Sunday, August 16, 2015

St. Roch


O blessed Saint Roch, patron of the sick, 
have pity on those who lie upon a bed of suffering. 
Your power was so great when you were in this world, 
that by the sign of the cross, 
many were healed of their diseases. 
Now that you are in heaven, 
your power is not less. 
Offer, then to God our sighs and tears 
and obtain for us that health 
we seek through Christ our Lord. - Source



St. Roch was a layman, a pilgrim.  His feast day is August 16, the day after the Assumption.  Popular legend indicates he contracted the plague and was nursed to health, in part, by a dog who licked his wounds and brought him food.  Roch also nursed other plague victims.  Unrecognized when he returned to his home town, the authorities imprisoned him as a spy.  Thus he is the patron saint of the falsely accused and imprisoned, of dogs, pilgrims, the homeless, as well as plague victims or those suffering skin diseases.  He is often depicted with St. Sebastian as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Interestingly enough, he is also the patron saint of 'bachelors' ...  Yup.

To read more, go here.



9 comments:

  1. I have a St. Roch medal on a lovely braided leather bracelet that was given to me when Sophie and Elle died so close together. I love it.

    and...

    I absolutely love that painting. Always have!

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    1. Coyotes are attacking and killing little dogs in Bloomington - that just seems so weird.

      Thanks - I wish I still had the painting.

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    2. I don't like coyotes. Not at all. It seems most of the attacks are where my dad's old house was on E. Old Shakopee Rd before they put the freeway through there many, many years ago.

      We used to have coyotes around here and I lived in constant fear for my kittehs. They were all trained to come in at night (the kittehs - not the coyotes.) Then they just disappeared (the coyotes - not the kittehs.)

      A news report on KARE said you should carry a stick or rocks, or some dumb thing. NO! Carry a gun.

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    3. I wish a few came through my neighborhood to take care of the squirrels and rabbits. This year the rabbits are eating everything - I blame myself - for feeding them.

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    4. Just two days ago we saw a squirrel in the backyard. Second time I've seen one in almost 20 years of living here. Father Bill says they come up from behind our properties.

      And that rabbit I saw in the spring? Gone. Haven't seen it since.

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  2. Because of your story about St Roch, I greeted a great cat lover gentleman named Rocco before Mass. He smiled: either appreciated it or thought I was nuts. Then I sent greetings to Rocco Palmo. Loves dogs, buried in Venice: what's not to like?

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    Replies
    1. I bet the gentleman was deeply touched.

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  3. I love that painting Terry: it is very moving.
    This winter, what will you do re: the multiple generations of rabbits: I hear it will be a pretty rough winter.
    One rainy winter, often sleepless, I would wander about the neighborhood in the middle of the night: and noticed so many homeless cats ! all worried, I left out treats here & there: even a couple of make-shift homeless shelters. To close a long and confusing tale: these cats all had homes ! Happy ones, too ! I would be too embarrassed to disclose how I discovered that they all had devoted owners (....but....who lets kittehs out & about like that ? ). Learned My lesson....
    Remember St Julian of Norwich, with her cat-companion: usually I pray to St. Raphael re: suffering animals.

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  4. Hi Terry,

    Sorry to comment on an old blog post, but I'm absolutely in love with that painting! Did you paint it yourself?

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