Roch was born at Montpellier in France in 1295. He showed his great love for his neighbour when a cruel pestilence ravaged the length and breadth of Italy. Leaving his native country he undertook a journey through Italy, and passing through the towns and villages, devoted himself to the service of the sick, not hesitating to lay down his life for his brethren. Miraculous cures bore witness how pleasing to God was the zeal of the holy man. For by the sign of the cross he saved many who were in danger of death through the plague, and restored them to perfect health. He returned to his own country and, rich in virtues and merits, died a most holy death in 1327. He was honoured by the veneration of the faithful immediately after his death. It is said their devotion was greatly increased at the Council of Constance when, in order to avert the pestilence that threatened them, the image of Saint Roch was, with the approbation of the bishops, carried solemnly through that town followed by the whole people. Thus devotion to him has spread in a wonderful way through the whole world, and he has been piously declared the universal protector against contagious diseases. Having carefully considered all this, Pope Urban VIII allowed his feast to be celebrated with an ecclesiastical office, in those places where there are churches dedicated to God under the invocation of Saint Roch.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
Three years of famine, three months of defeats, three days of pestilence: the choice given to the guilty David between these three measures of expiation shows them to be equivalent before the justice of God. The terrible scourge which makes more havoc in three days than would famine or a disastrous war in months and years, showed in the fourteenth century that it kept its sad pre-eminence: the Black Death covered the world with a mantle of mourning, and robbed it of a third of its inhabitants. Doubtless the world had never so well merited the terrible warning: the graces of sanctity poured in profusion on the preceding century had but checked for a while the defection of the nations. Every embankment being now broken down, entrance was given to the irresistible tide of schism, reform and revolution by which the world must die. Nevertheless God has mercy as long as life lasts, and while striking sinful mankind, He gave them at the same time the Saint predestined to appease His vengeance.
At his birth he appeared marked with the cross. When a young man he distributed his goods to the poor, and leaving his family and country, became a pilgrim for Christ’s sake. Going to Italy to visit the sanctuaries, he there found the cities devastated by a terrible plague. Roch took up his abode among the dead and dying, burying the former and healing the latter with the sign of the cross. Himself stricken with the evil, he hid himself so as to suffer alone; and a dog brought him food. When cured by God he returned to Montpellier, his native town, it was only to be there seized as a spy and thrown into prison where he died after five years. Such are thy dealings with your elect, O Wisdom of God! But no sooner was he dead, than prodigies burst forth, making known his origin and history, revealing the power he still enjoyed of delivering from pestilence those who had recourse to him.
The reputation of his influence, increased by fresh benefits at each visitation of plague, caused his cultus to become popular. Hence although the feast of Saint Roch is not universal, this short notice was due to him.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Carthage in Africa, the holy martyrs Liberatus, abbot, Boniface, deacon, Servus and Rusticus, subdeacons, Rogatus and Septimus, monks, and Maximus, a young child. In the persecution of the Vandals under king Hunneric, they were subjected to various unheard-of torments for the confession of the Catholic faith and the defence of one baptism. Finally, being nailed to the wood with which they were to be burned, as the fire was always put out miraculously whenever kindled, they were struck with iron bars by order of the tyrant until their brains were dashed out. Thus they terminated the glorious series of their combats and were crowned by Our Lord.
At Caesarea in Cappadocia, the birthday of St. Mamas, martyr, who, from childhood to old age endured a long martyrdom, and at length ended it happily in the reign of Aurelian under the governor Alexander. He was highly praised by the holy fathers Basil and Gregory Nazianzen.
In Achaia, St. Myron, priest and martyr, who was beheaded at Cyzicum, after undergoing many torments in the time of the emperor Decius and the governor Antipater.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Straton, Philip and Eutychian, who were condemned to the beasts, but being uninjured by them, ended their martyrdom by fire.
At Teramo, St. Anastasius, bishop and confessor.
At Ptolemais in Palestine, the holy martyrs Paul, and his sister Juliana, who suffered under Valerian.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
