw himself on a pallet to take a little rest, and he heard the voice of Jesus say to him: “Roch, My son, you have borne many fatigues for My sake, journeys, cold, hunger, work of all kinds, now for love of Me, you must also suffer great pains in your body.” -God also struck him with the plague. Then, raising his eyes to Heaven, St. Roch cried out: “Oh, sweetest Jesus! I thank Thee for having vouchsafed to remember Thy servant. I offer Thee this pain and I am thankful for it as a gift from Thy hand. It is thus that Thou dost visit a wretched and sinful creature. This visit is sweet and dear to my soul. Coming from Thee, death is a gain to me.” -he felt him sore taken with the pestilence under his both arms -taking the place of those he had cured, and being disturbed by the groans and cries of the servant of God, they grumbled, and complained, and begged him to stop his shrieking and to bear his sufferings with patience as others did. -The passers-by, seeing him in this state, complained to the superintendent of the hospital saying, “Why did you put this poor sick man out of the hospital. Can’t you see he is not well? Please, please, take him back to the hospital and take care of him until he is in good health.” The superintendent stared in surprise, “But I did not put this good man out on the street. He left on his own out of charity, because he was crying out so often from his pains!” -The pilgrim was smitten with the pestilence as ye see, and unwitting to us he went out. Then the citizens incontinent put out S. Rocke from the city and suburbs, lest by him the city might be the more infected. Piacenza - he himself was stricken with the plague. -He withdrew to a hut in the neighbouring forest, -He went into a certain wood, a desert valley not far from Piacenza Cornelian tree- Tree where S. Roque remain. -With great difficulty St. Roch reached the neighboring forest. There he fell down, worn out with fatigue, at the foot of a Cornelian tree. He rested for some time; then noticing a small ruined hut, he entered it and said to our Lord: “Oh, God! I know how dear I am to Thy majesty, as Thou hast willed to make me have these terrible pains, which I so much deserve. I have not treated the sick with all the charity, which Thy love deserved from me. Have pity on my weakness, and do not forsake me. Oh, most good Lord, do not leave me to perish alone among wild beasts.” -And there as he might he made him a lodge of boughs and leaves, always giving thankings to our Lord, saying: “O Jesus, my Saviour, I thank thee that thou puttest me to affliction like to thine other servants, by this odious ardour of pestilence, and most meek Lord, I beseech thee to this desert place, give the refrigery and comfort of thy grace”. - A gentle rain began to fall near the door of the hut and formed a little stream. St. Roch, who was very thirsty, had a good drink from the stream. He washed his wounds and soothed for a time his terrible pains. - Just as God took great care of the Prophet Elias, and of St. Paul in the desert, by making a crow carry bread to them every day, He caused another animal to bring bread to St. Roch. Gothard - supplied San Roque need -The owner of the Dog -One day when Gothard was eating, one of these dogs carried off the bread he had in his hand. The gentleman was amused at the animal’s action, thinking either the dog was very hungry or playing a trick on him. The dog disappeared rapidly, carrying off the bread in his mouth -The next day and the day after the same thing took place. Very much astonished, Gothard finally decided to follow the animal. - God, made his way to the forest, entered the hut, and put down the bread at the feet of St. Roch, who, in exchange, gave the dog his blessing. - Gotherd saw poor St. Roch lying on a bed of leaves, unable to move San Roque said to Gothard, “Friend, go from me in good peace, for the most violent pestilence holdeth me”. Gazing at the poor sick man he pleaded, “Please let me look after you and care for you until you are in good health again.” Then Gothard left him. - After wards Gothard said to himself,,, “This poor man whom I have left in the wood and desert, certainly is the man of God, sith this hound without reason bringeth to him bread. I therefore, that have seen him do it, so ought sooner to do it, which am a Christian man.” - Gotard returned to Rocke and said: “Holy pilgrim, I desire to do to thee that thou needest, and am advised never to leave thee.” - S. Rocke exhorted to Gotard, saying: “In the sweat of thy visage thou shalt eat thy bread, and that he should return to the town, and leave all his goods to his heirs, and follow the way of Christ and demand bread in the name of Jesus.” - Saint Roch humbly replied, “Thank you dear friend. You are a kind man and I believe you have been sent by the good God.” From then on the two pious men lived together. They encouraged one another by holy conversations, by saying many prayers and by doing much penance. - Gotard asked counsel how he might have bread, for more and more he hungered and asked remedy of S. Rocke. S. Rocke exhorted him after the text, saying: In the sweat of thy visage thou shalt eat thy bread, and that he should return to the town, and leave all his goods to his heirs, and follow the way of Christ and demand bread in the name of Jesu. Then Gotard was ashamed to do so where he was known, but at the last by the busy admonition of S. Rocke, Gotard went to Piacenza, whereas he had great knowledge, and begged bread and alms at the door of one of his gossips. That same gossip threatened sharply Gotard, and said he shamed his lineage and friends by this foul and indecent begging, and put him away, being wroth and scorning him. For which cause Gotard was constrained to beg busily at the doors of other men of the city. And the same day the gossip that so had said to Gotard was taken sore with the pestilence, and many others that denied alms to Gotard. And then anon the city of Piacenza was infect with contagious pestilence, and Gotard returned to the wood and told to S. Rocke all that was happed. - And a little while after Gotard, and his fellows, for certain necessities and errands, returned into Piacenza and left that time S. Rocke alone in the valley. And S. Rocke made his prayers to Almighty God that he might be delivered from the wounds of pestilence, and in this prayer he fell asleep -The angel said to S. Roque while he is sleepin, and was heard by Gotardo “O Rocke, friend of God, our Lord hath heard thy prayers, lo, thou art delivered from the pestilence, and art made all whole, and our Lord commandeth that thou take the way toward thy country” -With this sudden voice Gotard was astonished which never tofore knew the name of Rocke. (He was astonished because he didn’t know that the person he seen in the forest is the son of the governor, so S. Roque told Gothard that he keep this revelation secret, for he desired no worldly glory.”) -Then after a few days S. Rocke with Gotard and his fellows abode in the desert, and informed them all in godly works, and they then began to wax holy, wherein he exhorted them and confirmed, and left them in that desert valley. - Gothard was troubled when he heard that his friend would soon be leaving him. But St. Roch consoled him and told him that it was the Holy Will of God. He then encouraged him to persevere until death in the life of prayer and penance, which he had chosen. The good saint also gave him some good advice on how to sanctify himself, when he was living alone. Thereupon the two friends parted for a time, to meet again in Heaven. - Gothard lived a holy life in his hermitage, and after his death his fellow-citizens held him in blessed memory. A picture of him, with that of St. Roch, can still be seen in Piacenza, in the church of St. Ann. - After his recovery Roch returned to France. - Faithful to the commands of Heaven, St. Roch returned to Montpellier. He had to pass through one more trial before being called to his Heavenly reward. War was then destroying the south of France. The holy saint was so worn out with his penances and sufferings, that when he arrived in his native town, no one knew who he was. People thought that he was a spy, disguised as a pilgrim. - And S. Rocke, as a pilgrim doing penance, entended, burning in the love of God, toward his country and came to a province of Lombardy called Angleria, and applied him toward Almaine, where the lord of his province made war with his enemy, whose knights took S. Rocke as a spy, and delivered him to their lord as a traitor. -Arriving at Montpellier and refusing to disclose his identity, he was taken for a spy in the disguise of a pilgrim, and cast into prison by order of the governor, -- his own uncle, some writers say, - The police immediately arrested him! They questioned him, “What is your name?”… “What is your family background?”… “Which country do you come from?”… “Why did you come to this town?”… St. Roch quietly answered each question, “I am a pilgrim and servant of Jesus Christ,” but he continued to remain silent about his name, his family, and his country. He wanted to suffer in silence, like Jesus did. Because of his silence, the judges believed that he was truly guilty. The Governor then commanded, “Throw this man into prison. He will not answer our questions, therefore he is guilty!” -- where five years later he died. The miraculous cross on his breast as well as a document found in his possession now served for his identification. He was accordingly given a public funeral, and numerous miracles attested his sanctity. -A great light and shining in the prison, and S. Rocke kneeling on his knees praying, which all these things he told to his lord. And the fame hereof ran all about the city, so that many of the citizens ran to the prison because of the novelty of this thing -And when he had confessed him to the priest and devoutly taken his blessing, he prayed him that he might abide alone three days next following for to be in his contemplation, by which he might the better have mind of the most holy passion of our Lord. -And so it was granted to S. Rocke to abide there alone three days. And in the end of the third day the angel of God came to S. Rocke, saying thus: “O Rocke, God sendeth me for thy soul, of whom in this last part of thy life that what thou now desirest thou shouldest now ask and demand”. Shortly after, the Saint slept and saw in a dream, a heavenly messenger who said to him: “Roch, the time has come for you to receive the reward of your labours and sufferings, and for your soul to repose in Heaven. God is pleased with you! If you wish to obtain some grace for mankind, ask it from Almighty God before you die and your desire shall be granted.” St. Roch awoke; his soul was bathed in holy joy. Always forgetful of himself, and solely occupied with the interests of others, he addressed this prayer to God: “I humbly beseech Thee, O Lord, that whosoever is attacked by the plague, or is in danger of being attacked thereby, shall implore my protection with faith, may be delivered from the sickness, or be preserved from this scourge. I ask for this grace, not because of my own merits, but in the name of Thy great mercy and goodness which is infinite.” Last prayer of S. Roque,- Then S. Rocke prayed unto Almighty God with his most devout prayer, that all good christian men which reverently prayed in the name of Jesus to the blessed Rocke might be delivered surely from the stroke of pestilence. And this prayer so made, he expired and gave up the ghost. -An angel brought from heaven a table divinely written with letters of gold into the prison, which he laid under the head of S. Rocke. And in that table was written that God had granted to him his prayer, that is to wit, “that who that calleth meekly to S. Rocke he shall not be hurt with any hurt of pestilence.” - he died, while looking up to Heaven and pressing his crucifix to his heart. He is believed to have been thirty-two years of age. -And there was at his head a great taper burning, and another at his feet, by which tapers all his body was light. - As soon as St. Roch died, many miracles took place. The prison again shone with a Heavenly light and angels sang beautiful songs. His body gave off a beautiful sweet smelling perfume, and was surrounded with glorious rays of light. By his side was found a tablet on which an angel had written in letters of gold, the name of Roch, with these words: “I announce protection and deliverance to all those who, being endangered by the plague, even of the most terrible kind, shall have recourse to my intercession.” The Catholic Church has added this sweet and wonderful promise to the liturgical prayer of St. Roch. - When the Governor (HIS UNLCE) was informed of the death of this unknown man, he was angry with himself for having taken so long to help the poor man. He wished to find out the full truth about the reported miracles, so he went to the prison himself. As soon as he passed through the prison door he was struck by the glorious light, which surrounded the holy man. - He then looked at the Heavenly Tablet and saw the name; it was that of his nephew! 1414,- during the Council of Constance, the plague having broken out in that city, the Fathers of the Council ordered public prayers and processions in honor of the saint, and immediately the plague ceased. - The relics of St. Roch were partly taken to Arles in 1399, and partly to Venice, in 1485. Many Popes have approved devotion to St. Roch. Pope Urban VIII permitted his Feast Day to be celebrated on August 16th - His relics, according to Wadding, were carried furtively to Venice in 1485 -His body is enclosed into a glass tomb in the church of San Rocco in Venice, Italy. -He is commonly held that he belonged to the Third Order of St. Francis; but it cannot be proved. - Urban VIII approved the ecclesiastical office to be recited on his feast (16 August). -Paul III instituted a confraternity, under the invocation of the saint, to have charge of the church and hospital erected during the pontificate of Alexander VI. -Paul IV raised it to an archconfraternity It was given a cardinal-protector, and a prelate of high rank was to be its immediate superior (see Reg. et Const. Societatis S. Rochi). Various favours have been bestowed on it by Pius IV (C. Regimini, 7 March, 1561), by Gregory XIII (C. dated 5 January, 1577), by Gregory XIV (C. Paternar. pont., 7 March, 1591), and by other pontiffs. It still flourishes. - In 1629 his cult was approved -His cult spread through Spain, France, Belgium, Italy and Germany, when he was often interpolated into the roster of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, whose veneration spread in the wake of the Black Death. The magnificent 16th-century Scuola Grande di San Rocco and the adjacent church were dedicated to him by a confraternity at Venice, where his body was said to have been surreptitiously translated; the Scuola Grande is famous for its sequence of paintings by Tintoretto, who painted St Roch in glory on a ceiling canvas (1564). -Numerous brotherhoods have been instituted in his honour. He is usually represented in the garb of a pilgrim, with a wound in his thigh, accompanied by a dog carrying a loaf in its mouth -Green Penitents Including the confraternities of St. Rocco and St. Martin at Ripetto, the care of the sick. There are many other confraternities which cannot be comprised within any of these groups, because of the combination of colours in their habits. The various confraternities were well represented in France from the thirteenth century on, reaching, perhaps, their most flourishing condition in the sixteenth century. -The statue of Saint Rocco is considered unique among theologians because of his pose. It is most unusual because it depicts him pointing to an open sore on his left leg. May St. Roch intercede for us at the throne of God that we may also walk faithfully in the footsteps of St. Francis! May he obtain for us the grace to be perfectly resigned to God’s Most Holy Will in all our sorrows. Then our crosses and sorrows will become for us a ladder, which leads to Heaven. But most of all may he preserve us from the plague of both body and soul. St. Roch, Pray for Us!
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 23:22:32 +0000
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