Saint Roch Image: Catholic Forum.
'St Roch is patron of dogs and the falsely accused.'

Andrew Chapman recounts the story of a saint rescued by man's best friend.

St Roch - or Rocco - was born to a noble family in Montpellier, France, where his father was governor. Some accounts say that he was born around 1295 and died in 1327; others that he wasn't born until 1340. He is said to have had a cross-shaped birthmark on his chest.

Roch took a vow of poverty at around 20 years old, after his parents died, and he went to Rome dressed as a pilgrim, having given away all his wealth. He stopped at Aquapendente, on the way, which had been struck with plague - he stopped there and is said to have cured many simply with prayer and by making the sign of the cross.

He went on to various other towns and did the same, until arriving at Piacenza where he unsurprisingly contracted the plague himself, bearing an open sore on his leg. He was banished and hid in a cave - or some accounts say a hut he built himself from boughs and leaves - surviving on leaves and stream water until, legend has it, a dog rescued him. The dog brought him scraps from its master's table, until that master - a wealthy man named Gothard - noticed the dog's behaviour and followed it. He took Rocco back to his castle, where the holy man was cured.

On his recovery, Roch went home but was not recognised after all his sufferings and was jailed on suspicion of being a spy, perhaps by his uncle who was Duke of Montpellier, and he remained imprisoned for five years. He was then near death, and a guard found his body radiating blue light, with an angel caring for him. Roch then asserted his identity which was proven by documents he held and the cross-shaped birthmark on his breast, whereupon he died.

Roch became the patron against plague and many miracles were attributed to his relics, which were secretly taken to Venice in 1485, where they remain today in a glass tomb. Statues show him pointing to the wound on his leg (sometimes with a dog licking it, or carrying a loaf of bread) - such open acknowledgement of affliction is unusual. He is remembered on 16 August, and is also patron of dogs and the falsely accused. That day is known in Bolivia as 'the birthday of all dogs', and ribbons are sometimes tied to them.

Other 'R' saints

St Richard (1197-1253) of Chichester was born in Droitwich (its name derives from his surname de Wyche) and became Bishop of Chichester in 1244, known for preaching in favour of crusades. His feast is 16 June and he is patron of bus and coach drivers, and of Sussex.

St Rose of Lima (1586-1617) became devoted to God and chastity from an early age, deliberately making herself unattractive and inflicting harsh penances on herself. She was the first person from the Americas to be canonised. Her memorial is 23 August and she is patron of the Americas, as well as of embroiderers, gardeners and against vanity.

• Other Saints in the series
• Andrew Chapman

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