Description
HOLY PICTURE CARD – ST ROCCO – Made in Italy – Minimum Order 5 cards, please order in multiples of 5 thereafter
Saint Rocco (also known as Saint Roch) was a 14th-century Catholic confessor celebrated as a protector against the plague and contagious diseases. Born into a noble family in Montpellier, France, he is famously remembered for his miraculous healings and his survival of the plague with the help of a loyal dog.
Key Facts & Devotion
Patronage: He is the patron saint of dogs, dog owners, surgeons, pilgrims, bachelors, and those suffering from infectious diseases or knee problems.
The Legend of the Dog: After contracting the plague himself, Rocco withdrew to a forest to die alone. According to tradition, a nobleman’s dog found him and brought him a loaf of bread every day, licking his wounds until he recovered.
Iconography: He is almost always depicted as a pilgrim pointing to an open sore on his leg (a plague bubo), accompanied by a dog with bread in its mouth.
Feast Day: His feast is celebrated on August 16.
Death and Recognition: Upon returning to his hometown, he was imprisoned as a spy because his appearance had been so altered by disease. He died in prison five years later and was only identified by a red, cross-shaped birthmark on his chest.
Veneration in Venice: His remains are housed in the Church of San Rocco in Venice, where the famous Scuola Grande di San Rocco was established in his honour, housing masterpieces.
For those seeking spiritual support, many use a Saint Rocco Novena to pray for protection or healing during times of illness.
