Trudie
Guest
|
 Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject: August 16th - St. Roch of Montpellier |
 |
|
August 16th - St. Roch of Montpellier
(also known as (Rock, Roche, Rocco, Rochus, Rollox, Roque, Rollock, Seemirookie)
1295-1378
Roch was the only son of a wealthy nobleman in France, who seems to have been
governor of the town of Montpellier. In answer to the persevering prayers of the
parents, this child was granted to them. His future career was indicated by a
birthmark in the form of a red cross that was deeply marked on his breast.
The parents raised their boy in a devout manner. Proof was given when, at the
age of 20, he lost both parents. He did not use the immense fortune he inherited
for his personal benefit, but he sold all the personal property and distributed
the proceeds among the poor while he transferred the ownership of the real
estate to his uncle. This done, he joined the Third Order of St. Francis, put on
a pilgrim's garb, and journeyed to Rome to visit the tombs of the Apostles.
When he arrived at Acquapendente in northern Italy about the year 1315, he found
that an epidemic had broken out there and was making fearful ravages. Roch did
not hasten on, as many another person, fearful for his life, would have done,
but according to the example of Christ and the admonition of the beloved
disciple (1 John 3:16), he offered his life in the service of his brethren in
Christ. He went to the hospital of St. John, which was filled with the plague
stricken, and offered his services to the brothers there. He also went to
individual homes and sought out the sick, serving them without rest by day and
by night. God rewarded his heroic charity by causing many to be cured at the
mere Sign of the Cross which Roch made over them. When the plague abated, Roch
proceeded on his journey to Rome.
But there, too, an epidemic had broken out. Besides visiting the holy places,
Roch again devoted himself to the care of the sick, many of whom were
miraculously cured by him. He performed the same services in many other towns of
Italy until he arrived in Piacenza and was himself stricken with the dread
disease. In the very hospital where he had cured so many sick, he was now looked
upon as an intruder, who as an outsider had no right to claim a place there. In
order not to be a burden to others, he arose, left the house, and with the
support of a staff dragged himself wearily to a neighborhood woods. There he
came upon a dilapidated hut with a bit of straw, where he lay down, thanking God
for the quiet lodging.
God also provided for his nourishment. As He once took care of Elias, sending
him bread by means of a raven, so He now sent bread to Roch by means of a dog
from a neighboring country house. The sick man gradually recovered. When he had
regained sufficient strength, he was divinely inspired to return to his native
town.
There furious warfare was raging. The soldiers whom he encountered thought he
was a spy. He was led before the governor of Montpellier, his own uncle, who,
however, did not recognize his nephew in the emaciated prisoner, and had the
supposed spy cast into prison. Roch did not say a word in his defense; he
wished, like Christ, to accept in silence whatever heaven had ordained for him.
Because of the disturbances of the war, he was almost completely forgotten, and
languished in prison for 5 years. Then death put an end to his trials on August
16, 1378.
When he felt that his end was drawing near, he asked that a priest might come
and administer the last sacraments. The priest, on entering the prison, beheld
it supernaturally lighted up and the poor captive surrounded with special
radiance. As death claimed its victim, a tablet appeared on the wall on which an
angelic hand wrote in golden letters the name of Roch, and the prediction that
all who would invoke his intercession would be delivered from the plague.
Informed of all that took place, Roch's uncle came to the prison and, shortly
after, also the governor's mother, that is, Roch's grandmother. She identified
the dead man as her grandson by the birthmark of the red cross on his breast.
They gave him a magnificent funeral and had a church built in his honor, in
which his body was entombed. His veneration was approved by several popes and
soon spread throughout Europe. He was canonized by Pope Urban VIII. He is the
patron against contagious diseases.
ST. ROCH, PATRON AGAINST CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
1. The prediction that St. Roch would be a special patron against contagious
diseases has been so remarkably verified that he is invoked by all Christian
peoples in such sad times. In 1415, when a general council was held in
Constance, an epidemic broke out. A great procession was inaugurated in honor of
St. Roch to invoke his intercession, and immediately the epidemic was checked.
We read in the annals of the Franciscan Order that many convents were preserved
from contagious disease due to the devotion they tendered the saint, and for
this reason prayers are offered daily in the convents of the order to obtain his
protection. -- Could you not say a prayer each day in honor of St. Roch, so that
he will protect you and your house from contagious disease?
2. It was not granted to St. Roch to be preserved from the dread disease, but
his patience and resignation to God's will greatly increased his heavenly
merits. It may please God also to permit such an evil to befall us and our
associates, for many a person to whom it might not otherwise be granted, is thus
led back to God, has a good death, and attains eternal blessedness. Our good
Lord afflicts the body with sickness in order to save the soul. When sickness
attacks a community, pray fervently to St. Roch that through his intercession
the souls of men may be benefited by it.
3. Consider that certain diseases of the soul are communicable and spread like
contagion. They are much worse than the plagues which attack the body. Such
diseases are the various vices: impurity, intemperance, inordinate love of
pleasure. Roch fled the dangerous occasions of these vices with so much zeal
that he relinquished his wealth and prominent position that, in the guise of a
poor pilgrim and servant of the sick, he might preserve his soul from sin. --
Think frequently of the example he has given, and invoke his intercession for
yourself and yours against contagion of the body and of the soul.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
O God, who did grant to St. Roch the promise, which an angel recorded on a
tablet, not to permit anyone who sought his intercession to be afflicted with a
contagious disease; grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who celebrate his memory,
may be preserved from every contagion of soul and body. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
This version taken from:
http://www.paxetbonum.net/saints/
Saint Quote:
In detachment, the spirit finds quiet and repose for coveting nothing. Nothing
wearies it by elation, and nothing oppresses it by dejection, because it stands
in the center of its own humility.
-St. John of the Cross
Bible Quote:
Not for the world do I pray, but for those whom Thou, Father, hast given Me,
because they are Thine. St. John 17:9
<><><><>
Hear us (Exaudi nos)
Hear us, Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God; and
graciously send your holy angel from
heaven to watch over, to cherish, to
protect, to abide with, and to defend all
who dwell in this house. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen. |
|
