Saint Roch, the Montpellier Saint that the plague has not defeated

Tables, engravings, statues or even sculptures: over our route, we have continued to meet representations of Saint-Roch, Saint Protector and healer of plagueres.

Born in Montpellier around 1350, Languedocian decided to donate his wealth to the poor to the death of his parents and undertakes, at the age of twenty, a pilgrimage to Rome. During this trip, he held the victims of the plague which, at the time, ravaged Europe. In Italy, where he stayed for several years, he healed many patients and including plagueres.

The iconography of Saint Roch represents him on the pilgrim of Saint-Jacques, wearing a wide-edge hat and holding the pilgrim’s brush in hand. The saint lifts his garment to reveal on his thigh the bubon of the plague healed by the angel. He is often accompanied by a dog who holds a bread between his fangs.

Indeed, having himself contracted the plague, the Montpellier was treated by an angel for his bubon with a thigh, while a faithful dog brought him every day of the bread stolen from the table of his master and licked his wounds, and thus accelerated his healing. The dog by his side is the symbol of fidelity and divine assistance in moments of despair.

In Montpellier, pilgrims and inhabitants meet every August 16 to celebrate it. Saint Roch experienced extraordinary glory in Europe, between the 15th century and the 18th century. He embodies compassion, faith, solidarity with the sick and sacrifice. Even today, it is prayed for skin diseases and rissitism. With Saint Sébastien, he would have been one of the most invoked saints on social networks, during the COVID-19 epidemic.