Pray to St. Roch Now!

Pray to St. Roch Now!

                                                                                                     Fourth Sunday of Lent 2020

“Christ Appointing Saint Roch as Patron Saint of Plague Victims,” circa 1623–1626, by Peter Paul Rubens.
Oil on Canvas. St. Martin’s Church in Aalst, Belgium. (Public Domain)     

     If my car’s engine doesn’t work right, I find a mechanic with a record of success.  If I’m worried about the coronavirus outbreak, I look not only for good doctors, but for saints who have shown that they are powerful against pandemics.

     Here’s the encouraging story of St. Roch:

     The Black Death, or the bubonic plague, terrorized Europeans because it was so contagious and deadly.  In only five years from its outbreak, it killed about one-third of Europe.  It returned repeatedly from the 1300s into the 1600s. 

     Roch was born in Montpelier, France, near the border with Italy.  His mother had been unable to conceive until she prayed to St. Mary, who granted her a son.  He came into the world with a reddish cross-shaped birthmark on his chest.  His father was a nobleman and the governor of Montpelier.  Both parents were devout, and their son became so.

     His parents died suddenly when Roch was 20, likely from the Black Death.  It threw the young man, who had been close to them, into a spiritual crisis.  We know little of the crisis, but we do know that Roch emerged from it with exceptional spiritual strength.  Wanting to spend his life helping those most afflicted by the pandemic, the youth gave away his fortune, left his family's home, and set out in the direction of Italy where the plague was worst.  He knew he was commissioned by God to fight the pestilence.

     As Roch traveled, he discovered that the pandemic would leave a town when he prayed and made the sign of the cross.  Already-stricken people were cured at the touch of his hand.

     After passing through many towns this way, and on his arrival in the town of Piacenza, his angel informed him that he too would now contract the Black Death.  When the symptoms appeared, the people, who before had sought him, now threw him out of town. 

     Roch went to a woods nearby.

     He got a high fever and became terribly weak.  He had the strength to construct only a primitive hut made from light branches and leaves.

     Yet he was happy.  His love of Jesus and Mary grew and grew.  He prayed constantly.  

At one point, when nearby water grew scarce, a new spring appeared miraculously.  The cool water soothed his fever.

     A dog that belonged to a nearby count found him and brought food each day.  It often licked his open sores, and that began his healing.  Finally the dog led its master to Roch, and in time Count Gothard became a disciple of Roch.

     Before the saint was completely well, he set out again, traveling from town to town to heal those struck by the pandemic.

     Since people recognized the symptoms and were afraid of him, he pleaded to God to heal him completely.  God did so.

     When Roch grew older, he returned to his hometown.  Montpelier was now at war with cities across the border in Italy.  Since no one recognized Roch after all these years, and because he was coming from Italy, they suspected him of spying for the enemy. 

     Because he was the son of a former governor of the city, Roch may have been able to clear himself.  But he chose not to reveal his identity, preferring the solitude of prison to the fame of social stature. 

     At his age, and after five years in prison, death grew near.

     This is important:  Roch’s last prayer before he died was that anyone who prayed to him in the name of Jesus would be healed of pestilence. 

     When he died, an angel placed a gold tablet under his head.  He had no access to gold on his own.  On the tablet were words stating that his prayer was granted.

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     St. Roch, in Jesus’ name, we ask you to pray to God for our healing and protection from Covid-19!  Amen.