From: richarra@gmail.com

All things should be referred to God as their last end: (2)

The Voice of Christ
From Me the small and the great, the poor and the rich draw the
water of life as from a living fountain, and they who serve Me
willingly and freely shall receive grace upon grace. He who wishes to
glory in things apart from Me, however, or to delight in some good as
his own, shall not be grounded in true joy or gladdened in his heart,
but shall be burdened and distressed in many ways. Hence you ought not
to attribute any good to yourself or ascribe virtue to any man, but
give all to God without Whom man has nothing. I have given all
things. I will that all be returned to Me again, and I exact most
strictly a return of thanks. This is the truth by which vainglory is
put to flight.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 3, Chapter 9


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August 16th - St. Roche, Wonderworker
c.1378

It is customary for those who paint or sculpt images of saints to
identify them by certain symbols. One of the more unusual symbolic representations is that of a bearded man in medieval pilgrim garb,
pointing to a sore on his thigh. Often he is depicted with a pilgrim
staff in hand, and a friendly dog at his side.

This is St. Roche, a native of Montpellier, France. “Roche” or “Roch” is the French form of the name, but he is usually called by the form
in which his Latin name, Rochus, is translated in the country where he
is venerated. Thus, in Italy he is San Rocco; in Spain he is San
Roque; in England, St. Rock; and in Scotland, St. Rollock.

Roche was a historical person, but his fond biographers have
unfortunately mixed fact and folklore in their accounts. What I give
you is a “sort of” summary of his story.

The saint was the son of a wealthy Frenchman (who was perhaps the
governor of Montpellier) and a mother from northern Italy. He lost
both parents when he was in his mid-teens, but he was raised a devout
lad. Aged 17 when Pope Urban V visited his home city, he seems to have
been inspired by the papal visit to make a pilgrimage to Rome. He
therefore donned the traditional pilgrim cloak and hat and set out for
Italy.

During the course of his journey it became clear that this young man
was already dedicated to serving the poor and ailing. Furthermore, God
showed his approval by giving him the gift of healing. Thus, when he
reached Acquapendente, somewhat north of Rome, and discovered that the townsfolk were suffering from an epidemic of the dread bubonic plague,
Roche not only nursed the sick but cured them–some of them, at least.
The same was true when he got to Rome. Cardinal Anglic, the pope’s
brother, was one of those he healed.

The young pilgrim remained in Rome until 1371. Then he began to move
eastward and northward to Rimini, Cesena, Mantua, Novara, and Parma.
At Cesena in particular he wrought a number of cures of plague and
other ailments.

Always ready to risk his life in tending the plague-stricken, St.
Roche himself fell victim to plague while at Piacenza (whence the
customary wound in his portraits). Unwilling to become a burden to
others, he withdrew into a forest to spend what were presumably his
last days. But by miracle, it is said, a dog befriended him and
brought him food. (This is the dog in Rock’s pictures.) Coming to know
the sick pilgrim through his dog, the dog’s master took care of him thereafter until he fully recovered. Before moving on, the saint
returned to Piacenza, and as if in reward, healed many of its people,
and even its livestock, by a simple sign of the cross.

St. Roche’s biographers differ as to whether he ever reached France.
The more striking account says that when he reached the Italian town
of Angera on the banks of Lake Maggiore, he was suspected of being a
spy, arrested, and imprisoned until his death five years later. He was identified at death by means of the cross-shaped birthmark on his
chest.

The people of Montpellier, learning of St. Roch’s demise, hailed their
fellow Frenchman as a wonderworker. In Italy that reputation was firm.
When, at the ecumenical council of Constance (1414), it was found that
the host city was stricken with the pestilence, the council Fathers
ordered public intercession to our pilgrim saint. The epidemic ceased.
At Ferrara in 1439, the cessation of the Black Death was also
attributed to St. Roch’s prayer.

In 1485, the relics of this miracle-worker were enshrined in the
church of San Rocco, Venice, where they still remain.

Today, the bubonic plague and related diseases that killed so many in Renaissance times are pretty much under control. But St. Roche’s
intercession is still available against other epidemics. Today’s AIDS promises to become a modern counterpart of that Black Death that in
its day laid low millions around the world.
–Father Robert


Saint Quote:
You victorious martyrs who endured torments gladly for the sake of the
God and Savior, you who have boldness of speech toward the Lord
himself, you saints, intercede for us who are timid and sinful men,
full of sloth, that the grace of Christ may come upon us, and
enlighten the hearts of all of us that so we may love him.
-- Saint Ephrem of Syria

Bible Verse
"You see now that it is by deeds, and not only by believing, that
someone is justified. There is another example of the same kind: Rahab
the prostitute, was she not justified by her deeds because she
welcomed the messengers and showed them a different way to leave?"
[James 2:24-25]


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Daily Prayer to the Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart of Jesus, today I wish
to live in You, in Your Grace, in which
I desire at all costs to persevere. Keep
me from sin and strengthen my will by
helping me to keep watch over my
senses, my imagination, and my heart.
Help me to correct my faults which are
the source of sin. I beg You to do this,
O Jesus, through Mary,
Your Immaculate Mother.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: www.darkrealms.ca (1:229/2)