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How is it that a young, unknown man, who left nothing spoken or written, was able to be prayed to like a saint all
over the west, so soon after his short life? Since the middle of the fifteenth century, in fact, the Church has
celebrated August 16, not only in Maguelonne, his original diocese, but as far away as Denmark! The gift of healing
that Saint Rocco had received is certainly the source of his renown. In time, it's radiance could be noticed: |
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The phenomena that surrounded the death of Saint Rocco (light, cross on the chest...) impressed the people of
Voghera. It also seems that the prisoner had told the story of his life before dying. As a result, this unknown man,
kept in the forgotten parts of the fortress for five years, was then surrounded by veneration. Some soldiers carried
his body into church at Voghera. (You can see his skull there, smooth but hollow.) |
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These first witnesses, prison guards and military, were probably also the first to spread the cult of Saint Rocco.
His tomb is visited. Forty years after his death, the connection is made between the healer of Plaisance and the
prisoner. |
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Between 1410 and 1420, the town of Montpellier dedicated a chapel to him and celebrates his feast on August 16.
This a mentioned in a municipal law of 1440. |
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A council, either that of Constance in 1414 or, more probably, that of Bale in 1431, brought official glory to
Saint Rocco. When an epidemic attacked some bishops, they had recourse to the intercession of the saint from
Montpellier. |
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On an unknown date, the first life of Saint Roch was published in Italian, and translated into German around
1484. |
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Wanting to protect itself from the plague, the city of Venice sends a monk to steal the relics of his body, which
were still at Voghera. The theft is committed on the night of February 24, 1485. The thief "forgets" two bones and a
piece of his fore-arm. To protect the precious relics, Venice erects a superb basilica. In the next century,
Tintoretto will paint beautiful frescos about the life of the pilgrim healer.
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So Saint Rocco, canonized by popular acclaim, is honored by Christians all over the Western world.
His cult was confirmed by Pope Urban VII in 1629. |
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