Feast day of St Roch (Roche; Rock; Rocco; Rollox; Rolex; Roque; Rochus)

Patron of those with the plague, whose feast day falls at the peak time of the old plague season, St Roch of the 14th Century (c. 1295 – August 16, 1327) worked miracles among 'people living with plague', though he suffered from the disease himself.

He was a French gentleman, with estates near Montpellier in the south of France. Roch healed all the sick in Palcentia. Being imprisoned in France, on the false charge of spying, and about to die, he prayed that he might live three days longer in contemplation of the Passion of Jesus Christ. This was granted; on the third day an angel came and said it was time to go, but he could have one more wish. St Roch asked that anyone with plague might pray to him after his death and be healed. An angel brought down from heaven a tablet with the confirmation of his request divinely written in gold ...

Categories: saint, calendar-customs