St. Roch, Patron Saint of Dogs

Today services in St Roch’s name are about giving thanks for a dog’s companionship, dog lovers, and more.  This recognition is especially centered on dogs living with older infirmed people including the deaf, blind, and the lonely among us.  He is also the Patron Saint of those with infectious diseases. St. Roch is often illustrated as a traveling pilgrim, in prison, and elsewhere with a dog by his side and a sore on his leg.  He was a healer and survivor who died at age 32.

There are several Patron Saints for animals.  St. Roch (Rock in English) is the Patron Saint of dogs and was born in 1295 to French nobility as the only son of a provincial governor.  His mother was very devout and he, too, embraced her faith. He inherited all of his family’s wealth upon his parent’s death when he was 20 and gave it all to the poor.  As a pilgrim, he went to Rome.  

​St. Roch joined the same Franciscan Order founded by (Saint) Francis of Assisi  (1181-1226). As a pilgrim, he miraculously healed and nurtured sick people in Roman hospitals and the surrounding towns until he became ill with the Black Plague himself.  Sick, he retired to woods outside of Rome.  A friend and his dog brought him bread regularly and cleaned his sores. The dog kept him company 

IMAGE COURTESY OF WHEAT WANDERINGS

through his recovery.  He traveled as a pilgrim and eventually returned to his home in France.
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St. Roch was wrongly imprisoned in 1321 as a spy for six years and in 1327 he died in prison.  His grandmother identified him by the birthmark across his chest and he was given a huge funeral.  His body is entombed in the church built in his honor.  He was canonized in 1427.
He is also the patron Saint of infectious diseases, dog lovers, and knee problems.  He is The Patron Saint of Montpellier (France).  St. Roch is also known as St. Rocco, San Roque, and St. Rollox in Scotland. His picture reflects a sore on his leg and a dog

References:
Teri. Saint Roch of France, and the Dog That Brought His Bread, 1 Jan. 1970, http://wheatwanderings.blogspot.com/2018/07/saint-roch-of-france-and-dog-that.html.