Lovely glass chaplet of St Roche, Patron of Plague Epidemic and Illness.
A 7 minute chaplet is just that, a devotional prayer which takes about 7 minutes to say, comprised of a prayer to the Saint, with your petitions, followed by 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Mary's and 3 Glory Be's.
Fine beads made in the Czech Republic
- The patron of Dogs, Plague, Pestilence and AIDS
- Born in 1295 at Montpelier, France
- Memorial Day / Feast Day: August 16th
- Date of Death: Saint Roch died in A.D. 1327
- Cause of Death: Died in Prison
Who or what is Saint Roch the patron saint of?
Saint Roch is the patron of Dogs, Plague and Pestilence. Meanings, definition and origins - a patron is considered to be a defender of a specific group of people or of a nation. There is a patron for virtually every cause, profession or special interest. Prayers are considered more likely to be answered by asking a patron for intercession on their behalf
The Story and History of Saint Roch
The story and history of Saint Roch. Saint Roch was born in 1295 at Montpelier, France into a wealthy and noble family. At the age of twenty he gave away his considerable fortune to become a pilgrim. Saint Roch devoted his whole life to the service of those who fell victims to the plague; consequently his intercession is invoked by the pious in times of pestilence. St. Roch was himself stricken down in the desert by the plague, and in that dread situation, though cut off from all human kind, was miraculously fed every day by a dog bringing him a loaf of bread. Roch travelled for many years but eventually he returned to Montpellier where he was arrested and imprisoned for being a spy. He lived in the prison for five years until his death in 1327. When the plague was devastating the city of Constance, in the year 1414, a young monk who had travelled much in France, reminded the council convened there at the time to put down the heresy of John Huss and his followers, of the saint through whose intercession many persons had been saved from the plague. Accordingly the council caused an effigy of St. Roch to be borne in solemn procession through the city, and the pestilence was stayed.
Death of Saint Roch
There are two categories of saints: martyrs and confessors. A Christian martyr is regarded as one who is put to death for his Christian faith or convictions. Confessors are people who died natural deaths. Date of Death: Saint Roch died in A.D. 1327. Cause of Death: Died in Prison.
Why is Saint Roch the patron of Dogs, Plague and Pestilence?
Why is Saint Roch is the patron of Dogs, Plague and Pestilence? Because he devoted his life to the tending victims to the plague. His association with dogs is due to the legend that whilst in the desert he was miraculously fed every day by a dog bringing him a loaf of bread.
How Saint Roch is represented in Christian Art
It is helpful to be able to recognise Saint Roch in paintings, stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, architecture and other forms of Christian art. The artistic representations reflect the life or death of saints, or an aspect of life with which the person is most closely associated. Saint Roch is represented in Christian Art with a dog beside him; also why he raises his pilgrim's habit on one side, for the plague spot is distinctly seen on his thigh.
Feast Day of Saint Roch
The Feast Day of Saint Roch is August 16th. The origin of Feast Days: most saints have specially designated feast days and are associated with a specific day of the year and these are referred to as the saint's feast day. The feast days first arose from the very early Christian custom of the annual commemoration of martyrs on the dates of their deaths at the same time celebrating their birth into heaven.