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Saint Roch
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_roch.htm
Saint Roch
Pèlerin (✝ 1380)
Il était né dans une très riche famille de Montpellier vers 1300. Jeune, il perd ses parents et c'est alors qu'il se décide à mener une vie de pèlerin, emportant la moitié de sa fortune pour les pauvres qu'il rencontrera, mettant en garde l'autre partie auprès de son oncle pour y puiser quand cela s'avérait nécessaire. Sur la route, il soigna de nombreux malades de la peste. Quand il revint au pays, Montpellier est en proie à la guerre civile. Il fut pris pour un espion. Il mourut oublié en prison après cinq années de détention. Il fut identifié par sa grand mère en raison d'une tache de vin en forme de croix qu'il portait sur sa poitrine depuis sa naissance.
- "Né en 1295, Saint Roch était le fils d’un gouverneur de Montpellier. Ses parents, âgés, obtinrent sa naissance par de persévérantes prières, se promettant de donner à Dieu l’enfant qu’il leur accorderait. Il se signala en grandissant par une grâce spéciale d’hospitalité envers les pauvres et les voyageurs. A la mort de ses parents, il avait 20 ans; il décida alors de vendre ses biens, de se faire pauvre du Christ à l’exemple de Saint-François d’Assise. Il entra dans le Tiers-Ordre, et, vêtu en pèlerin, il prit le chemin de Rome, en demandant l’aumône. La peste sévissant en Italie, il se dévoua aux soins des pauvres pestiférés et à son contact, il eut beaucoup de guérisons. Il y vécut trois ans sans faire connaître son nom, ni son origine. Atteint lui-même de la maladie, il se retira, mourant, dans une cabane de son pays où un chien lui apportait chaque jour un petit pain. Miraculeusement guéri, il reparut à Montpellier comme un étranger. Il fut mis en prison comme espion et y mourut au bout de cinq ans après avoir reçu les sacrements. On le reconnut alors. Son culte est devenu et demeure populaire dans toute l'Église. Il est fêté le 16 août." Saint patron d’Ayné, de Hiis, de Larreule et de Loures-Barousse.
Saints du diocèse de Tarbes et Lourdes, fichier pdf.
- Roch, dont la famille vivait à Montpellier au XIVe siècle revêtit après la mort de ses parents l'habit de pèlerin et se dirigea vers Rome. En cours de route, il manifesta des dons de thaumaturge en faveur des malades. Il mourut vers 1379. Son culte se développe dans la France méridionale et à partir du XVIe siècle s'étendit bien au-delà. (source: Les Saints du diocèse de Nîmes)
- Saint Roch est le protecteur invoqué lors des épidémies de peste, depuis le concile de Ferrare, après les graves ravages de ce mal venu d'Orient et transmis par les marins, en particulier à Venise, Marseille, Lisbonne, Anvers et en Allemagne... Sur le tableau peint en 1669 par Daniel Hallé (1614-1675), un ange montre le ciel à saint Roch; l'autre se penche sur le bubon qui vient d'apparaître sur la cuisse. Son chien qui lui apportait de la nourriture dans son isolement, est représenté à ses côtés. (source: Saint Roch soigné par des anges, paroisse de Saint-Symphorien, Versailles)
- La vénération de saint Roch est de tradition dans le pays piscénois depuis des siècles. (source: diocèse de Montpellier)
- C'est l’origine du proverbe: «C’est saint Roch et son chien» pour désigner deux personnes inséparables.
- Le nom de Roch, né vers 1350, serait celui de sa famille dont on a pu retrouver la trace à Montpellier au XIIe siècle. Il se dévoua d’abord au service des pauvres dans sa ville natale puis, après la mort de ses parents, il revêtit l’habit de pèlerin et se dirigea vers Rome où il séjourna de 1368 à 1371 environ. (Saint Roch - diocèse d'Avignon)
- Sa renommée se répandit en France, en Italie, en Espagne et en Allemagne. Ses reliques, conservées à Arles, furent transportées à Venise en 1485 dans l'église San Rocco.
- La popularité de saint Roch dépasse largement la précision des dates de sa vie... (Histoire des saints de Provence - diocèse de Fréjus-Toulon)
- Statue de Saint Roch à Sallèles d'Aude, "médecin de Montpellier, pélerin, au service des souffrants." (paroisse Saint-Vincent en Narbonnais - diocèse de Carcassonne)
A lire aussi:
. L'Eglise du Gers et son histoire - texte en pdf
. Saint Roch
de Montpellier - L'éternel pèlerin - recherches d'un fidèle
internaute (en pdf)
Des internautes nous signalent:
- la peinture 'Saint Romain et Saint Roch et vue de Deruta' par Le Perugin, exposée jusqu'au 20 janvier 2015 au musée Jacquemart-André.
- "c'est le saint représenté le plus fréquemment
(avec St Jacques) dans les églises ou au bord des rues ou sentiers empruntés
par les chemins de St Jacques allant à Compostelle aussi bien en France qu'en
Espagne car les pèlerins se plaçaient sous sa protection pour qu'il les
préserve des maladies sur le Chemin."
- Une statue de Saint-Roch existe sur la place de Le Roc (46200) et a été récemment rénovée.
Dans l'église de Le Roc, existe aussi un tableau de Saint Roch avec son chien.
- Saint Roch est très populaire en Pologne; on rencontre plusieurs petites chapelles prés des chemins; à Poznan (Grande Pologne) sur le bord de la rivière Varta, il y a une l'église Saint Roch, et tout le quartier porte son nom.
La fête votive de ce village a toujours lieu le dimanche après le 15 aout.
En Lombardie, vers 1379, le trépas de saint Roch. Né à Montpellier, il se fit pèlerin et, en soignant des pestiférés à travers l’Italie, il s’acquit une réputation de sainteté.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1678/Saint-Roch.html
Roch est en habit de pèlerin « romieu ».
Il est allé en pèlerinage à Rome sur les tombes des Apôtres Pierre et Paul, morts au nom de leur Foi pour le Christ ressuscité.
Le pèlerin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle porte le signe de la coquille, le signe du pèlerin à Rome : les clés de Saint Pierre, celui du pèlerin de Jérusalem : les palmes.
Ceci dit, on représente souvent Saint Roch avec la coquille car à la fin du Moyen-âge elle est devenue le signe de tous les pèlerins.
Roch tient dans la main le bâton du pèlerin, le « bourdon ».
Il a parfois une besace, parfois la cape du pèlerin : la pèlerine ; souvent le chapeau du pèlerin.
Signes plus caractéristiques : un chien à ses côtés portant parfois dans sa gueule un pain (Seul un chien vint le nourrir en lui apportant chaque jour un pain dérobé à la table de son maître) ;
un ange lui soignant la plaie (peste) de sa jambe qu'il présente en relevant un morceau de son vêtement.
Quelquefois la Croix qu'il marque sa poitrine dès sa naissance est représentée soit sur le corps ou à l'extérieur sur le vêtement.
Cantique à Saint Roch
chanté à Thuin
Garde-nous de la peste, entends notre prière et soutiens tes enfants toujours.
Garde-nous de la peste, entends notre prière et soutiens tes enfants toujours.
Sa Foi éclaire son visage. Son Espérance rend serein.
Éveille en nous la tolérance, l'esprit de solidarité.
Aux jours mauvais sois la défense de ceux qui réclament ton nom.
Temps de saint Roch de Montpellier
Nos amis italiens pourraient croire que Saint Roch est un des leurs, tant leur vénération surtout dans le Sud de l'Italie mais aussi à Voghera en Lombardie est toujours vivace et populaire. Le parcours de la vie du Saint explique la grande ferveur des italiens pour ce jeune saint laïc languedocien
Toutes les biographies primitives italiennes mentionnent que « San Rocco »est né à Montpellier. Il est donc bien français ou plus exactement Languedocien. Nous sommes au XIVè siècle et si le Royaume de France s'étend à ce qui fut l'Occitanie, notons que Montpellier ne fut rattaché au Royaume qu'en 1349. C'est l'époque à laquelle les dernières études des historiens français et italiens situent la naissance de Roch. Une fourchette entre 1348-1350,aucun documents historiques ne venant attester ce moment. En fait, rien n'est clairement authentifié dans la vie de ce jeune languedocien. Même les biographies primitives dont celle de Diedo, qui si elle donne les dates reprises traditionnellement jusqu'à nos jours, ont été « revues et corrigées » par les spécialistes du XXè siècle qui en ont montré les incohérences historiques. Généralement on s'accorde aujourd'hui pour reconnaître que Roch est né vers la moitié du XIVè siècle. Par contre les historiens discutent encore si Roch est son nom ou son prénom. Si c'est son prénom, il serait possible qu'il s'appelle Roch Delacroix. Si c'est son nom, son prénom serait peut-être Jean. Mais ici comme précédemment toutes les conjectures sont possibles puisque rien ne les confirme !
Identification de saint Roch
Roch est en habit de pèlerin « romieu »
Le pèlerin de saint Jacques de Compostelle porte le
signe de la coquille, le signe du pèlerin à Rome : les clés de saint Pierre,
celui du pèlerin de Jérusalem : les palmes. Ceci dit, on représente souvent
saint Roch avec la coquille car à la fin du Moyen-Age elle est devenue le signe
de tous les pèlerins.
Roch tient dans la main le bâton du pèlerin, le « bourdon ».
Quelquefois la croix qu'il marque sa poitrine dès sa naissance est représentée soit sur le corps ou à l'extérieur sur le vêtement.
Kreuzigung Christi mit Maria, St. Sebastian, St. Rochus, Landschaft mit See und Stadt. XVe siècle, Museum des Stiftes Admont
Biographies primitives et récentes
Dans "Histoire des saints et de la sainteté chrétienne" (Hachette), André Vauchez, Directeur de l'École Française de Rome, écrit : « Peu de saints ont été aussi célèbres que saint Roch, en Occident, entre le XIV et le XVIIè siècle, période qui vit la diffusion de son culte dans tous les pays d'Europe… Héros cultuel canonisé par l'image et la légende, Roch est le produit d'une époque -la fin du Moyen-Age-- où le peuple était encore créateur de saints. Dans la vénération qui entoura son nom, s'est exprimée l'angoisse des hommes de ce temps, face à la maladie et à la mort qui les avait miraculeusement guéris de la peste en lui conférant le pouvoir d'en délivrer ceux qui se placeraient sous sa protection. Contemporains de la peste noire et de la danse macabre, saint Roch fut, avec la Vierge de Miséricorde, l'ultime recours d'une humanité décimée par la grande épreuve et qui aspirait à retrouver la paix du corps et celle de l'esprit ».
La plus ancienne mention connue à ce jour de saint Roch se trouve dans les archives communales de la ville de Voghera (Italie) où une autorisation écrite des échevins permet l'organisation d'un marché sous la protection de saint Roch en 1382 ! Notons qu'elle est italienne, et à partir des hypothèses des chercheurs du XXè siècle, daterait entre 3 et 6 ans après la mort de Roch. C'est une preuve qui vient appuyer les déductions récentes des spécialistes qui confirment la mort de saint Roch en Lombardie.
Au cours du XVè siècle s'échelonnent plusieurs biographies primitives de saint Roch. Acta Breviora d'un anonyme latin remonterait aux années 1420/30. L'auteur serait contemporain de saint Roch et aurait écrit peu après sa mort. Vie de saint Roch, de Diedo paraît à Venise en 1483. Il est le seul à fixer les dates de la naissance et de la mort de Roch, elles-mêmes remises en question par les auteurs des documents critiques du XXè siècle. Historica ex-italica, traduit d'un original en italien populaire et imprimé à Nuremberg en 1484. Vita sancti Rochi, d'Hercules Albiflorius édité en 1494. Vie de Saint Roch, par Jean de Pin paru à Venise et à Paris en 1516. Diedo et H. Albiflorius mentionnent tous deux avoir établi leurs biographies d'après un livre en langue populaire italienne.
Parmi les historiens français récents, qui ont étudié de façon critique, sérieuse et objective les récits sur Saint Roch : Maurice Luthard ; Augustin Fliche ; François Pitangue. Leurs contributions permettront d'extraire le saint d'un contexte établi pour édifier les fidèles sans grand souci d'objectivité, pour le replacer dans une trame historique possible, concordante. Ces travaux du XXè siècle montreront l'inadéquation de certains biographes primitifs avec le contexte historique. Principalement Didéo qui en donnant des dates précises, très souvent reprises, se place de fait dans l'impossibilité de la réalisation historique de faits qu'il rapporte. André Vauchez qualifie sa chronologie "d'inacceptable". Selon l'historien italien AM Maurino, saint Roch aurait vécu entre 1345 et 1376. Pour le français Augustin Fliche entre 1350 et 1379. On a certainement avec cet éventail de dates mieux fait cadrer l'histoire du saint avec la réalité historique.
Le XIVè siècle où vécu Roch de Montpellier est un siècle charnière entre un Moyen-Age qui n'en finit pas et une renaissance qui n'est pas encore là, mais dont les prémices surtout en Italie vont peu à peu renouveler les sociétés. En fait, cette période est entrain de vivre le déclin de la féodalité . Peu à peu la notion d'Etat se concrétise, non sans drames et conflits. On leur donnera une apparence religieuse qui sera prétexte politique pour annexer une région ou une province. Ce fut le cas en Languedoc avec le phénomène religieux cathare. Se superposent à ces « fractures » internes, les dissensions entre Anglais et Français qui à partir de 1337 ouvrent par intermittences des guerres successives qui dureront cent ans. La Papauté se replie à Avignon dès 1309.Clément V dissout l'Ordre du Temple, par cet acte, il ratifie une décision purement politique du Roi de France.
Deux étés de pluies diluviennes en 1315-1316, entraînent de grandes années de famines entre 1315-1317. Dans ce concert de catastrophes déjà important, voici que l'Europe va connaître la plus grande épidémie de tous les temps : la Grande Peste Noire de 1348. On estime qu'un tiers de la population en Occident est décimée (soit au moins 25 millions de personnes). Dans le contexte religieux du Moyen-Age, beaucoup croient que c'est la fin du monde : Dieu veut en finir avec ces hommes qui ne font pas sa volonté ! Des bandits vont devenir saints, des gens « bien » vont se dévoyer ! La médecine est totalement inefficace : les « saignées » tuent un peu plus de monde et la thériaque que ce soit celle des pauvres ou des riches n'a rien de miraculeux. Un seul remède prescrit : la fuite ! Mais en ce temps là, seul les Seigneurs ont des « résidences secondaires ». Dès lors, la « Mort subite » devient le fait majeur d'une société qui connaissait bien la mort mais à travers force préparation. Or là , elle devient quelque chose qui frappe subitement et en trois jours peu emporter chacun. Le rituel catholique préparait les fidèles à « bien mourir », mais depuis les épidémies de peste plus le temps de se mettre en bonne disposition pour le paradis ! Surtout lorsque le pénitent atteint de la peste contamine son confesseur et que tout deux se retrouvent pour ainsi dire subitement guéris dans l'Au-delà ! La notion du « purgatoire » va particulièrement être mise à l'honneur par l'Eglise en ces temps d'embarquement immédiat pour l'autre monde. Les liens sociaux sont rompus, toutes les couches de la société sont atteintes. Culturellement et économiquement ce fut un choc inouï et fatal pour le monde médiéval. Beaucoup d'aspects doloristes voire morbides du catholicisme viennent de cette époque. Les gens de ce temps s'identifient au Christ souffrant, les Pieta fleurissent. La Mort n'est plus du tout « la soeur » dont parlait Saint François, elle est vue et représentée dans son aspect le plus repoussant, cadavres putréfiés, écorchés vifs, « Danses macabres », etc…. La religion joue un rôle énorme au coeur de la société médiévale. Le XIIIè siècle voit un réel renouveau avec Saint François d'Assise et Saint Dominique, face à des hérésies qui viennent prendre la place d'un manque de réponses spirituelles et de charité d'un clergé mal formé et d'une hiérarchie privilégiée. Le XIV° siècle va cependant entendre les voix de deux femmes charismatiques qui vont crier aux plus grands de leurs temps Rois et Papes, leurs quatre vérités : Sainte Brigitte de Suède (1303-1273) et Catherine de Sienne (1347-1380). Certains de bonne volonté comme le Pape Urbain V essayeront en vain de remettre le siège apostolique à Rome. Il faudra la crise du Grand Schisme pour rétablir la Papauté à Rome.
Tout les hommes de ce temps vont être confrontés au terrible fléau de la peste, dont on ne sait pas se protéger, car à l'époque on se sait rien de sa cause et de sa propagation et de fait comment lutter contre.
Nicola di Maestro Antonio d'Ancona (–1511). Saint Jérôme, Saint Sébastien et Saint Roch, vers 1470, Gemäldegalerie
Le visage de la mort subite :
la peste
Dans les villes insalubres, les populations sous-alimentée résistent mal aux épidémies de peste, qu'une médecine balbutiante se révèle incapable d'enrayer. De 1347 à 1349, suivant les grands axes commerciaux, la maladie se propage jusqu'en ile de France, où elle ravage Parie de 1348 à 1349. Présente en Europe centrale dès 1347, elle gagne les Pays-Bas et l'Angleterre, puis l'Ecosse et les pays scandinaves en 1350. Paris doit subir ses attaques récurrentes en 1361-1362, alors que la peste des enfants s'abat, particulièrement sévère, sur le Languedoc en 1363. Certains préfèrent fuir, comme les personnages du Décaméron de Boccace. D'autres se murent chez eux. Prince ou serf, riche ou pauvre, nul n'est épargné par le fléau.
Apparue dès le haut moyen-âge (entre 400 et 900) en Europe et dans les principautés belges, la peste disparaît de manière inexpliquée au VIII° siècle. Après une absence de quatre siècles la planète toute entière va connaître quasiment 400 années d'épidémies de peste qui se renouvelleront de 1348 à 1721 avec une cadence plus ou moins constante de 3 à 4 épidémies par siècle écoulé.
Apparue en Asie centrale en 1337, elle laisse treize millions de morts après son passage en Chine. En 1347, elle détruit l'armée de la Horde d'Or (les mongols) qui assiégeaient les génois dans Caffa en Crimée. De là, l'épidémie se propage en Sicile pour atteindre en 1348 la France et l'Espagne ; en 1349 elle se répand en Allemagne, en Europe centrale, puis en Angleterre.
La peste de 1348, appelée couramment peste noire ou bubonique à défaut d'être transmise par contacts directs avec le malade contaminé, est transmise et transportée par les puces des rats qui logeaient dans les cales des navires. C'est pourquoi les villes portuaires furent les premières atteintes par la maladies.
Grâce aux écrits de Guy de Chauliac, médecin à Avignon nous pouvons connaître les manifestations cliniques de la peste noire au moyen-âge :
la peste bubonique : transmise par la puce du rat. Le malade meurt dans les cinq jours qui suivent la piqûre. On note des cas où des patients survivent et réussissent à vaincre cette forme pathologique de la peste. Elle se manifeste par une violente fièvre accompagnée de l'apparition d'abcès noirâtres (le sang infecté se répandait sous la peau) au niveau des aisselles et de l'aine.
la peste pulmonaire : transmise par le contact humain, le malade meurt dans les trois jours qui suivent la contamination. Violente fièvre accompagnée de crachements de sang. Ce sont les expectorations qui contaminent.
Il existe une troisième forme : la peste septicémique : symptôme cérébraux importants et hémorragiques diffus.
Au moyen-âge la peste est vécue comme une punition divine. Cependant on cherche vite des boucs-émisssaires : ce sont les sorcières accusées de pactiser avec le Diable et les juifs accusés d'empoisonner les puits. Les deux catégories sont victimes d'extrèmes violences : on les brûlent.
Pour lutter contre l'épidémie, l'Eglise prône auprès des fidèles la pénitence, la prière pour apaiser la colère divine. Des messes, des pèlerinages, sont organisés. Les fidèles ont recours aux saints : on implore la Vierge Marie, saint Sébastien (martyr chrétien, enterré sur la via Agrippa aux côtés de saint Pierre, son corps fut transféré à Pavie quatre siècles plus tard. La peste s'arrêta au moment où l'on dressa un autel en son honneur). On organise aussi des processions, ont fait des voeux à la Vierge, on brûle des cierges qui ont parfois comme à Montpellier la longueur du périmètre des remparts de la ville ! Apparaît le mouvement des « Flagellants ». Ils portent une robe sombre à capuchon sur laquelle ils apposent une croix rouge. Deux fois par jour, ils se rassemblent pour expier leurs fautes et leurs péchés en se flagellant publiquement. Ils veulent retrouver leur pureté originelle pour échapper à la maladie. Ils sont condamnés par une bulle du Pape et disparaissent progressivement.
Pour éviter les mouvements de panique les enterrements ont lieu la nuit. On ne sonne pas les cloches. On enterra de moins en moins dans les cimetières proches des églises à l'intérieur des remparts. On creusera des fosses à l'extérieur, les corps sont recouverts de chaux vive ou brulés. Les fossoyeurs s'exposent en permanence à la maladie. Personne ne veut rendre ce service, ils sont payés très chers ou bien on va chercher de force ceux qui purgent une peine de prison.
Chaque « médecin » avait son explication de la maladie et ses recettes. Surtout des breuvages, notamment la thériaque. Celle des riches devaient probablement soulager des souffrances car elle contenait de l'opium. On ouvre cependant les abcès et on les cauterise.
La peste noire marque les esprits et provoque un profond traumatisme économique, social, religieux et culturel pour les gens du XIV° siècle. Avec les deux guerres mondiales du XX° siècle, elle demeure l'une des plus grandes catastrophes démographiques de l'histoire de l'humanité.
Il faut attendre la fin du XIX° siècle pour qu'une solution médicale réellement soit mise au point contre la peste. 1890 : un jeune chercheur du tout nouvel Institut Pasteur, Alexandre Yersin (Français d'origine Suisse. 1863-1943) est envoyé à Hong kong où la peste fait des ravages.
1894 : avec un courage inouï, il prélève pour ses expériences des bubons sur des cadavres de pestiférés. En les étudiant au microscope, il constate la prolifération de microbes en forme de bâtonnets, découvrant ainsi le bacille de la peste. Il met au point un vaccin antipesteux qui sauve de nombreuses vies humaines. Yersin met également en évidence le rôle des rats dans la transmission de la maladie.
1898 : un autre élève de l'Institut Pasteur, Paul-Louis Simond (né à Valence, dans la Drôme en 1858) découvre, lui, le chaînon manquant dans la transmission entre le rat et l'homme : la puce. « Ce jour là, 2 juin 1898, j'éprouvais une émotion inexprimable à la pensée que je venais de violer un secret qui angoissait l'humanité depuis l'apparition de la peste dans le monde ».
La dernière grande épidémie de peste date de 1910 en Mandchourie (50000 morts) et en Inde en 1994.
Voici la conclusion de l'excellent ouvrage de J. Brossollet et H. Mollaret (1) : « La peste demeure une menace méconnue par beaucoup…. Trois éventualités sont connues : l'épidémie urbaine massive, l'apparition d'une résistance aux antibiotiques actuels et l'utilisation de la peste pour la guerre bactériologique. Loin d'être une maladie du Moyen Age dans la vieille Europe, la peste, que sa conservation dans le sol rend inéradiquable, est peut-être, hélas, une maladie d'avenir.
Au cours du XX° siècle, la découverte des traitements antibiotiques, leur efficacité et le renforcement des mesures de santé publique ont réduit très fortement la morbidité et la mortalité dues à cette maladie, mais n'ont pas permis de la faire disparaître.
De la peste à… l'Amour
Saint Roch de Montpellier
Jeune pèlerin-mèdecin
Roch, enfant de l'amour, de la prière et de la croix
Jean et Libère font partie de la riche bourgeoisie de la ville de Montpellier. Les pauvres se plaisent à exalter leur générosité, les étrangers leur bonne hospitalité et tout le monde leur ardente dévotion. Grand est leur amour conjugal, que la foi en Dieu unifie et fortifie spirituellement ! Leur plus cher désir est que ce bonheur soit couronné par la venue d'un enfant. Mais Dieu met leur patience à l'épreuve
Leur prière finit par toucher le coeur de Dieu et, vers 1350, Libère met au monde un bel enfant. Curieusement, Roch porte sur la poitrine une marque rouge en forme de croix, présage d'une vocation particulière au dévouement et au sacrifice.
Pendant son enfance, ses parents lui parlent souvent des ravages occasionnés par la peste de 1348 : sur les 12 consuls de la ville, il n'en reste que 3 ! Chez les Dominicains, sur les 140 frères, seulement 8 survivent...
Lors de l'épidémie de 1361, Roch assiste à l'atroce hécatombe. Pendant trois mois, près de 500 personnes meurent chaque jour.
Partout il rencontre des petits orphelins qu'il ramène à la maison pour être nourris, soignés, hébergés...
En s'endormant le soir, Roch tourne son coeur vers Celui qui a dans ses yeux toute la Lumière du monde et il lui dit : « Jésus, donne-moi la force, lorsque je serai homme, d'affronter ce terrible fléau ! Je veux être médecin pour aller vers ceux que tout le monde fuit. Je les soignerai et, par ta grâce, ils seront guéris... »
Son physique attachant, son tempérament doux, sa perpétuelle bonne humeur, sa constante joie de vivre,le font aimer de tous.
Roch adolescent : devenir pauvre pour servir les pauvres !
D'ailleurs, les événements vont bientôt se charger de précipiter les choix faits dans le secret de son coeur.
Avant de mourir, le père gravement malade confie à son fils : « Roch, mon cher enfant et mon seul héritier ! Je vais quitter cette vie mortelle, dans l'espérance d'avoir part au Royaume des cieux. Mon très doux enfant, voici ce que je te recommande : mets-toi au service du Christ ! Sois bon pour les pauvres, multiplie les aumônes, visite et soigne les malades, ce sont les frères de Jésus ! »
Terrassé par une forte fièvre, Jean rend son âme à Dieu, suivi peu après par Libère.
Âgé de quinze ans, Roch a reçu de ses parents le modèle de l'amour chrétien, le témoignage de leur charité, authentique incarnation de leur foi rayonnante. Ils ont été pour lui la première école de sainteté.
Maintenant c'est le passage à l'acte. Il lui faut entreprendre ce qu'il porte depuis si longtemps dans son coeur : servir ses frères souffrants, les soigner, prier pour eux.
Il ne faut pas omettre de dire que Montpellier possède depuis 1141 des écoles de médecine et de droit, puis en 1289 une université où, plus tard, Rabelais viendra y étudier. Sa faculté de médecine est la plus ancienne et la plus prestigieuse d'Europe. Là, Roch y côtoie les plus célèbres chirurgiens et apothicaires du temps.
Peu à peu, Roch prend ses dispositions en
vue du partage de ses biens. En secret, il vend tout ce qu'il peut et en
distribue le prix aux jeunes femmes pauvres, aux veuves, aux cloîtres et aux
hôpitaux. Il cède ensuite à un frère de son père le reste de ses biens et tous
ses droits à la succession paternelle.
L'âme libérée des richesses de ce monde, Roch choisit d'aller louer Dieu à Rome, sur les tombeaux des saints apôtres Pierre et Paul. Après avoir obtenu les autorisations des autorités ecclésiastiques et civiles, arrive le jour de l'envoi du pèlerin, sanctifié par une bénédiction particulière de l'Église.
Le prêtre consacre la besace : « Au nom de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, reçois cette besace, insigne de ta pérégrination aux tombeaux des saints apôtres Pierre et Paul, où tu veux te rendre. Et qu'ayant achevé ton voyage, tu nous reviennes en bonne santé et joyeux, par la grâce de Dieu qui vit et règne dans les siècles des siècles ! »
Puis il consacre le bourdon :
« Reçois ce bâton, réconfort contre la fatigue de la
marche dans la vie de ton pèlerinage, afin que tu puisses vaincre toutes les
embûches de l'Ennemi et parvenir en toute tranquillité aux tombeaux des saints
apôtres Pierre et Paul. Et que, le but atteint, tu nous reviennes avec la joie,
par la grâce de Dieu ! »
Enfin le prêtre lui remet l'habit
traditionnel du pèlerin « romieu » : le chapeau rond à larges bords, droits et
relevés, et la cape.
Largement ouverte par devant, avec parfois un capuchon, elle couvre le corps tout entier jusqu'aux pieds. C'est la pèlerine.
Roch a quitté ses habits de jeune nanti. Pour aller à la suite du Christ pauvre, le voici maintenant revêtu de ceux du pèlerin.
Avant de quitter Montpellier, Roch se rend à l'église Notre-Dame des Tables, prier la Vierge Marie. Il se souvient que Libère lui avait souvent raconté que, avec Jean, c'était devant la Mère de Miséricorde qu'ils avaient demandé à Dieu un enfant... À elle encore aujourd'hui, Roch vient confier ses pèlerinages : celui de Rome et celui de toute sa vie !
Comme tous les pèlerins du Moyen Âge, il trouvera sur le parcours des « hospices », « hospitals » « aumôneries » ou « maisons-Dieu », souvent édifiés hors les murs des remparts des villes. Ainsi, même après la fermeture des portes de la ville, les pèlerins y trouvent le gîte, le vivre et le couvert. Il faut rappeler qu'au Moyen Âge, l'accueil du pèlerin est une des cinq oeuvres de miséricorde.
Roch, jeune pèlerin de Dieu, secours des malades
Cette région d'Italie est alors ravagée par une effroyable épidémie de peste qui décime la population. Là, il demande le chemin de l'hôpital.
Il y est reçu par un nommé Vincent. Ému par son jeune âge, ce dernier tente de le dissuader d'entrer dans ce lieu où sévit la contagion. Mais Roch insiste : n'est-ce pas là que sont ses frères en Christ ? La porte s'ouvre enfin...
Dès le lendemain, Roch se fait infirmier et serviteur de tous. Comme les chirurgiens le lui ont appris, il ouvre les abcès à la lancette, essuie et nettoie les plaies. Puis il prie et trace le signe de la croix en invoquant Dieu, Trinité Sainte, pour la guérison du malade : « Au nom du Père, du Fils et du Saint-Esprit ! »
Après l'hospice, il va visiter et soigner les malades de maison en maison. Il reste trois mois dans cette ville, jusqu'à ce qu'elle soit délivrée de l'épidémie. Mais au lieu de repartir directement vers Rome, il se rend à Césène en Romagne. Là, il se fait à nouveau infirmier et consolateur des mourants. Après son passage, beaucoup sont guéris.
Rencontre du Pasteur de l'Église et de Roch
Roch l'assure de son intercession, s'avance et, pour le préserver de la contagion, trace le signe de la croix sur son front du prélat contrarié. Marque qui restera indélébile...
Soucieux de se ménager la protection du saint thaumaturge, le clerc lui obtient une audience avec le pape Urbain V.
Urbain V, ancien Abbé de la Congrégation bénédictine de Saint-Victor de Marseille, avait enseigné les disciplines du Droit à Montpellier, Toulouse et Paris. Ordonné évêque le 6 novembre 1362, puis intronisé Pape en Avignon par le Cardinal de Maguelonne, son plus cher désir fut de ramener la papauté à Rome. Il fallait en effet une personnalité exceptionnelle pour présider aux destinées de la chrétienté, en cette époque si sombre de son histoire : guerres dévastatrices, grandes compagnies, famines et épidémies.
Le retour - hélas temporaire ! - de la papauté à Rome était signe d'une volonté de retrouver toute une dimension spirituelle (2).
Lorsque Roch s'avance et s'agenouille devant le Pasteur universel de l'Église, celui-ci plein d'admiration lui dira : « Il me semble que tu viens du paradis ! »
À nouveau, s'entredéchirent les factions romaines. Les princes italiens menacent sans cesse le pouvoir d'Urbain V qui va devoir quitter Rome pour retourner en Avignon.
Une blessure providentielle d'amour
Roch se réveille au matin, le corps en feu. La fièvre brûle sa peau et l'étreint férocement. Le haut de sa cuisse le fait horriblement souffrir. Le jeune pèlerin se réfugie dans la forêt de Sarmato toute proche, et, paisible, attend de rencontrer son Seigneur...
Pour étancher sa soif intense, le Ciel fait alors jaillir une source d'eau vive du rocher où il s'est réfugié. Il s'y désaltère à grands traits, louant la Providence secourable. Après l'eau, elle placera près de lui un animal, fidèle compagnon de l'homme.
Une amitié en Christ : Roch, Gothard et le chien charitable
Non loin de là, habite Gothard Pallastrelli. Il a quitté sa riche demeure de Plaisance pour se préserver de l'épidémie, et il habite dans sa villa, près de la forêt de Sarmato. Depuis quelques jours, il a remarqué qu'un de ses chiens - un jeune épagneul noir et blanc, avec la queue en trompette - saisit dans sa gueule du pain à sa table et l'emporte au dehors. Mais où court-il ainsi ? Intrigué par son manège, Gothard suit le chien et découvre Roch...
À la vue de ce jeune homme en si grand dénuement, le coeur de Gothard est ému. Il s'approche de l'inconnu et lui demande qui il est et de quoi il souffre.
« Je suis un pestiféré, répond Roch, c'est pourquoi je te demande de partir, car tu risques d'être contaminé, toi aussi... »
Gothard retourne dans sa villa, en méditant sur ce qu'il a vu. Au fait, son chien n'est-il pas plus charitable que lui ? Il a honte de sa lâcheté et décide de revenir auprès du jeune malade.
Surpris, Roch voit dans ce retour la volonté de Dieu. Il accepte à ses côtés le riche seigneur qui se fait alors serviteur du pauvre pèlerin. Craignant la contagion et ne voulant pas épouvanter les siens, Gothard décide de ne pas retourner chez lui.
Mais voici que le chien n'apporte plus de nourriture aux deux amis. Le seigneur est inquiet : « Comment allons-nous faire pour trouver à manger ? », interroge-t-il.
- « Prends ton manteau, et va quêter dans les environs », répond Roch.
Humiliation sans nom pour ce haut personnage, notoirement connu ! Cependant, encouragé par Roch, il part quêter pour l'amour de Dieu...
Devant chaque porte, il tend la main. Mais la besace reste vide, alors que pleuvent à profusion refus, injures et mauvais traitements. Paradoxalement; il accueille toutes ces épreuves avec un bonheur qu'il n'avait encore jamais connu dans les plaisirs de ce monde.
Enfin, après une longue course, il rapporte au malade tout juste deux petits pains. Mais Roch se réjouit de savoir que son bienfaiteur a souffert pour l'amour de Jésus-Christ.
Dès lors, ils partagent le quotidien. Roch explique au jeune seigneur la Sainte Écriture et lui enseigne la toute-puissance et la miséricorde de Dieu. Comme le Précurseur Jean le Baptiste, il évoque la pénitence, et comme le Christ, il rappelle le pardon de Dieu. Du fond du coeur, il désire que son ami rencontre le Christ et sa Bonne Nouvelle. Aussi prie-t-il dans le silence et la solitude de la forêt de Sarmato.
Voyant son ami vivre ce qu'il enseigne, Gothard désire lui aussi connaître la vie toute simple, toute sobre de pèlerin du Christ.
Un jour, tandis que Gothard revient de la ville et regagne la cabane, il entend une voix appeller : « Roch ! » La voix mystérieuse annonce au jeune malade qu'il est guéri et qu'il doit reprendre le chemin de sa patrie.
C'est ainsi que Gothard découvre enfin le nom de celui qui avait désiré rester un pèlerin anonyme, un serviteur inutile.
Arrive alors l'heure de la séparation dans une douleur réciproque. Mais dans les yeux et le coeur de Roch rayonne la joie d'avoir été témoin de la conversion de son bienfaiteur à la foi en l'unique Bon Pasteur.
Miraculeusement guéri, Roch reprend sa marche en direction de l'Hérault.
Prisonnier des hommes, libre pour Dieu
Traversant la Lombardie en direction de la province d'Angera, aux environs de Voghera, Roch est arrêté par des soldats qui le prennent pour un espion à la solde du Pape.
Conduit devant le gouverneur pour être
interrogé, il déclare être un humble serviteur de Jésus-Christ, et demande à ce
titre qu'on le laisse passer son chemin. Cette réponse jugée équivoque, il est
jeté dans un cachot. Cette épreuve est un purgatoire où il va souffrir avec
patience, dans l'abandon et la prière, les cinq dernières années de sa vie.
Aussi saint Roch est-il le secours des prisonniers, des condamnés, des oubliés de ce monde. Car jamais le jeune Montpelliérain n'a décliné sa véritable identité qui aurait pourtant pu le sauver, le gouverneur étant son oncle maternel.
Fidèle qu'il fut à rester jusqu'à la fin le pèlerin inconnu, humble et pauvre.
Pressentant que le Ciel l'appelle à quitter la terre, pour le grand pèlerinage vers son Seigneur, Roch fait demander un prêtre au gardien de la prison, pour recevoir le sacrement du pardon.
L'Ange de Dieu qui le réconforte en ses
derniers moments lui dit : « Roch, humble et loyal serviteur de Jésus, je suis
envoyé à toi de la part de Dieu le Père tout-puissant, afin que tu lui
présentes ton âme. Mais avant, fais-lui une requête, car de lui tu obtiendras
ce que tu demanderas. »
L'Ami de Dieu demande alors que tous ceux qui, au nom de Jésus et Marie, feront appel à son intercession, soient affranchis et délivrés de toutes maladies contagieuses.
Vers 1379, le lendemain de la fête de l'Assomption de la Vierge Marie, Roch entre avec joie dans sa pâque éternelle.
La veille, grâce à la croix rouge qui marque sa poitrine, son oncle - le gouverneur - et sa vieille grand-mère maternelle reconnaissent enfin l'illustre personnage dans l'anonyme prisonnier.
D'après les « Acta Breviora » (auteur
anonyme latin), un Ange inscrivit son nom en lettres d'or sur une tablette,
auprès de son corps transfiguré. Y était aussi contenu comment Dieu avait
accordé grâce à sa demande. À savoir : que tous ceux qui honoreraient avec foi
et humilité le glorieux Saint seraient protégés des épidémies de maladies
contagieuses.
Du coeur du peuple de Dieu à la gloire des autels
À ce jour, aucun historien n'a pu - même approximativement - situer l'endroit où se trouverait le tombeau du Saint, et l'église que l'on y aurait construite, où immédiatement commença sa dévotion. Nous avons seulement le témoignage que sa fête était célébrée à Voghera, en
À la fin du XVè siècle, les Vénitiens sont sans cesse éprouvés par l'épidémie de peste. Pour conjurer ce fléau, ils fondent des confréries dédiées au Saint, avec la vocation toute spéciale de soigner et d'ensevelir les pestiférés. Mais seules les reliques du saint thaumaturge leur paraissent être d'une protection vraiment efficace. Ils souhaitent donc les posséder pour la protection de leur cité. Selon une pratique fréquente à cette époque (3), ils décident de s'en emparer furtivement. L'enlèvement est opéré dans la nuit du 24 au 25 février 1485. En 1489, pour abriter ce précieux dépôt, Venise fait ériger un riche sanctuaire, qui sera décoré par les plus illustres artistes du XVIè au XVIIIè siècle.
Au XVIè siècle, sur le Campo San Rocco, on élèvera un somptueux palais : la « Scuola di San Rocco », siège de la confrérie qui allait devenir un foyer artistique (oeuvres du Tintoret) et centre d'oeuvres charitables, activités qui perdurent jusqu'à ce jour.
Dans les régions méditerranéennes où saint Roch a pèleriné, la dévotion des fidèles se porte de préférence vers les humbles ou bien les riches devenus pauvres par choix délibéré, et qui se sont distingués de leur vivant par leur charité, leur ascétisme, leur piété. Roch est de ceux-là !
Même en l'absence de toute reconnaissance officielle, le bon-sens baptismal du peuple de Dieu a reconnu en Roch un témoin de Dieu proche des petits, des malades, des exclus. Par sa bonté, sa ferveur et son charisme de guérison, il conduisit à Dieu ceux qui étaient abandonné de tous.
Son culte apparaît au début du XVè siècle et il se propage avec une telle ferveur populaire, qu'il est rapidement invoqué partout en Europe comme protecteur contre la peste et les maladies contagieuses.
Sous le pontificat de Grégoire XIII, saint Roch est introduit dans le martyrologe romain à la date du 16 août. Il est alors fêté non seulement à Maguelonne - son évêché d'origine - mais jusqu'au Danemark. Enfin, Urbain VIII approuve solennellement son culte, le 26 octobre 1629.
Pierantonio Mezzastris. Jésus-Christ Rédempteur et Saint
Roch, vers 1480, église de San Giacomo, Foligno
Comment ce jeune homme inconnu, qui n'a laissé ni parole, ni écrit, a-t-il pu être invoqué comme un saint dans tout l'Occident par vox populi, si peu de temps après sa courte vie ?
Plusieurs facteurs ont contribué à la propagation de ce culte :
- le charisme que Roch avait reçu pour guérir ses contemporains de la peste ; la grâce accordée par Dieu pour être le saint protecteur des maladies contagieuses ;-
- ses premiers témoins : la foule de tous ceux pour lesquels il a demandé et obtenu la guérison : son ami et disciple Gothard, ceux qui ont accompagné son séjour en prison. Quarante ans après sa mort, le lien est fait entre le guérisseur de Plaisance et le prisonnier ;
- la décision du concile de Ferrare qui, menacé en 1439 par une épidémie de peste, aurait prescrit des prières publiques pour demander l'intercession du Saint montpelliérain ;
- la publication à une date inconnue de
la première « Vie de saint Roch », en italien, traduite en allemand dès
1484. Un autre texte hagiographique d'un anonyme latin (fin XIVè ou début XVè
siècle) sera traduit en français en 1494 par un Dominicain, Jehan Phélipot. En
1483, parut à Venise une « Vie de saint Roch » de François Dideo,
professeur de Droit à Padoue ;
- le transfert d'une grande partie des reliques du Saint de Voghera à Venise, en 1485 ; les relations commerciales de ce port avec toute l'Europe firent le reste...
- le théâtre religieux contribue
aussi à sa popularité : en 1493, on joue un « Mystère de monseigneur saint Roch
»
À Montpellier, sa ville natale, le culte
de saint Roch fut assez lent à se mettre en place. Cela s'explique par le fait
que la partie de la vie de Roch où sa sainteté s'est clairement manifestée par
un charisme, se déroula en Italie où il mourut.
Le chanoine Jean Segondy rattache la naissance du culte de saint Roch à Montpellier, au passage du missionnaire dominicain saint Vincent Ferrier, en 1408 et en 1416. Entre 1410 et 1420, la ville de Montpellier lui dédie une chapelle qui se trouvait au couvent des Dominicains.
Une confrérie de Saint-Roch fut établie en l'église Notre-Dame des Tables, en 1661. Lors de la peste de Marseille, en 1720, il se fit à Montpellier des « processions, prières et jeûnes » pendant deux mois, le tout placé sous l'intercession de saint Roch.
Le plus ancien Ordo du diocèse conservé - celui de 1616 - ne souffle mot de saint Roch qui, par contre, est mentionné dans l'Ordo de 1748. Il faut attendre 1817 pour voir la publication à Montpellier de la plus ancienne « Vie » du saint. L'actuelle église Saint-Roch a été construite en 1865 par l'Abbé Recluz.
En 1832, une épidémie de choléra attire l'attention sur saint Roch, protecteur de la peste et des maladies contagieuses.
C'est à la suite de l'impression d'un recueil intitulé « Prières à Jésus, à la Sainte Vierge et à saint Roch pour tous les jours de la semaine contre les ravages du choléra-morbus », que le clergé - c'est là un fait nouveau - va guider la piété des fidèles et encourager la dévotion.
Aujourd'hui, chaque 16 août, la paroisse Saint-Roch de Montpellier fête son jeune pèlerin guérisseur dans un grand élan de ferveur populaire : messe chantée, vénération et procession des reliques à travers la ville.
À Pont d'Ouilly (Calvados), un Grand Pardon de saint Roch se déroule chaque année, le dimanche qui suit le 15 août.
En Lozère, un pèlerinage à saint Roch attirant des milliers de personnes a lieu tous les ans à L'Hospitalet de Lajo, près de Saint-Alban sur Limagnole (4).
À Hergnies (Nord), l'Association des amis de Saint-Roch organise chaque année une procession en l'honneur de saint Roch.
Dans les pays du Tiers Monde christianisés aux temps
modernes, le culte du pèlerin guérisseur atteste la permanence de la foi en son
intercession victorieuse du mal.
Vivre à Montpellier au siècle de saint Roch.
La ville. Elle est née en 985, de la vente d'un "manse" (5), et ses terres cultivables au premier seigneur de la dynastie des Guilhems. Ce manse se situait sur une colline entre l'antique Voie domitienne et la Route du sel, au Sud.
Le développement économique de la ville fut assuré dès le IVè siècle par la foi des pèlerins qui se rendaient à Saint-Jacques de Compostelle. De même que la foi des Croisés allait ouvrir, à la fin du XIè siècle, une route nouvelle et importance. Du XIè au XIIIè siècle, une prospérité croissante attira une population nombreuse : 10 000 habitants fin XIIè siècle, 40 000 habitants début XIVè siècle.
Dès 1090, une première enceinte de remparts fut dressée. L'expansion rapide de la ville nécessita, vers 1151, la construction d'une deuxième ceinture de remparts. C'étaient des murailles d'une épaisseur de deux mètres, hautes de sept à huit mètres. L'ensemble mesurait 3,8 km de pourtour, avec 25 tours de défense, hautes de 20 à 25 mètres.
De la dynastie des Guilhems aux Rois de France
La dynastie des Guilhems (de I à IX) a administré la Seigneurie de Montpellier, de sa création jusqu'en 1204, où Pierre, roi d'Aragon, devient seigneur de la ville. Durant un siècle et demi, rois d'Aragon et de Majorque seront seigneurs de Montpellier. Le 18 avril 1349, Jacques II de Majorque (Jacques III de Montpellier) vend Montpellier au Roi de France, Philippe VI de Valois, pour la somme de 120 000 écus d'or. Désormais, la cité aura un "gouverneur" du Roi de France.
L'Université de médecine
Début XIIè siècle, apparaît l'enseignement de la médecine. Dès 1123, on mentionne le premier médecin connu : il s'appelle André. En janvier 1180, Guilhem VIII promulgue les premiers statuts de l'enseignement universitaire à Montpellier. Il garantit la liberté d'enseigner pour tous, y compris les étrangers. Ces statuts sont élargis le 17 août 1220 par le Légat du pape Honorius III, le Cardinal Conrad. Ils spécifiaient que l'évêque de Maguelonne était à la tête de l'école de médecine. Le Chancellier, maître en médecine, faisait le lien entre l'université et l'évêché.
« En 1289, l'université de Montpellier est constituée, avec une école de médecine, qui est la plus ancienne d'Europe après Salerne, une école de droit, un corps professoral, des statuts, une délivrance de diplômes dont la validité est reconnue partout : en 1289, en effet, le pape Nicolas IV accède à la demande de l'évêque de Maguelonne et accorde aux diplômes de Montpellier la même valeur que ceux de Paris. De fait, ils permettront d'enseigner dans les autres universités, ce qui n'était pas le cas auparavant (6). »
Au Moyen-Âge, il n'existait pas de locaux propres à l'école de médecine. L'enseignement était privé. Les maîtres donnaient les cours à leur domicile. Les élèves choisissaient leurs maîtres, leur réglaient des honoraires pour avoir le droit de bénéficier de leurs connaissances et de leur expérience.
L'enseignement théorique portait sur des oeuvres d'auteurs gréco-latins (Hippocrate, Gallien, etc), judéo-arabes (Avicenne, Isaac, etc), montpelliérains (Bernard Gordon, Arnaud de Villeneuve, etc).
L'enseignement pratique consistait d'une part en visites de malades à domicile ; d'autre part, dans la rédaction des ordonnances dans les boutiques des apothicaires. Ce n'est qu'en 1340 que l'école de médecine eut un bâtiment où les professeurs purent donner leurs cours. À cette époque, ils étaient 25 pour 150 à 200 étudiants environ. Les réunions de professeurs se tenaient à l'église Saint-Firmin. Là et aussi à l'église Notre-Dame des Tables avaient lieu les examens de fin d'études.
Un médecin-chirurgien des plus renommés de l'époque fut Gui de Chauliac. Né en 1300 à Mende, d'origine modeste, il fit ses études à Montpellier. Il écrivit un traité : « La grande chirurgie », fut médecin des papes Clément VI, Innocent VI et Urbain V. Lors des épidémies de peste noire de 1348 et 1360, il se trouvait en Avignon.
À Montpellier, le XIVè siècle marqua le
début des dissections. Clément VI prit pour l'époque une mesure révolutionnaire
: il permit l'autopsie des pestiférés, pour tenter de découvrir l'origine du
mal.
Les apothicaires n'avaient pas encore d'école. Ils devaient prêter serment sur les saints Évangiles, s'engageant à préparer sans fraude les médicaments prescrits par les médecins.
Basilique Notre-Dame des Tables à Montpellier, France
L'église Notre-Dame des Tables
Dès avant 1050, l'église Sainte-Marie se profilait, avec son clocher haut et fin, sur la colline de Montpellier. C'était la halte des pèlerins pour Saint-Jacques de Compostelle. Ils venaient en foule prier et vénérer la Vierge noire, célèbre pour ses guérisons miraculeuses.
Durant le XIIè siècle, outre les pèlerins qui arrivaient de toute l'Europe occidentale, des marchands de tous les pays méditerranéens affluèrent à Montpellier pour traiter leurs affaires. Il fallait donc des changeurs pour transformer leurs diverses monnaies, avec le denier melgorien qui avait cours dans la ville. Ceux-ci s'installaient autour de l'église Sainte-Marie et étalaient leurs pièces sur des comptoirs, des tables : d'où le nom de « Notre-Dame des Tables ». C'est en 1189 que Mgr Jean de Montlaur instaura la fête de Notre-Dame des Tables, fixée au 31 août.
Cette église était le centre de la vie sociale, intellectuelle et spirituelle de Montpellier. Les étudiants en droit et en médecine y terminaient la soutenance de leur thèse. En 1096, avant de s'embarquer pour la première croisade de Godefroy de Bouillon, Guilhem V, seigneur de Montpellier, plaça les Montpelliérains sous la protection de la Vierge. Pour témoigner de sa confiance mariale, il choisit de la faire figurer sur son sceau. La Vierge Marie et l'Enfant-Jésus figuraient aussi sur le sceau des Consuls qui administraient la ville depuis 1204.
Les Consuls
C'est en 1204 que, pour la première fois, le seigneur de Montpellier accepte la constitution d'un consulat. La charte de 1204 précisait en 122 articles l'ensemble des lois et réglements de la ville, ainsi que les pouvoirs respectifs du seigneur et des consuls.
Le seigneur gardait la propriété de sa seigneurie et sa suzeraineté sur les terres vassales. De même que les domaines militaire et judiciaire restaient de sa compétence. Un transfert eut lieu pour les pouvoirs législatif, administratif et fiscal.
Douze consuls étaient élus pour un an. Ils devaient ou être nés à Montpellier, ou y résider depuis dix ans. En tout cas, désirer y demeurer.
L'élection avait lieu au mois de mars en présence du seigneur. Les consuls sortants se réunissaient avec un représentant des sept "échelles" (8).
L'Église au XIVè siècle
En 1309, le Pasteur de l'Église - Clément V - et la Curie romaine s'installèrent dans le Venaissin, près d'Avignon, minuscule domaine appartenant à l'Église. Ce devait être du provisoire, dans l'attente du retour de la paix en Italie. Jean XXII puis Benoît XII lui succédèrent.
Clément VI fut élu en 1342. Théologien, homme de culture, il rétablit le faste à la Cour d'Avignon. Il fait construire un nouveau palais, auquel travaillent des artistes venus de toute l'Europe. Pendant la peste noire de 1348, il donna un exemple de courage et de lucidité : il demeura en Avignon durant l'épidémie, condamna le fanatisme des flagellants et protégea efficacement les Juifs? En 1352, Innocent VI lui succède.
En 1362, Urbain V est élu Pape. C'est un moine bénédictin, Docteur en droit civil et canonique, qui avait enseigné à l'université de droit de Montpellier. En 1367, il décida de partir pour Rome. Dans un temps dévasté par les guerres, les famines et la peste, le retour de la papauté à Rome était le symbole d'une volonté nouvelle de retrouver toute une dimension spirituelle. Urbain V dut certainement être sensible aux injonctions de sainte Catherine de Sienne et de sainte Brigitte de Suède. Il entra à Rome le 16 octobre 1367. Mais bientôt, l'agitation reprit dans les états pontificaux, l'obligeant à regagner Avignon. Le 24 septembre 1370, il retrouvait la Cité des papes. C'est au cours de ces trois années qu'il accepta d'accorder une audience à saint Roch. Il mourut trois mois plus tard après son retour, ayant demandé à être enseveli comme les pauvres. De moeurs austères et de goûts modestes, il réagit contre le luxe exorbitant de la Cour pontificale. Il protégea les universités et fonda des collèges pour les étudiants pauvres. Le 10 mars 1870, Pie IX le béatifiait.
La guerre de Cent ans - Le Prince Noir
Officiellement ouverte en 1337 par Édouard III, roi d'Angleterre, qui rompit son hommage et refusa de reconnaître Philippe VI comme Roi de France, la guerre s'engagea en 1338.
Les hostilités reprirent en 1355. Le Prince Noir, Édouard, prince de Galles, prince d'Aquitaine, fils aîné d'Édouard III, âgé de 25 ans, débarqua à Bordeaux par la Gironde avec 72 vaisseaux et une armée de 3 500 hommes avec leurs chevaux. Aidé par les chevaliers gascons, qui y virent l'occasion de s'opposer au Roi, il sema la terreur en Gascogne, ravagea l'Armagnac, les environs de Carcassonne, de Narbonne, de Béziers. Il atteignit Castelnaudary. Les faubourg de Toulouse brûlèrent.
Dès que son arrivée signalée, les Montpelliérains eurent le temps de se réfugier à l'intérieur des remparts et de détruire les faubourgs. Les religieuses des couvents situés hors-les-murs trouvèrent asile auprès du Pape, en Avignon.
* * *
Dès la fin du XIVè et le début du XVè siècle, les nombreuses fractures, ruptures de la vie politique, économique, démographique, sociale et religieuse, furent vraisemblablement un élément porteur de culte rapide, éclatant et populaire de saint Roch.
Il n'en demeure pas moins beau et courageux qu'il repose sur l'engagement chrétien d'un jeune laïc montpelliérain.
Par amour du Christ et très tôt, il a accepté de donner toute sa fortune et ses biens aux pauvres, pour être pauvre à son tour comme le Christ.
Dépouillé de tout, comme le Christ, il s'est mis en route pour Rome, pour aller vénérer les tombeaux des Apôtres de Jésus-Christ : saint Pierre et saint Paul. En chemin, il sera appelé à rencontrer, à aimer, à servir, à soigner et à guérir les exclus et les rejetés de son temps : les pestiférés.
Il est le visage de l'Église proche des petits, des abandonnés, des malades, que la société fuit. Il est celui qui aime Dieu en aimant l'homme, celui qui, par son charisme, met le bonheur de Dieu dans les coeurs et les corps.
Le peuple lui sera fidèle : c'est lui - la vox populi - qui fera de lui : saint Roch ! À son tour, l'Église le reconnaîtra et le consacrera, pour le donner au monde comme saint pèlerin laïc que l'on invoque contre la peste et toutes les maladies contagieuses.
PRIÈRE À DIEU PAR L'INTERCESSION DE SAINT ROCH
Père infiniment bon,
Donne-moi l'humilité pour demander et accueillir ton
pardon pour tous mes manques d'amour.
Je me confie à toi, uni avec tous mes frères et soeurs qui sont seuls, malades, désespérés, avec ceux qui ne te connaissent pas encore, ceux qui ne t'aiment pas assez, comble de ta Présence nos corps et nos coeurs assoiffés d'Amour !
Esprit Saint,
Exauce notre humble demande :permets que la grâce
accordée par Dieu à saint Roch, de protection et de guérison des maladies
contagieuses,se répande en abondance sur ceux qui en sont atteints.
Que ta Lumière éclaire tous les scientifiquesdans leur
recherche contre ces fléaux.
Que ton Amour augmente en nos coeursla charité qui a
animé saint Roch au service des malades, des exclus, des oubliés,pour qu'ils
trouvent en toi : Lumière, Espérance et Paix.
Ouvre-nous à ta Bonté, pour que l'homme,la femme, l'enfant contagieux soient acceptés, accueillis, soignés et entourés.
Notre Seigneur et Ami qui nous guérit par ses saintes
Blessures.
Par l'intercession miséricordieuse de la Très Sainte
Vierge Marie,
Tendresse de Dieu pour l'Église et tous les hommes.
Saint Roch, laïc et pèlerin en Europe, pestiféré,
emprisonné ; toi qui guérissais les corps au nom de Jésus-Christ et amenais les
hommes à Dieu, présente-lui ma peine, mes souffrances ;que sa Lumière vienne
convertir mon coeur ; confiant en lui, j'attends l'heureux moment où sa grâce
viendra me toucher.
J'ai foi en sa Puissance, source de réconciliation, de
lumière, de paix.
Saint Roch, prie pour nous ! Saint Roch, intercède pour nous !
Amen !
Bibliographies
- " Vie, légende et miracles de Monseigneur saint Roch", Jehan Phélipot. Réédition avec notes sur l'édition de 1494, par Maurice Luthard (1917)
- " Le Problème de saint Roch ", Augustin Fliche, in "Analecta Bollandiana" 68 (1950), pp. 343-361
- " Montpellier, ville royale - XIVè- XVè siècle ", chanoine Jean Segondy. Dactyl. (1969), pp. 56-58.
- " Un saint populaire ? La lente renaissance du culte de saint Roch dans le diocèse de Montpellier durant la première moitié du XIXè siècle ", Gérard Cholvy. Montpellier (1971)
- " Roch, le mendiant du Christ " , M. Jalagnier. Montpellier (1971)
- " Pèlerins du Moyen-Âge " , Raymond Oursel. Fayard (1978)
- " Saint Roch, pèlerin de Dieu, secours des malades " , abbé René Berthier. Univers Média, Paris (1983)
- " Nouvelle contribution à l'étude de la vie authentique, de l'histoire et des légendes de Monseigneur saint Roch " , François Pitangue. Montpellier (1984)
- " La Mort noire, chronique de la peste " , Johannes Nohl. Payot (1986)
- " Saint Roch et la peste " , Marie-Odile Jeanjean. Thèse présentée et publiquement soutenue devant la Faculté de Médecine de Montpellier pour l'obtention du grade de Docteur en médecine (1988)
- " Histoire de Montpellier ", Collectif dirigé par Gérard Cholvy. Privat (1989)
- " Temps de crises, temps d'espoirs " , Alain Demurger. « Nouvelle Histoire de la France médiévale » (5) : X è - XVè siècle. Le Seuil (1990)
- " Montpellier la Médiévale " , Jacqueline Liault. Éd. Christian Lacour, Nîmes (1990)
- " Saint Roch dans son histoire, sa tradition, son culte, son art et son folklore à Venise " (en italien), Mgr Ermenegildo Fusaro. Venise (1991)
- " Saint Roch le guérisseur de l'impossible ", Françoise Bouchard. Résiac.
Notes :
Transcription. This article was
transcribed for New Advent by Herman F. Holbrook. Saint Roch, and all
ye holy Confessors, pray for us.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. February 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, D.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2020
by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the
Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Saint Roch
- Roc
- Rocco
- Roche
- Rochus
- Rock
- Rocke
- Rollock
- Rollox
- Roque
- Seemirookie
- 1327
at Montpelier or Angleria, France of natural causes
- relics
in Venice, Italy in the church of San Rocco; in Rome, Italy; and in Arles, France
- against cholera
- against diseased cattle
- against epidemics
- against knee problems
- against plague
- against skin diseases
- against skin rashes
- bachelors
- diseased cattle
- dogs
- falsely accused people
- invalids
- relief from pestilence
- surgeons
- tile makers
- Tagbilaran, Philippines, diocese of
- Drniš, Croatia
- Albaredo d’Adige, Italy
- Balzola, Italy
- Barano, Italy
- Butera, Italy
- Carbonara Scrivia, Italy
- Casalnoceto, Italy
- Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Italy
- Castropignano, Italy
- Cereseto, Alessandria, Italy
- Cernusco Lombardone, Italy
- Dusino San Michele, Italy
- Labico, Italy
- Lillianes, Italy
- Locorotondo, Italy (since 1787)
- Orsogna, Italy
- Patricia, Italy
- Potenza, Italy
- Pozzi, Italy
- Rocca Priora, Italy
- Trebisacce, Italy
- Asturias, Cebu, Philippines
- Subic Bay Freeport, Philippines
- Suwalki, Poland
- Constantinople
- Istanbul, Turkey
- angel
- bread
- dog
- pilgrim with staff,
often displaying a plague sore on his leg
- pilgrim with a dog
- pilgrim with a dog licking the plague spot
- pilgrim with a dog carrying a loaf of bread
in its mouth
Lorenzo Lotto (1480–). La Vierge Marie et l’enfant Jésus avec Saint Roch et saint Sébastien, vers 1522, 80 X 70, Florence, collection Sammlung Contini-Bonacossi
A Garner of Saints – Saint Roch
Article
Born at Montpellier
about the end of the thirteenth century. His parents had for a long time lived
without having any children, but God gave them this son in answer to the
prayers of the mother. The child early displayed his religious leanings, and
noted and practised fasting from his earliest days. His parents having died
before he had reached the age of twenty, he distributed the wealth which he
inherited from them as secretly as possible, and, habited as a pilgrim, set out
towards Rome. On reaching a place called Aquapendente he learned that the
plague had broken out with great violence and immediately went to the hospital
to offer his services. Admitted here, he touched the patients with his right
hand, making the sign of the cross, and thus healed them all. In this manner he
passed from town to town healing all who were stricken and being regarded as an
angel of God. Arrived at Rome he found the great city plunged in desolation by
the terrible Visitation. Here he pursued the same methods and inspired the
utmost confidence, the sick using every possible effort to place themselves in
his path. As the plague was abroad in the country districts, Saint Roch went
thither also, performing similar prodigies. In the hospital of Piacenza he fell
asleep one day and heard a voice telling him that he would be called upon to
suffer pain. On awaking he felt an acute pain in his left thigh and could
hardly refrain from crying out. He had himself taken the plague. Leaving the
hospital he refused to re-enter it, and the people, believing him to be mad,
chased him out of the town. He dragged himself with the help of his staff, to a
neighbouring forest, and took refuge in a small hut, praying the Lord not to
desert him. That instant a cloud descended from heaven on to the ground, and on
the spot where it rested a fountain of water welled up, from which he drank and
where he washed. Near the forest was a village to which many men had withdrawn
on account of the plague, among them being a man named Gothard, who kept a
number of servants and dogs for hunting. One day as he was sitting at table one
of these dogs came and took a piece of bread from his hand, carrying it to
Saint Roch, and he did the same at dinner and at supper. The master, thinking
that the animal had been starved, scolded his servants, but finding that the
dog was taking the bread to some person, he followed him and came upon Saint
Roch. The saint informed Gothard that he had the plague, upon which he went
home, but returned on the following day, on reflecting that he had shown
himself less merciful than his dog, and resolved to remain with the saint until
he should be healed. However, the dog ceased to bring the bread, and as they
became disquieted, Roch told his friend to put on the pilgrim’s habit and go to
ask alms. But the people only mocked and derided him, so that he brought back
no more than two loaves. Then Roch went into Piacenza and healed the sick in
the houses as well as in the hospital. As he retumed he was followed by a great
multitude, and heard a voice saying that his prayer was answered, that he was
cured of the plague and must return to his own country to practise penance.
Accordingly he went back to Montpellier in his pilgrim’s habit. Now the whole
country was desolated by war, and as he was praying in a church, he was
arrested as a spy, and being brought before his uncle who did not know him, he
was cast into prison. The place was foul and infested by scorpions, but he
lived a life of voluntary austerity in it, without a complaint. After he had
been detained there for five years, God revealed to him his approaching end, so
that he sent for a priest. When the priest came he found the cell illuminated
by a heavenly light, while rays of glory shone from the prisoner’s eyes. The noise
of this marvel spread, and people came from all parts to see the holy man. Soon
after he fell asleep and heard a voice offering to grant him whatever he might
ask, and he prayed that all those who sought his assistance might be delivered
from the plague. Placing himself on the ground, he lifted his eyes to heaven
and rendered his soul to God on 16th August 1327, at the age of thirty-two. At
that same moment a great light passed through the windows, to the astonishment
of the gaoler, who opened the door and saw the saint stretched on the ground,
lamps burning at his head and his feet, while at his side there rested a small
board on which was written, “All those who are smitten with the plague and who
have recourse to the intercession of Roch will be delivered from that malady.”
The body was buried with great pomp in the principal church of the town, at the
expense of the uncle, who had come to recognise his error after it was too
late. When the great council was being held at Constance, in the year 1414, the
plague broke out there and the bishops proposed to depart. However, a young
German, being inspired by God, advised them to carry the image of Saint Roch
through the town, and when they had done this the plague was immediately
stayed. The remains were afterwards stolen and carried off to Venice, where the
church of San Rocco was erected in his honour. Patron
saint against the plague. 16th August.
Attributes
- Dressed as a pilgrim, the
thigh exposed and showing a wound or plague spot; at his feet a dog
carrying bread.
MLA Citation
- Allen Banks Hinds, M.A.
“Saint Roch”. A Garner of Saints, 1900. CatholicSaints.Info. 26 April
2017. Web. 5 November 2020.
<https://catholicsaints.info/a-garner-of-saints-saint-roch/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/a-garner-of-saints-saint-roch/
Cima da Conegliano (1459–1517). Saint
Roch, vers 1502, 116,5 X 47, Musée des Beaux-Arts de
Strasbourg
Golden Legend – Life of Saint Rocke
Here followeth the Life
of Saint Rocke
Saint Rocke was born in
Montpelier, which is a town of great name upon the border of France, and was
born of noble progeny. His father was lord of Montpelier, and was named John,
and was come of the noble house of France. And though he was noble of birth,
and rich of lordship, he was also virtuous in all humanity. He had a wife of
noble kindred and fair of visage named Libera, which both devoutly served our
Lord Jesu Christ, and lived in divine love and holy works. And how well that
they thus had lived long, yet had they no child ne heir, wherefore they oft
made their prayers, and vowed pilgrimages. And on a day most specially, the
wife made her prayers to our Blessed Lady, praying devoutly for to have a
child, and was in very contemplation, in which she heard the voice of an angel
saying: O Libera, God hath heard thy prayer, and thou shalt receive of him
grace of thy petition. And anon she went to her husband and told him as she had
heard of the angel. And then they, hereof joyful, accomplished the act of
matrimony, and she conceived, and at time was delivered of a son, which in his
baptism was named Rochus or Rocke.And this Rocke had impressed in the shoulder
on his left side a cross, which was a token that he should be acceptable and
beloved of God, which thing when his father and mother saw they blessed God,
and his mother herself nourished and gave suck to the child, and fed it and
committed and did gladly the other business of a nurse. Which devout mother
fasted twice in the week, and the blessed child Rocke abstained him twice also,
when his mother fasted in the week, and would suck his mother but once that
day, which was to all a great wonder, and that day he was gladder, merrier, and
sweeter than the other. And after, when he came to five years of age, he
disposed him to the works of penance, and was much obedient to father and
mother.
And in the twelfth year
of his age he fasted many and divers fastings for Christ’s love. And the more
his members grew, the more the cross, that tofore was spoken of, appeared
larger and more apparent.
In that time the father
of Saint Rocke was sick and saw his last end approach, and called to him his
son Rocke, and said: O mine only son Rocke, thou seest well that I shall
shortly finish my life; alway the will of God be fulfilled, and four things,
with my lordship and heritage, I leave to thee, and command thee to accomplish.
First, like as thou hast begun that thou serve busily God. Secondly, that thou
remember poor people, widows and orphans. Thirdly, I constitute and ordain thee
governor and dispenser of all my treasures, that thou dispend them in
charitable and meek works. And fourthly that, with all diligence thou haunt and
frequent the hospitals of sick and poor men. These foresaid things Rocke
promised to his father to fulfil them to his power. And anon after his father
died, whom Rocke buried honourably, and laid in a sepulture, and in the
twentieth year of his age he buried also his devout mother. And in few days he
executed the testament of his father effectually, and visited religious places
of poor people; wretches oppressed, and sick men, he cured by counsel and
works; widows and orphans he comforted; and poor maidens to marry he relieved.
And in these good offices and works he dispended his father’s goods. And when
he had finished his father’s commandments he decreed to leave the country of
Montpelier and to make and seek other divers pilgrimages, and clad him with the
habit of a pilgrim, and covered his head with a bonnet, a scrip on his
shoulder, and a pilgrim’s staff in his right hand, and so departed.
And after many desert
places he came to Rome, but tofore he came into a town called in Latin
Aquapendens, where as was a common and hard pestilence, which, when Rocke knew
of many by the way, he desirously went unto the hospital of that town, called
Water-hanging, and gat with great prayers and labour of one Vincent, which had
the rule of the hospital, that he might there, day and night, serve the sick
people. Vincent was afeard and dreaded lest Rocke, which was a young flowering
man should be smitten with pestilence. But after that he came, them that were
sick he blessed in the name of Christ, and as soon he had touched the sick men
they were all whole. And they said and confessed as soon as and this holy man
Rocke was come in. All they that were vexed and sick, and the fire of
pestilence had infected, he extincted it and delivered all the hospital of that
sickness. And after he went through the town, and each house that was vexed
with pestilence he entered, and with the sign of the cross and mind of the
passion of Jesu Christ he delivered them all from the pestilence. For
whomsoever Rocketouched, anon the pestilence left him. And when the town of
Water-falling was delivered from the contagion of the pestilence, Rocke went to
the city of Cesena which is a great city of Italy, which no less pestilence
vexed, and he in a short space delivered it from the pestilence. And from
thence he came to Rome, which was then so full of pestilence that unnethe in all the town could not be
found one house void thereof. In those days there was at Rome a cardinal of the title of
Angleria, which is a province of Lombardy, and the blessed Rocke came into
this cardinal‘s place. And as he
stood tofore him a little, suddenly a marvellous comfort and hope entered into
the courage of the cardinal.
He understood the young
man Rocke to be right dear with God, for his cheer, his manners, and his
attemperance showed it, wherefore he commended him to Rocke that he should
deliver him from the pestilence and conserve him. And then Rocke did sign in
the cardinal‘s forehead and made
with his finger a cross. And anon an apparent sign and a very cross was seen
impressed in his forehead, and so the cardinal was preserved from
the pestilence. Nevertheless, for the novelty of the thing, he prayed Saint
Rocke that the token of the cross should be taken away, lest thereby it should
be to the people a new spectacle. Then Rocke exhorted the cardinal that he should
bear the sign of the cross of our Redeemer, in memory of his passion, in his
forehead perpetually, and worship it reverently, by which sign he was delivered
from the hard pestilence.
The cardinal then brought Saint
Rocke to the pope, which anon saw that is godly, a bright ray and heavenly,
shining out of the forehead of Rocke. And after, when his divine virtue was
known to the pope, Rocke obtained of him full remission of sin. Then the cardinal began to inquire
of Rocke of his lineage and of his country, but Rocke affecting no mortal
glory, hid his lineage and received again of the pope his blessing and departed
from him. And abode at Rome with the same cardinal three years
continually, and laboured in visiting and helping the poor people and them that
were sick of the pestilence. And after three years the cardinal, being old, died, and
Rocke forsook Rome and came to the town of Armine, a noble city of Italy, which
also he delivered from the said pestilence. And when that town was delivered,
he went to the city of Manasem in Lombardy, which was also sore oppressed with
sick men of the pestilence, whom with all his heart he served diligently, and
by the help of God made that town quit of the pestilence. And from thence went
to Piacenza, for he understood that there was great pestilence. Rocke was ever
of great study how he might, in the name of Jesu and of his passion, deliver
mortal men from the hurt of pestilence. And so an whole year he visited the
houses of poor men, and they that had most need, to them he did most help, and
was always in the hospital. And when he had been long in the hospital of
Piacenza, and had helped almost all the sick men therein, about midnight he
heard in his sleep an angel thus saying:
O Rocke, most devout to
Christ, awake and know that thou art smitten with the pestilence, study now how
thou mayst be cured. And anon he felt him sore taken with the pestilence under
his both arms, and he thereof gave than kings to our Lord. And he was so sore
vexed with the pain, that they that were in the hospital were deprived of their
sleep and rest of the night, wherefore Saint Rocke arose from his bed and went
to the utterest place of the hospital, and lay down there abiding the light of
the day. And when it was day the people going by saw him, and accused the
master of the hospital of offence, that he suffered the pilgrim to lie without
the hospital, but he purged him of that default, saying that: The pilgrim was
smitten with the pestilence as ye see, and unwitting to us he went out. Then
the citizens incontinent put out Saint Rocke from the city and suburbs, lest by
him the city might be the more infected. Then Saint Rocke, sore oppressed with
fervent pain of the pestilence, suffered patiently himself to be ejected out of
Piacenza, and went into a certain wood, a desert valley not far from Piacenza,
always blessing God. And there as he might he made him a lodge of boughs and
leaves, always giving thankings to our Lord, saying: O Jesu, my Saviour, I
thank thee that thou puttest me to affliction like to thine other servants, by
this odious ardour of pestilence, and most meek Lord, I beseech thee to this
desert place, give the refrigery and comfort of thy grace.And his prayer
finished, anon there came a cloud from heaven by the lodge that Saint Rocke had
made within boughs, whereas sprang a fair and bright well, which is there yet
unto this day. Whose water Saint Rocke drank, being sore athirst, and thereof
had great refreshing of the great heat that he suffered of the pestilence
fever.
There was nigh unto that
wood a little village in which some noblemen dwelled; among whom there was one
well beloved to God named Gotard,which had great husbandry, and had a great
family and household. This Gotard held many hounds for hunting, among whom he
had one much familiar, which boldly would take bread from the board. And when
Rocke lacked bread, that hound, by the purveyance of God, brought from the
lord’s board bread unto Rocke. Which thing when Gotard had advertised oft that
he bare so away the bread, but he wist not to whom ne whither, whereof he marvelled,
and so did all his household. And the next dinner he set a delicate loaf on the
board, which anon the hound by his new manner took away and bare it to Rocke.
And Gotard followed after and came to the lodge of Saint Rocke, and there
beheld how familiarly the hound delivered the bread to Saint Rocke. Then Gotard
reverently saluted the holy man and approached to him, but Saint Rocke,
dreading lest the contagious air of the pestilence might infect him, said to
him: Friend, go from me in good peace, for the most violent pestilence holdeth
me. Then Gotard went his way and left him, and returned home, where, by God’s
grace, he said thus to himself all still: This poor man whom I have left in the
wood and desert, certainly is the man of God, sith this hound without reason bringeth to him bread. I therefore, that
have seen him do it, so ought sooner to do it, which am a Christian man. By
this holy meditation Gotard returned to Rocke and said: Holy pilgrim, I desire
to do to thee that thou needest, and am advised never to leave thee. Then Rocke
thanked God which had sent to him Gotard, and he informed Gotard busily in the
law of Christ. And when they had been awhile together the hound brought no more
bread. Gotard asked counsel how he might have bread, for more and more he
hungered and asked remedy of Saint Rocke. Saint Rocke exhorted him after the
text, saying: In the sweat of thy visage thou shalt eat thy bread, and that he
should return to the town, and leave all his goods to his heirs, and follow the
way of Christ and demand bread in the name of Jesu. Then Gotard was ashamed to
do so where he was known, but at the last by the busy admonition of Saint Rocke,
Gotard went to Piacenza, whereas he had great knowledge, and begged bread and
alms at the door of one of his gossips. That same gossip threatened sharply
Gotard, and said he shamed his lineage and friends by this foul and indecent
begging, and put him away, being wroth and scorning him. For which cause Gotard
was constrained to beg busily at the doors of other men of the city. And the
same day the gossip that so had said to Gotard was taken sore with the
pestilence, and many others that denied alms to Gotard. And then anon the city
of Piacenza was infect with contagious pestilence, and Gotard returned to the
wood and told to Saint Rocke all that was happed.
And Saint Rocke told to
Gotard tofore, that his gossip should hastily die, which was done indeed. And
Saint Rocke, moved with pity and mercy, being full sick, went into Piacenza,
being full of pestilence, and left Gotard in the wood. And though Saint Rocke
were sore vexed with the pestilence, yet he with great labour went to Piacenza
and with touching and blessing he helped and healed them all, and also cured
the hospital of the same city. And he being sore sick and almost lame returned
again to Gotard into the wood. And many that heard that he and Gotard were in
the place of the desert valley,came to them whom they found all with Rocke, and
tofore them all he did these miracles. The wild beasts which wandered in the
wood, what hurt, sickness or swelling they had, they ran anon to Saint Rocke,
and when they were healed they would incline their heads reverently and go
their way. And a little while after Gotard, and his fellows, for certain
necessities and errands, returned into Piacenza and left that time Saint Rocke
alone in the valley. And Saint Rocke made his prayers to Almighty God that he
might be delivered from the wounds of pestilence, and in this prayer he fell
asleep. And in the meanwhile returned Gotard from the city, and when he came
and joined him to Rocke sleeping, he heard the voice of an angel saying: O
Rocke, friend of God, our Lord hath heard thy prayers, lo, thou art delivered
from the pestilence, and art made all whole, and our Lord commandeth that thou
take the way toward thy country. With this sudden voice Gotard was astonished
which never tofore knew the name of Rocke. And anon Rocke awoke, and felt
himself all whole by the grace of God like as the angel said. And Gotard told
unto Rocke how he had heard the angel and what he had said. Then Saint Rocke
prayed Gotard that he should keep his name secret and to tell it to no man, for
he desired no worldly glory. Then after a few days Saint Rocke with Gotard and
his fellows abode in the desert, and informed them all in godly works, and they
then began to wax holy, wherein he exhorted them and confirmed, and left them
in that desert valley. And Saint Rocke, as a pilgrim doing penance, entended,
burning in the love of God, toward his country and came to a province of
Lombardy called Angleria, and applied him toward Almaine, where the lord of his
province made war with his enemy, whose knights took Saint Rocke as a spy, and
delivered him to their lord as a traitor. This blessed saint, always confessing
Jesu Christ, was deputed unto a hard and strait prison, and the blessed Rocke
patiently went into prison and suffered it gladly. Where day and night
remembering the name of Jesu, he commended him to God, praying that the prison
should not disprofit him, but that he might have it for wilderness and penance.
And there he abode five years in prayers.
In the end of the fifth
year, when God would that his soul should be brought into the fellowship of his
saints, and be always in the sight of God, he that bare meat to Saint Rocke
into the prison, as he was accustomed every day, he saw a great light and
shining in the prison, and Saint Rocke kneeling on his knees praying, which all
these things he told to his lord. And the fame hereof ran all about the city,
so that many of the citizens ran to the prison because of the novelty of this
thing. And there saw and beheld it and gave laud thereof to Almighty God, and
accused the lord of cruelty and woodness. Then at the last, when Saint Rocke
knew by the will of God that he should finish his mortal life, he called to him
the keeper of the prison, and prayed him that he would go to his lord, and to
exhort him in the name of God and of the glorious Virgin Mary, that he would
send to him a priest, of whom ere he died he
would be confessed, which thing was anon done. And when he had confessed him to
the priest and devoutly taken
his blessing, he prayed him that he might abide alone three days next following
for to be in his contemplation, by which he might the better have mind of the
most holy passion of our Lord. For Rocke felt well then that the citizens
prayed the lord for his deliverance, which things the priest told to the lord.
And so it was granted to Saint Rocke to abide there alone three days. And in
the end of the third day the angel of God came to Saint Rocke, saying thus: O
Rocke, God sendeth me for thy soul, of whom in this last part of thy life that
what thou now desirest thou shouldest now ask and demand. Then Saint Rocke
prayed unto Almighty God with his most devout prayer, that all good christian
men which reverently prayed in the name of Jesu to the blessed Rocke might be
delivered surely from the stroke of pestilence. And this prayer so made, he
expired and gave up the ghost.
Anon an angel brought
from heaven a table divinely written with letters of gold into the prison,
which he laid under the head of Saint Rocke. And in that table was written that
God had granted to him his prayer, that is to wit, that who that calleth meekly
to Saint Rocke he shall not be hurt with any hurt of pestilence. And then after
the third day the lord of the city sent to the prison that Saint Rocke should
be delivered out of it. And they that came to the prison found Saint Rocke
departed from this life, and saw through all the prison a marvellous light, in
such wise that without doubt they believed him to be the friend of God. And
there was at his head a great taper burning, and another at his feet, by which
tapers all his body was light. Furthermore, they found under his head the
foresaid table, by which they knew the name of the blessed Rocke by authority,
which name known, the mother of the lord of that city knew many years tofore
Saint Rocke to be the son of the lord John of Montpelier, which was brother
germain to this lord of whom we have said, which thing, and all that was done,
was because they knew not his name. Then they knew him to be nephew to the
lord, and also by the sign of the cross which Saint Rocke bare, as tofore is
said that he had it when he was born out of his mother’s belly. Then they being
thereof penitent, and in great wailing and sorrow, at the last with all the
people of the city they buried Saint Rocke solemnly and religiously, which soon
after the holy saint was canonised by the pope gloriously. And in his glorious
name and honour they builded a great and large church. Then let us reverently
with devotion pray unto this glorious saint Saint Rocke, that by his
intercession and prayer we may be delivered from the hard death of pestilence
and epidemic, and that we may so live in this life and be penitent for our
sins, that after this short life we may come unto everlasting life in heaven.
Amen. The feast of Saint Rocke is always holden on the morn after the day of
the Assumption of our Lady, which life is translated out of Latin into English
by me, William Caxton.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/golden-legend-life-of-saint-rocke/
_Saint_Roche.jpg)
École de Giovanni Andrea Donducci (1575–1655).
Saint Roch, XVIIe siècle, 75 X 83
Weninger’s Lives of
the Saints – Saint Roch, Confessor
Article
The parents of
Saint Roch, who were of high nobility and enjoyed great wealth, for many years
had no offspring. Appealing to the Blessed Virgin, they begged her
intercession, that they might be blessed w ith a child, who would make good use
of their riches, and serve God with fervor and zeal. Their prayer was heard. At
Montpellier, in France, in the year 1284, a son was born to them. Roch, as they
named the child sent them by heaven, manifested, in his most tender infancy,
that God had a great future in store for him. He was born with a red cross upon
his breast On Wednesdays and Saturdays, he would partake of nourishment from
his mother’s breast but once. The easiest way to quiet him when he cried, was
to show him a picture of the Blessed Virgin, or give him one in his little
hands. The careful education which his parents gave him, preserved his
innocence. At the age of twenty, he lost his parents, and was left in
possession of a large fortune. Fearing, however, that he could not save his
soul as a ‘rich man, and preferring eternal to temporal goods, he resolved to
follow Christ in poverty, and taking all the ready money he had, he gave it to
the poor. He did the same with the proceeds of a few of the estates which he
sold. He left the administration of the rest of his property to his uncle,
assumed a pilgrim’s garb and left home, intending to go to Rome. He lived by
alms on his journey, and suffered much misery. Arriving on Tuscan ground, he
was informed that, in Aquapendente, a pestilence was making terrible havoc
among the inhabitants. Feeling an intense desire to nurse those attacked by the
dreadful malady, and to offer his life to God as a sacrifice of Christian
charity, he went to the hospital, begged permission to attend the sick, and
immediately began to serve them with the most self-sacrificing devotion. It
seemed as if God rewarded him by relieving the whole city; for, the pestilence
ceased to rage, and the people were soon restored to their former health. The
same took place at Cesena, whither the Saint had gone, on hearing that the
pestilence had appeared there. Finally he reached Rome, but only to find many
of the people dying of the contagion. The Cardinal, who had heard his
confession and was therefore acquainted with his innocence and virtue, asked
him to pray God to avert this evil from the city. The saint obeyed and received
from God the assurance that his prayer was heard. The result confirmed the
truth of this revelation; for, the city was immediately freed from the disease.
For three years, Saint Roch remained in Rome, praying, visiting the churches
and tending the sick. When he left Rome, he visited several other cities where
he performed similar acts of charity, all with the willingness and joy of a
heart devoted to God. Among these places was Piacenza, where the saint waited,
for a considerable time, upon those stricken with the pestilence. At last it
was the will of God that he himself should be seized with a very painful
malady. He suffered so intensely, that he frequently broke out into loud
lamentations. That the other sick should not be disturbed by his moans, he
requested to be laid on the public street. This was done; but the people in the
neighborhood, fearing that they might become contaminated by his malady, forced
the Saint to leave the city for which he had done so much. He was was not disturbed
by this, but rather rejoiced as it made him resemble his Saviour who always
repaid evil with good. Taking his staff in his hand, he mustered all his
remaining strength, and with the greatest effort, dragged his sick body outside
of the gates of the city. In some woods near by, he found a little hut, which
he entered and laid himself down upon the floor, hoping that there, forsaken by
men, he would end his life. But it was God’s will that he should live longer to
suffer and thereby increase his merit. Not far from the wood stood a castle,
the residence of a nobleman. One of the dogs of this gentleman, during the
dinner, took some food from the table, and carried it straight to the hut. This
was frequently repeated. Near the hut was a spring, where the Saint could
quench his thirst, bathe his wounds and allay his pains. As soon as he had
recovered from his malady,- he re-entered Piacenza, where the pestilence was
still carrying off numbers, and making the sign of the cross in all the streets
and over the hospitals, he cured all who were ill with the pestilence. The
people, becoming aware to whom they owed their deliverance, came in crowds to
the Saint to express their gratitude. But he went back to his hut. A divine
voice admonished him to return to his native place, as new ordeals awaited him.
He obeyed without hesitation, and after passing through great hardships,
arrived in France.
His severe
fasts, all the difficulties and sufferings he had undergone had so altered his
appearance, that none recognized him; and the people of the very village which
had once belonged to him, believing him to be a spy, arrested and conducted him
to Montpellier, his native place. The governor, before whom they took him, was
his uncle, but not even he could recognize the Saint, who being unwilling to
make himself known, incurred greater suspicion, and was cast into prison, where
he remained for five long years. He desired to resemble his Saviour in this
also, as “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” He spent all his
time in praying and praising God. When the day and hour of his death were
revealed to him, he asked the jailer to send him a priest, that he might make
his confession. The priest came and found him resplendent with heavenly light.
Having heard his confession, and thus becoming aware of his holiness, he
immediately went to the governor and told him how he had found the prisoner,
and added that verily they had imprisoned not only an innocent man, but a very
great Saint. Although the governor laughed at the priest’s words, he
nevertheless ordered the jailer to investigate the matter. When the jailer
received the message, he went to see the Saint, and on opening the door found
the whole prison filled with a supernatural light, and the prisoner stretched
on the ground, a corpse. A tablet lying beside him, told his name. The
governor, awestruck at this information, imparted it immediately to his mother,
who was Saint Roch’s grand-mother. Hastening to the prison, the lady
recognized, by the red cross on his breast, that he was indeed her grandson,
whom she had long mourned as dead. The feelings of the inhabitants of the city,
especially those of the Saints relatives, can well be imagined. The holy death
of this great servant of God took place in the 34th year of his age. The
obsequies of the Saint were conducted with great magnificence, and Saint Roch
was thenceforth honored as a special patron against pestilence, and his
intercession was invoked to avert it, with the most beneficial results.
.jpg)
Diego Polo the Younger (1619–1655). San Roque, vers 1640, 193 X 142, Museo del Prado
Practical
Considerations
• Saint Roch
doubted the possibility of saving his soul while in possession of great
temporal wealth, and therefore resolved to live according to the example of
Christ, in voluntary poverty. The possession of worldly riches in itself does
not prevent us from obtaining heaven. We may be rich and yet save our souls. A
great many Saints, who possessed large fortunes, are examples of this, although
it cannot be denied, that the riches of this world have prevented many persons
from saving their souls, and are the occasion of eternal damnation. Christ
Himself confirms this in the following words: “Amen I cay to you, that a rich
man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven; and again I say to you it is
easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to
enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matth. xix.) Many make themselves deserving
of damnation on account of their riches, because they have obtained them by
unjust or sinful means, as has already been said; others, because they do not
return ill-gotten goods to the rightful owner; others, again, because they do
not use their money well, but squander it frivolously, give too little of it to
the poor, and employ it for the purpose of committing sin. Many merit damnation
by means of their wealth, because they set their hearts too much upon their
possessions, loving them inordinately, even more than their God. They think
very little of their salvation, of eternity, but only how they can preserve and
increase their means, like the rich man in the Gospel, who says: “What shall I
do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? I will pull down my barns
and build greater, and into them I will gather all things that are grown to me,
and my goods. And I will say to my soul: Soul, you hast much goods laid up for
many years; take thy rest, eat, drink, make good cheer. (Luke 12) Saint Paul
calls avarice, “idolatry.” (Ephesians 5) because, as Saint Thomas explains it,
an avaricious man worships his money and his possessions like an idol, and loves
them more than the true God. “I have become rich, I have found me an idol,”
said Ephraim. (Hosea 12) Is it surprising that an idolator is damned? Any one
considering all this, will not wonder that Saint Roch feared that he would not
attain to salvation while in possession of great riches. Yet God does not
demand that all should abandon their wealth and leave it to the poor, as Saint
Roch did, but only, that, when they rightfully possess it, they set not their
hearts upon it. He wills that they make good use of it. But when they possess
it unlawfully, He demands that they shall, under pain of damnation, restore it
to the rightful owner.
• Saint Roch
desired more fervently to obtain treasures in heaven than those of earth, and
to acquire them, he lived in voluntary poverty, nursed the sick, patiently bore
hardships and trials, and exercised other virtues until the end. Oh, how wisely
Saint Roch acted in this! Temporal riches are vain; they cannot fill the heart
with satisfaction and happiness. They are difficult to get, require much labor
and anxiety, and when obtained, are uncertain. They are so easily lost again!
In one hour, the richest man may become a beggar. But even if we keep them
until the end of our life, we must leave them behind us when we die. We cannot
take them with us to the other world. They do not protect us from sickness or
accident. They do not prevent death from approaching us, much less, its taking
us away. They do not shield us from the wrath of the Most High. “Whom does
death spare on account of his riches?” asks Saint Basil. From whom does
sickness depart in consideration of his ‘money?” “Neither shall their gold or
their silver deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord,” says the Holy
Ghost. (Sophon. I) Neither at death nor at the judgment will they bring
comfort, if they are not employed well. Yes, even their remembrance is a sting
to the rich, as is said in Holy Writ: “O death, how bitter is the remembrance
of thee to a man that has peace in his possessions,” (Eccl. 41) Quite different
is the comfort imparted by heavenly riches. These are possessions that fill the
heart with real happiness. Having obtained them, we may possess them in
security; no one can rob us of them. They console us in our last hour, and we
take them with us to the other world. They speak for us at the throne of God
and cheer us. Although they are not able to ward off physical death, they
obtain for us life everlasting, and bring us into possession of an inheritance,
which we shall retain in peace and security for all eternity. Who, then would
not rather endeavour to procure these treasures than those which this world
gives and again takes away? By good works, by the exercise of patience in
crosses and sufferings, by the practice of virtue, by keeping the commandments
of God and of the church, we can obtain them. “If you desire to be rich, to
possess wealth, my dear brethren,” says Saint Gregory, “seek after real
treasures.” Real treasures are those which are spiritual and heavenly. To this
the Saviour exhorts us: “Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth, where the
rust and the moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither the rust nor the moth
consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” (Matthew 6)
MLA Citation
- Father Francis Xavier
Weninger, DD, SJ. “Saint Roch, Confessor”. Lives
of the Saints, 1876. CatholicSaints.Info. 9 April
2018. Web. 5 November 2020.
<https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-roch-confessor/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-roch-confessor/
.jpg)
Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli (1573–1626),
San Rocco, vers 1613, Chiesa Parrocchiale di Borgomanero, Novara
Pictorial
Lives of the Saints – Saint Roch, Confessor
Article
The date of the
birth of Saint Roch can not be determined with exactness, but it is said that
he was born about 1295, at Montpellier. His father held a position of power and
influence in the city. After the death of his parents, when he was about twenty
years of age, the young man had no inclination to take his father’s position,
but handed over the government to his uncle. He then distributed his wealth to
the poor and set out on a journey to Italy. At that time many people were
afflicted with the plague, and the young man, dressed as a pilgrim, devoted his
time, energy, and prayers to the care of those who had been stricken. Wherever
he went the plague disappeared before him, due to the fact that God gave him
the power of working miracles in behalf of those who were suffering from the
terrible disease. Having contracted the malady himself, from which he recovered
in the course of time, the young man went back to his own city in the year
1322. Not wishing to make himself known, he was cast into prison as a spy and
died there five years later in the year 1327. When his identity became known
from some papers in his possession, he was accorded a public funeral, which was
the occasion of numerous miracles.
The relics of
Saint Roch are venerated at Venice, and the Church has established an
arch-confraternity in his house. His feast is celebrated on the 16th of August.
MLA Citation
- John Dawson Gilmary
Shea. “Saint Roch, Confessor”. Pictorial
Lives of the Saints, 1922. CatholicSaints.Info. 14 December
2018. Web. 5 November 2020.
<https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-roch-confessor/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-roch-confessor/
Bernardo Strozzi (1581–1644), San Rocco, vers 1640, 78 X 67, Scuola Grande di San Rocco
Tertiary Saints – Saint Roch of Montpellier, Tertiary of Saint Francis, 1327
Saint Roch is one of the
most popular saints. He is held in great veneration, not only in countries
which witnessed his virtues, but in every country of the world. Living among
those who were stricken with the plague, his thoughts went beyond the grave to
that life after death, when there shall be no grief, nor sorrow, nor hunger,
nor thirst, nor pain, and when death shall be no more. A faithful follower of
Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Roch truly loved the plaguestricken, like the
Seraphic Saint, he saw in them an image of the Savior stricken for the sins of
man.
Our Saint was born at
Montpellier, about 1295. He was of a very rich and noble family. His father,
named John, was governor of the city, his mother’s name was Libera. The husband
and wife faithfully observed the law of God. They looked upon their subjects as
children and brothers, and they gave plentiful alms for pious purposes. The
general esteem in which they were held, and the abundant possession of this
world’s goods did not complete their happiness. They were old, and they had no
children. They prayed without ceasing to Heaven, less to obtain from Providence
an heir to their immense fortunes, than a fervent disciple of Jesus Christ. One
day when Libera was at Notre Dame des Tables, making her usual petition before
the statue of the Mother of God, Jesus and Mary vouchsafed to grant her prayer.
She returned home, announced the good news to her husband, and they both
thanked God with tears of joy. Before long the promise of Heaven was fulfilled,
and Libera brought forth a child, who was named Roch. On his side a red cross
was deeply marked, an indication of his future work and sanctity. Libera
understood her duties as a mother, and determined to bring up this child of
benediction herself. Trained in virtue by his pious parents, Saint Roch grew both
in age and grace before God and man. When a mere child of five years, he at
times chastised his body, and he habitually deprived himself of all that
conduced to softness. Thus he prepared himself to become a docile instrument of
the Holy Spirit. His boyhood was spent in the practice of piety, penance, and
charity.
Saint Roch was barely
twenty when God deprived him of his father. His father’s last advice is worthy
of being compared to that which Tobias gave to his son. “Here I am,” said the
dying man, “on the point of leaving this life of trial and misery, to appear
before my God. As I have nothing in the world dearer than you, and as I have
constantly taken care to form your character, I think that I ought now to give
you some advice which will help you to spend the remainder of your life in
piety and innocence. Before all things, devote yourself to the service of God,
and rnediate diligently on the sufferings of our Divine Lord. Be the stay of
the widow, the orphan, and all those in misfortune. Above all, keep yourself
from avarice, the source of very many sins. Be eyes to the blind, and feet to
the lame, be the father of the poor, and know that by employing the property
which I leave you in works of mercy, you will be blessed by God and man.” The
pious youth shed tears, promised to faithfully follow this advice, and to
cherish it as a most sacred legacy. When he had closed the eyes of his father,
he buried the venerable old man with all the pomp due to his rank and fortune.
This wound to his affection was hardly healed before God took from him his
pious mother. Saint Roch bore this second trial with the same resignation and
the same noble sentiments as the first.
Left alone and
independent with an immense fortune at his disposal, the world was before him
with all its seductions and hopes, but our Saint was firm in his resolutions.
His heart was set on the things of Heaven. He joined the Third Order of Saint
Francis, resigned his principality in favor of his uncle, sold his possessions,
distributed the price to the poor, and having put on a pilgrim’s habit, he went
to Rome on foot, to visit the Tomb of the Holy Apostles.
The plague was making
fearful ravages at that time throughout the various provinces of Italy. When
Saint Roch arrived at Aquapendente, he went to the hospital of Saint John,
which was full of the plaguestricken, and offered himself to the
superintendent, named Vincent, to help him in his office of mercy. “I see,”
said Vincent, “that your charity and faith are not of a common kind, but your
youth and delicate health will never endure the hard work and deadly
exhalations of this house.” “Why,” said Saint Roch, “is it not mentioned in the
Lloly Scriptures that with God nothing is impossible? Is it not written that we
must practice charity if we wish to stand on the day of the last judgment?”
Overcome by these entreaties, and fearing to displease God if he deprived the
sick in the hospital of such unexpected help, Vincent conducted the holy
Tertiary to the plague-stricken. Saint Roch traced on the forehead of each of
them the sign of the cross, and immediately they were cured. He then went
through the entire city, and in the same manner delivered those whom he visited
from this terrible malady. At first a sort of stupefaction took possession of
everybody, but soon it was clear that this wonderful power was the result of
divine virtue. Everyone blessed God, and the young disciple of Saint Francis
was venerated as an angel sent from Heaven.
To escape the honors
which surrounded him, the Saint left Aquapendente secretly. He visited Cesena
and other cities of Italy, curing the plague-stricken as he went, and causing
many to bless the name of our Lord. At last he arrived at Rome. The mortality
there was frightful, the inhabitants were in the greatest consternation. The
servant of God manifested himself in the Eternal City by the same prodigies of
devotedness and charity, and soon the terrible scourge disappeared before the
power of his miracles. After having stayed at Rome a certain time and satisfied
his devotion at the Tomb of the Apostles, Saint Roch felt himself urged to
continue his journey. He turned his steps towards the north of Italy, and
visited Mantua, Modena, Parma, and several other cities. Wherever he passed the
sick were cured. Then God guided him to Piacenza. As soon as our Tertiary Saint
arrived there, he went to the hospitals again, devoted himself to the
plague-stricken, and, with the sign of the cross restored them all to health.
One night, when he was
quite worn out with fatigue and want of sleep, he threw himself on a pallet to
take a little rest, and he heard a voice which said to him: “Roch, My son, you
have borne many fatigues for My sake, journeys, cold, hunger, work of all
kinds, now for love of Me, you must also suffer great pains in your body.”
At the sound of this
voice the Saint awoke, and felt as if a ploughshare had passed over his side.
After having assisted so many sick people himself, he was at last laid low with
a sickness that without intermission caused him fearful sufferings. God also
struck him with the plague. Then raising his eyes to Heaven, Saint Roch cried
out: “Oh, sweetest Jesus! I thank Thee for having vouchsafed to remember Thy
servant. I offer Thee this pain and I am thankful for it as a gift from Thy
hand. It is thus that Thou dost visit a wretched and sinful creature. This
visit is sweet and dear to my soul. Coming from Thee, death is a gain to me.”
However, his pains were so severe that he could not restrain his moans and
groans, and day and night his sharp pangs drew from him piercing cries. Other
sick arrived every day at the hospital, taking the place of those he had cured,
and being disturbed by the groans and cries of the servant of God, they
grumbled, made complaints, and begged him to stop his shrieking and to bear his
sufferings with patience as others did. We must here remark that the cries of
the Saint were surely no sign of want of patience, but only an involuntary
effect of his great sufferings. The outward signs of pain do not displease God,
if the soul is resigned and perfectly submissive to His good pleasure. Our Lord
Himself, the Divine model of the afflicted, showed many signs of sorrow and
suffering during His Sacred Passion.
Not wishing to be a
burden to the other sick in the hospital, Saint Roch resolved to go away. He
summoned his strength, arose from his pallet and, dragging himself painfully
along with the help of l|is stick, he went out. When he arrived in the street,
he was bewildped, he could not take another step, and sank to the ground in an
agony of pain. The passers-by, seeing him in this state, murmured against the
superintendent of the hospital, accusing him of inhuman conduct, and implored
him to again receive the helpless sick man into the hospital. The
superintendent declared that he had not turned him out, but that Saint Roch had
gone away of his own accord out of extreme delicacy. The conduct of the Saint
then appeared to have been prompted by insanity, and God permitted that
notwithstanding all the good he had done in the city, he should be led out of
it as a madman who might become dangerous.
With great difficulty
Saint Roch reached the neighboring forest. There he fell down, worn out with
fatigue, at the foot of a cornelian tree. He rested for some time, then
perceiving a small ruined hut, he entered it and said to our Lord; “Oh, God! I
know how dear I am to Thy majesty, inasmuch as Thou hast deigned to make me
endure pains so justly deserved. I have not treated the sick with all the
charity which Thy love deserved from me. Have pity on my weakness, and do not
forsake me. Oh, most good Lord, do not leave me to perish, alone among wild
beasts.” God, Who never forsakes those who trust in Him, heard his prayer. A
gentle rain began to fall near the door of his hut and formed a little stream.
Saint Roch quenched his thirst at the streamlet, and washed his wounds, and
thus alleviated for a time his racking pains.
Divine Providence
employed other means, far more miraculous, to feed the Saint. He, Who took care
of the Prophet Elias, and of Saint Paul in the desert by sending daily bread by
means of a crow, made use of another messenger, more intelligent and not less
faithful, to bring at regular times the bread necessary for the subsistence of
Saint Roch. Not far from his retreat there were some fine country houses, where
wealthy inhabitants of the city had retired to escape from the plague. In one
of these houses there lived a gentleman named Gothard, a wealthy but
God-fearing man. He had many servants, and kept a large pack of hounds. One day
when Gothard was dining, one of these dogs cleverly carried off the bread he
had in his hand. The gentleman was amused at the animal’s action, setting it
down as a funny trick, or to great hunger. The dog disappeared rapidly,
carrying off the bread in its mouth. The next day and the day after the same
thing took place. Very much astonished, Gothard finally determined to follow
the animal. He left the table, and took the road which the dog had taken. The
animal, guided by the hand of God, made his way to the forest, entered the hut,
and put down the bread at the feet of Saint Roch, who, in exchange, gave the
dog his blessing. Gothard, greatly wondered, he approached the hut, went in
with precaution, and there perceived a poor young man lying on a bed of leaves,
unable to move. He began to question him, but the stranger begged him to go
away immediately that he might not be infected with the plague. Gothard left
the hut, but greatly moved by the ghastly sight he had witnessed, returned and
again presenting himself to the servant of God, offered to attend to him and to
serve him until he had recovered his health.
Our Tertiary Saint
welcomed with humble gratitude the companion sent by Divine Providence.
Henceforth the two pious men lived together, encouraging one another by holy
conversation, and devoting themselves zealously to prayer and practices of
penance. Saint Roch, hearing that the plague still raged at Piacenza, resolved
to return in order to help the unfortunate city. As yet he could hardly stand,
but his charitable zeal supplied his want of strength. Pie started in the early
morning, leaning on a stick, and went slowly to the hospital. There, forgetting
past injuries and solely desirous to return good for evil, he visited the sick
and, as he had hitherto done, restored them to health by the sign of the cross.
He then went through the city healing all who came to him. At sunset our
Tertiary left Piacenza and went back to the forest, accompanied by a number of
grateful persons. Then all the wild beasts, being also struck by the plague, as
if by one accord came to the Saint, and by their suppliant postures asked him
to cure them. Saint Roch blessed them and they went away healed.
At the sight of all
these prodigies the people again conceived a very high opinion of the servant
of God. They came from all parts to visit the two solitaries in the forest, to
beg the help of their prayers, and to be edified by their practices of virtue.
One day, however, Saint Roch being now thoroughly cured, received a command from
God to return to his own country. The good Gothard was troubled on hearing of
this approaching separation, but the Saint consoled him, and told him that it
was the will of God. He then exhorted him to persevere until death in the life
of prayer and penance which he had embraced; he also gave him wise counsels how
to sanctify himself in his solitude. Thereupon the two friends parted for a
time to meet again in Heaven. Gothard lived a holy life in his hermitage, and,
after his death, his fellow-citizens held him in blessed memory. A picture of
him, with that of Saint Roch, is still to be seen at Piacenza, in the church of
Saint Anne.
Faithful to the commands
of Heaven, Saint Roch returned to Montpellier. He was to pass through one more
ordeal before being called to his Heavenly reward. War was then desolating the
south of France. Our Saint was so worn out with his austerities and sufferings,
that when he arrived in his native town he was not recognized. He was taken for
a spy disguised as a pilgrim, immediately arrested, and questioned as to his
extraction, his name, his country, and the object of his journey. The Saint
contented himself with quietly answering each question by saying that he was a
pilgrim and servant of Jesus Christ. This great reticence, the absolute silence
as to his name and country, confirmed the suspicions of his judges, and by the
command of the governor he was thrown into prison. Saint Roch spent five years
in a horrible dungeon, at the mercy of his jailers, who subjected him to
ill-usage and the most severe privations. Yet a word from him would have
sufficed to make himself known to his uncle, the governor of Montpellier, and
he might have reappeared in the city surrounded with all the honor due to his
noble birth. Like Saint Alexis, the servant of God preferred a poor obscure and
despised life in the very midst of his relatives, to all tokens of honor and
love. From the depth of his dungeon, he poured forth unceasingly hymns of
praise and thanksgiving, and asked, through the intercession of our Lady, for
patience and constancy to the very end. The governor and his subordinates had
completely lost sight of him. When Saint Roch felt that his end was near and
that his painful pilgrimage was drawing to its close, he asked to see a
minister of God that he might receive the Last Sacraments. The priest on
entering the prison beheld a supernatural light; the countenance of the poor
captive was radiant. After having given him the Last Sacraments, he hastened to
inform the governor of the prodigy he had witnessed.
Shortly after the Saint
slumbered and saw in a dream a heavenly messenger who said to him: “Roch, the
time is come for you to receive the reward of your labors and sufiferings, and
for your soul to repose in Heaven. God is pleased with you; if you wish to
obtain some grace for mankind, asked it from the Almighty before you die, your
desire shall be granted.” Saint Roch awoke, his soul was bathed in holy joy.
Always forgetful of himself, and solely occupied with the interests of others,
he addressed this prayer to God: “I humbly beseech Thee, Oh, Lord, that
whosoever is attacked by the plague, or is in danger of being attacked thereby,
shall implore my protection with faith, may be delivered from his sickness, or
be preserved from this scourge. I venture to solicit this grace, not because of
my own merits, but in the name of Thy mercy and clemency which are infinite.”
These words were hardly out of his mouth, when he expired, whilst raising his
eyes to Heaven and pressing his crucifix to his heart. He is believed to have
been thirty-two years of age.
As soon as Saint Roch
died, his sanctity was manifested by prodigies. The prison again shone with
celestial light, angels sang sweet melodies, his body was surrounded with rays
of glory, and diffused a sweet perfume. By his side was found a tablet on which
an angel had written in letters of gold, the name of Roch, with these words: “I
announce protection and deliverance to all those who, being endangered by the
plague, even of the most terrible kind, shall have recourse to my
intercession.” This sweet and consoling promise is taken up by the Church in
her liturgical prayer to the Saint. When the governor was informed of the death
of this unknown man, he bitterly reproached himself for having so long delayed
to do him justice. He nevertheless wished to ascertain the full truth of the
reported prodigies and went to the prison himself. No sooner had he crossed the
threshold than he was struck by the glory which surrounded the venerable
remains. His glance fell on the celestial tablet and he saw the name of the
unknown—it was that of his nephew! The mother of the governor, and grandmother
to Saint Roch, also hastened to the prison, and uncovering the Saint’s side,
saw once more the wondrous red cross with which he had been marked from his
birth.
Saint Roch died in 1327.
His sacred remains, glorified in some degree even before the final day of
resurrection, were buried with great magnificence. A church was soon built to
receive them. From the very beginning God justified the devotion which the
faithful paid to His beloved servant by many signs and miracles.
During the Council of
Constance, 1414, the plague broke out in the city. Processions and public
prayers in honor of Saint Roch were ordered, and immediately the scourge
disappeared. Thence forward devotion to our Saint spread throughout the whole
world. The relics of Saint Roch were partly transferred to Arles, in 1399, and
partly to Venice, in 1485. Devotion to Saint Roch has been approved by several
Sovereign Pontiffs. Urban VIII permitted his feast to be celebrated on the
sixteenth day of August with a proper Office for those churches which are
dedicated to him.
The Bollandists give two
lives of Saint Roch. One, very short, written by an anonymous writer and of
doubtful authority; the other, written in 1478, by Francis Diedo, a Venetian
nobleman, governor of Brescia. It was published by Surius, who makes a mistake
in attributing it to a Dominican from Bergamo. In this sketch we have followed
the life written by Francis Diedo.
May Saint Roch intercede
for us at the throne of God that we may also walk faithfully in the footsteps
of Saint Francis! May he procure the grace for us to be perfectly resigned to
God’s holy will in all afflictions and adversity, so that they may be to us a
ladder that leads to the hights of Heaven! May he watch over us and protect us
by that same miraculous power which he so often used while sojourning upon
earth, and thus preserve us from the plague of both body and soul!
– from Saint Conrad and Saint Roch, Third Order of Saint Francis,
by Father Hilarion Duerk, OFM, published in 1919
Carlo Crivelli (circa 1435 –circa 1495 ). Saint Roch, vers 1490, 43,2 X 11.3, London, Wallace Colection
San Rocco Terziario
francescano, Pellegrino e Taumaturgo
Montpellier, Francia, 1345/1350 - Angera, Varese, 16 agosto 1376/1379
Le fonti su di lui sono poco precise e rese più oscure dalla leggenda. In
pellegrinaggio diretto a Roma dopo aver donato tutti sui beni ai poveri, si
sarebbe fermato a ad Acquapendente, dedicandosi all'assistenza degli ammalati
di peste e facendo guarigioni miracolose che diffusero la sua fama.
Peregrinando per l'Italia centrale si dedicò ad opere di carità e di assistenza
promuovendo continue conversioni. Sarebbe morto in prigione, dopo essere stato
arrestato presso Angera da alcuni soldati perché sospettato di spionaggio.
Invocato nelle campagne contro le malattie del bestiame e le catastrofi
naturali, il suo culto si diffuse straordinariamente nell'Italia del Nord,
legato in particolare al suo ruolo di protettore contro la peste. Gregorio XIII
introdusse il nome di Rocco nel Martirologio Romano, sotto il pontificato di
Urbano VIII la Congregazione dei Riti accordo un Ufficio e una Messa propri per
le chiese costruite in onore del santo. Infine, nel 1694, Innocenzo XII
presrisse ai Francescani di celebrare la festa con rito doppio maggiore, forte
della citazione fatta nel 1547 da Paolo IV nella Bolla Cum a
nobis di San Roco quale membro del Terz'Ordine di San Francesco.
Patronato: Malati infettivi, Invalidi, Prigionieri, Montpellier
Etimologia: Rocco = grande e forte, o di alta statura, dal tedesco
Emblema: Cane, Croce sul lato del cuore, Angelo, Simboli del pellegrino
Martirologio Romano: In Lombardia, san Rocco, che, originario di
Montpellier in Francia, acquistò fama di santità con il suo pio peregrinare per
l’Italia curando gli appestati.
Nonostante la grande popolarità di San Rocco, le notizie sulla sua vita sono molto frammentarie per poter comporre una biografia in piena regola, comunque è possibile, grazie ai molti studi fatti, tracciare a grandi linee un profilo del nostro Santo, elaborando una serie di notizie essenziali sulla sua breve esistenza terrena. Tra le varie “correzioni” che sono state proposte alle date tradizionali (1295-1327), si è gradatamente imposta quella che oggi sembra la più consolidata: il Santo è nato a Montpellier fra il 1345 e il 1350 ed è morto a Voghera fra il 1376 ed il 1379 molto giovane a non più di trentadue anni di età. Secondo tutte le biografie i genitori Jean e Libère De La Croix erano una coppia di esemplari virtù cristiane, ricchi e benestanti ma dediti ad opere di carità. Rattristati dalla mancanza di un figlio rivolsero continue preghiere alla Vergine Maria dell’antica Chiesa di Notre-Dame des Tables fino ad ottenere la grazia richiesta. Secondo la pia devozione il neonato, a cui fu dato il nome di Rocco (da Rog o Rotch), nacque con una croce vermiglia impressa sul petto. Intorno ai vent’anni di età perse entrambi i genitori e decise di seguire Cristo fino in fondo: vendette tutti i suoi beni, si affiliò al Terz’ordine francescano e, indossato l’abito del pellegrino, fece voto di recarsi a Roma a pregare sulla tomba degli apostoli Pietro e Paolo. Bastone, mantello, cappello, borraccia e conchiglia sono i suoi ornamenti; la preghiera e la carità la sua forza; Gesù Cristo il suo gaudio e la sua santità. Non è possibile ricostruire il percorso prescelto per arrivare dalla Francia nel nostro Paese: forse attraverso le Alpi per poi dirigersi verso l’Emilia e l’Umbria, o lungo la Costa Azzurra per scendere dalla Liguria il litorale tirrenico. Certo è che nel luglio 1367 era ad Acquapendente, una cittadina in provincia di Viterbo, dove ignorando i consigli della gente in fuga per la peste, il nostro Santo chiese di prestare servizio nel locale ospedale mettendosi al servizio di tutti. Tracciando il segno di croce sui malati, invocando la Trinità di Dio per la guarigione degli appestati, San Rocco diventò lo strumento di Dio per operare miracolose guarigioni. Ad Acquapendente San Rocco si fermò per circa tre mesi fino al diradarsi dell’epidemia, per poi dirigersi verso l’Emilia Romagna dove il morbo infuriava con maggiore violenza, al fine di poter prestare il proprio soccorso alle sventurate vittime della peste.
L’arrivo a Roma è databile fra il 1367 e l’inizio del 1368, quando Papa Urbano V è da poco ritornato da Avignone. E’ del tutto probabile che il nostro Santo si sia recato all’ospedale del Santo Spirito, ed è qui che sarebbe avvenuto il più famoso miracolo di San Rocco: la guarigione di un cardinale, liberato dalla peste dopo aver tracciato sulla sua fronte il segno di Croce. Fu proprio questo cardinale a presentare San Rocco al pontefice: l’incontro con il Papa fu il momento culminante del soggiorno romano di San Rocco. La partenza da Roma avvenne tra il 1370 ed il 1371. Varie tradizioni segnalano la presenza del Santo a Rimini, Forlì, Cesena, Parma, Bologna. Certo è che nel luglio 1371 è a Piacenza presso l’ospedale di Nostra Signora di Betlemme. Qui proseguì la sua opera di conforto e di assistenza ai malati, finché scoprì di essere stato colpito dalla peste. Di sua iniziativa o forse scacciato dalla gente si allontana dalla città e si rifugia in un bosco vicino Sarmato, in una capanna vicino al fiume Trebbia. Qui un cane lo trova e lo salva dalla morte per fame portandogli ogni giorno un tozzo di pane, finché il suo ricco padrone seguendolo scopre il rifugio del Santo. Il Dio potente e misericordioso non permette che il giovane pellegrino morisse di peste perché doveva curare e lenire le sofferenze del suo popolo. Intanto in tutti i posti dove Rocco era passato e aveva guarito col segno di croce, il suo nome diventava famoso. Tutti raccontano del giovane pellegrino che porta la carità di Cristo e la potenza miracolosa di Dio. Dopo la guarigione San Rocco riprende il viaggio per tornare in patria. Le antiche ipotesi che riguardano gli ultimi anni della vita del Santo non sono verificabili. La leggenda ritiene che San Rocco sia morto a Montpellier, dove era ritornato o ad Angera sul Lago Maggiore. E’ invece certo che si sia trovato, sulla via del ritorno a casa, implicato nelle complicate vicende politiche del tempo: San Rocco è arrestato come persona sospetta e condotto a Voghera davanti al governatore. Interrogato, per adempiere il voto non volle rivelare il suo nome dicendo solo di essere “un umile servitore di Gesù Cristo”. Gettato in prigione, vi trascorse cinque anni, vivendo questa nuova dura prova come un “purgatorio” per l’espiazione dei peccati. Quando la morte era ormai vicina, chiese al carceriere di condurgli un sacerdote; si verificarono allora alcuni eventi prodigiosi, che indussero i presenti ad avvisare il Governatore. Le voci si sparsero in fretta, ma quando la porta della cella venne riaperta, San Rocco era già morto: era il 16 agosto di un anno compreso tra il 1376 ed il 1379.
Prima di spirare, il Santo aveva ottenuto da Dio il dono di diventare l’intercessore di tutti i malati di peste che avessero invocato il suo nome, nome che venne scoperto dall’anziana madre del Governatore o dalla sua nutrice, che dal particolare della croce vermiglia sul petto, riconobbe in lui il Rocco di Montpellier. San Rocco fu sepolto con tutti gli onori.
Sulla sua tomba a Voghera cominciò subito a fiorire il culto al giovane Rocco, pellegrino di Montpellier, amico degli ultimi, degli appestati e dei poveri.
Il Concilio di Costanza nel 1414 lo invocò santo per la liberazione dall'epidemia di peste ivi propagatasi durante i lavori conciliari.
Dal 1999 è attiva presso la Chiesa di San Rocco in Roma, dove per volontà di Papa Clemente VIII dal 1575 è custodita una Insigne Reliquia del Braccio destro di San Rocco, l’Associazione Europea Amici di San Rocco, con lo scopo di diffondere il culto e la devozione verso il Santo della carità attraverso l’esempio concreto di amore verso i malati ed i bisognosi.
Oltre a quello romano, altri centri rocchiani sono:
- l'Arciconfraternita Scuola Grande di Venezia, che ne custodisce il corpo
- il santuario di San Rocco della sua città natale di Montpellier
- l'Association Internationale che ha sede sempre in Montpellier e che aggrega e collega le diverse associazioni nazionali
- l'Associazione Nazionale San Rocco Italia che ha sede a Sarmato (PC), dove avvenne l'incontro col cane
- il Comitato Internazionale Studi Rocchiani che ha sede in Voghera (PV),
località da cui prese avvio il culto.
Autore: Mons. Filippo Tucci, primicerio Chiesa San Rocco - Roma
Bartolomeo della Gatta, Saint Roch, Horne Museum,
Florence
Scarne le notizie biografiche
San Rocco è nato a Montpellier fra il 1345 e il 1350 ed è morto a Voghera fra
il 1376 ed il 1379 molto giovane a non più di trentadue anni di età. Secondo
tutte le biografie i genitori Jean e Libère De La Croix erano una coppia di
esemplari virtù cristiane, ricchi e benestanti ma dediti ad opere di carità.
Rattristati dalla mancanza di un figlio rivolsero continue preghiere alla
Vergine Maria dell’antica Chiesa di Notre-Dame des Tables fino ad ottenere la
grazia richiesta. Secondo la pia devozione il neonato, a cui fu dato il nome di
Rocco (da Rog o Rotch), nacque con una croce vermiglia impressa sul petto.
Intorno ai vent’anni di età perse entrambi i genitori e decise di seguire
Cristo fino in fondo: vendette tutti i suoi beni, si affiliò al Terz’ordine
francescano e, indossato l’abito del pellegrino, fece voto di recarsi a Roma a
pregare sulla tomba degli apostoli Pietro e Paolo. Bastone, mantello, cappello,
borraccia e conchiglia sono i suoi ornamenti; la preghiera e la carità la sua
forza.
Dalla Francia all'Italia
Non è possibile ricostruire il percorso prescelto per arrivare dalla Francia
nel nostro Paese: forse attraverso le Alpi per poi dirigersi verso l’Emilia e
l’Umbria, o lungo la Costa Azzurra per scendere dalla Liguria il litorale
tirrenico. Certo è che nel luglio 1367 era ad Acquapendente, una cittadina in
provincia di Viterbo, dove ignorando i consigli della gente in fuga per la
peste, il nostro Santo chiese di prestare servizio nel locale ospedale
mettendosi al servizio di tutti. Tracciando il segno di croce sui malati,
invocando la Trinità di Dio per la guarigione degli appestati, San Rocco
diventò lo strumento di Dio per operare miracolose guarigioni. Ad Acquapendente
San Rocco si fermò per circa tre mesi fino al diradarsi dell’epidemia, per poi
dirigersi verso l’Emilia Romagna dove il morbo infuriava con maggiore violenza,
al fine di poter prestare il proprio soccorso alle sventurate vittime della
peste.
Il miracolo di Roma
L’arrivo a Roma è databile fra il 1367 e l’inizio del 1368, quando Papa Urbano
V è da poco ritornato da Avignone. È del tutto probabile che il nostro Santo si
sia recato all’ospedale del Santo Spirito, ed è qui che sarebbe avvenuto il più
famoso miracolo di San Rocco: la guarigione di un cardinale, liberato dalla
peste dopo aver tracciato sulla sua fronte il segno di Croce. Fu proprio questo
cardinale a presentare San Rocco al pontefice: l’incontro con il Papa fu il
momento culminante del soggiorno romano di San Rocco. La partenza da Roma
avvenne tra il 1370 ed il 1371. Varie tradizioni segnalano la presenza del
Santo a Rimini, Forlì, Cesena, Parma, Bologna. Certo è che nel luglio 1371 è a
Piacenza presso l’ospedale di Nostra Signora di Betlemme. Qui proseguì la sua
opera di conforto e di assistenza ai malati, finché scoprì di essere stato
colpito dalla peste. Di sua iniziativa o forse scacciato dalla gente si
allontana dalla città e si rifugia in un bosco vicino Sarmato, in una capanna
vicino al fiume Trebbia. Qui un cane lo trova e lo salva dalla morte per fame
portandogli ogni giorno un tozzo di pane, finché il suo ricco padrone
seguendolo scopre il rifugio del Santo.
In prigione a Voghera
La Provvidenza non permette che il giovane pellegrino morisse di peste perché
doveva curare e lenire le sofferenze del suo popolo. Intanto in tutti i posti dove Rocco era passato e aveva guarito col
segno di croce, il suo nome diventava famoso. Tutti raccontano del giovane pellegrino
che porta la carità di Cristo e la potenza miracolosa di Dio. Dopo la
guarigione San Rocco riprende il viaggio per tornare in patria. Le antiche
ipotesi che riguardano gli ultimi anni della vita del Santo non sono
verificabili. La leggenda ritiene che San Rocco sia morto a
Montpellier, dove era ritornato o ad Angera sul Lago Maggiore. È invece certo
che si sia trovato, sulla via del ritorno a casa, implicato nelle complicate
vicende politiche del tempo: San Rocco è arrestato come persona sospetta e
condotto a Voghera davanti al governatore. Interrogato, per adempiere il voto non
volle rivelare il suo nome dicendo solo di essere “un umile servitore di Gesù
Cristo”. Gettato in prigione, vi trascorse cinque anni, vivendo questa nuova
dura prova come un “purgatorio” per l’espiazione dei peccati. Quando la morte
era ormai vicina, chiese al carceriere di condurgli un sacerdote; si
verificarono allora alcuni eventi prodigiosi, che indussero i presenti ad
avvisare il Governatore. Le voci si sparsero in fretta, ma quando la porta
della cella venne riaperta, San Rocco era già morto: era il 16 agosto di un
anno compreso tra il 1376 ed il 1379.
Patrono degli appestati
Prima di spirare, il Santo aveva ottenuto da Dio il dono di diventare
l’intercessore di tutti i malati di peste che avessero invocato il suo nome,
nome che venne scoperto dall’anziana madre del Governatore o dalla sua nutrice,
che dal particolare della croce vermiglia sul petto, riconobbe in lui il Rocco
di Montpellier. San Rocco fu sepolto con tutti gli onori. Sulla sua tomba a
Voghera cominciò subito a fiorire il culto al giovane Rocco, pellegrino di
Montpellier, amico degli ultimi, degli appestati e dei poveri. Il Concilio di
Costanza nel 1414 lo invocò santo per la liberazione dall'epidemia di peste ivi
propagatasi durante i lavori conciliari.
Jusepe de Ribera (1591–1652).
Saint Roch, 1631, 212 X 144, Museo del Prado
Voir aussi : http://www.st-roch.com/roch/index.php
http://www.sanroccodimontpellier.it/francese/santo.htm
http://www.sanroccodimontpellier.it/1/pierre_bolle_1190360.html
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roch_de_Montpellier
