
Also
known as Rocco, Rochus ,Rock ,Rollox, Roque Memorial 16
August Profile French noble who early developed a
sympathy for the poor and sick; reported to have been born with the image of a
red cross on his breast. Orphaned at age 20, he gave his fortune to the poor,
and became a mendicant pilgrim; may have been a Franciscan tertiary. While on
pilgrimage Roch encountered an area afflicted with plague. He stayed to minister
to the sick, and affected several miraculous cures, usually by making the sign
of the cross over them, but contracted the plague himself. He walked into a forest
to die, but was befriended by a dog. The dog fed him with food stolen from his
master's table, and Roch eventually recovered. When Roch
returned to Montpellier, France, he was arrested for being a spy. He languished
in jail for five years, never mentioning his noble connections, cared for by an
angel until his death. Born 1295 at Montpelier, France Died
1327 at Montpelier or Angleria, France of natural causes relics in Venice and
Rome, Italy, and at Arles, France Patronage against
cholera, against epidemic,s against knee problems, against plague, against skin
diseases, against skin rashes, bachelors diseased cattle, dogs, falsely accused
people, invalids, relief from pestilence, surgeons, tile makers Representation
angel, bread, dog, pilgrim with staff, often displaying a plague sore on his leg
,pilgrim with a dog, pilgrim with a dog licking the plague spot Back
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