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SAN ROQUE DE MONTPELLIER
FRANCISCAN TERTIARY
St. Roch is one of the most popular saints in Europe. He is held in great veneration, not only in countries that witnessed his virtues, but
in every country of the world. Living among those who were stricken with the plague, he raised his heart to Jesus and
Mary and thought about Heaven and 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 St. Francis of Assisi,
St. Roch truly loved the plague-stricken; like the Seraphic Saint, he saw in them an image of the Saviour stricken for the
sins of man.
This
great 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
much alms for pious reasons. Though they were much loved, by many people, and were quite wealthy, still they were not
completely happy. They were old, and they had no children.
They prayed without
ceasing to Heaven, to obtain from God a child who would be a fervent disciple of Jesus Christ. One day when Libera was
at the church of Notre Dame des Tables,
making her usual petition before the statue of the Mother of God, Jesus and Mary in their great mercy granted 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, whom they named Roch. On his chest there was a red
cross, which was deeply marked, a sign of his future work and sanctity. Libera understood her duties as a mother, and
was determined to train this wonderful child in the glorious ways of virtue. St. 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 always deprived himself of all
that made his life soft and easy. Thus he prepared himself to become very obedient to the Holy Ghost. His boyhood
was spent in the practice of piety, penance and charity.
St.
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 always meditate on
the sufferings of our Divine Lord. Always be helpful to widows, orphans, and all those who are poor and in need of help.
Above
all, keep yourself from avarice, especially the love of money, which is the source of very many sins. Be eyes to the
blind, and feet to the lame, be a father to the poor, and know by using 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 follow this advice faithfully, and to cherish it in his heart until his death. 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 has hardly healed before God took from him his pious mother. St. Roch bore this trial with
the same resignation and the same noble sentiments as the first.
Left
all alone by himself, with a great fortune at his disposal, the world was before him with all its evils, but our Saint was
firm in his resolutions. His heart was set on the things of Heaven. He joined the Third Order of St. Francis,
resigned his worldly position in favour of his uncle, sold his possessions, and gave the money to the poor. He then
put on a pilgrim’s habit, and started off for Rome on foot, to visit the
Tomb of the Holy Apostles.
The
plague was spreading wildly at that time, throughout the various provinces of Italy.
When St. Roch arrived at Aquapendente, he went to the hospital of St.
John, which was full of the plague-stricken people, 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 sickness of this house.”
“Why,”
said St. Roch, “is it not mentioned in Holy 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 good reasons, and fearing to offend God if he did not let this charitable man help the sick, Vincent
lead the holy Tertiary to the plague-stricken. St. 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 sickness.
At first the people were afraid, but soon it was clear to everybody that this wonderful power was the result of divine virtue.
Everyone blessed God, and the young disciple of St. Francis was venerated as an angel sent from Heaven.
To
escape the honours that 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 in Rome. The people were dying like flies, and the citizens
of Rome were terribly upset! The servant of God showed himself to be an
angel of mercy in Rome, and by being devout and charitable the terrible scourge
soon disappeared as he worked many, many miracles.
After
having stayed at Rome a certain time, and satisfied his devotion at the tomb of
the Apostles, St. Roch felt that he must 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 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 the voice of Jesus say 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 continued to cause him fearful sufferings.
God also struck him with the plague. Then, raising his eyes to Heaven, St. 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 terrible that he could not keep back his moans and groans, and day and night his sharp pains forced him
to cry out. More sick people 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, and complained, 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 a result of his great pain and sufferings.
The
outward signs of pain do not displease God, if the soul is totally resigned to His Holy Will. Our Lord Himself, the
Divine model of those who suffer, showed many signs of sorrow and suffering during His Sacred Passion.
Not
wishing to be a burden to the other sick in the hospital, St. Roch decided to go away. He gathered his strength, arose
from his bed, and dragging himself painfully along with the help of his stick, he went out. When he arrived in the street
he was bewildered, he could not take another step, and sank to the ground in an agony of pain.
The
passers-by, seeing him in this state, complained to the superintendent of the hospital saying, “Why did you put this
poor sick man out of the hospital. Can’t you see he is not well? Please, please, take him back to the hospital
and take care of him until he is in good health.” The superintendent stared in surprise, “But I did not
put this good man out on the street. He left on his own out of charity, because he was crying out so often from his
pains!”
The
Saint then appeared to act crazy and God permitted that, even though he had done so much good in the city, he should be sent
out of it as a crazy man, who might become dangerous.
With
great difficulty St. Roch reached the neighbouring forest. There he fell down, worn out with fatigue, at the foot of
a Cornelian tree. He rested for some time; then noticing a small ruined hut, he entered it and said to our Lord: “Oh,
God! I know how dear I am to Thy majesty, as Thou hast willed to make me have these terrible pains, which I so much
deserve. 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
did not forget about his good servant. St. Roch received a wonderful answer to his prayer.
FRANCISCAN TERTIARY
CHAPTER
2
Yes, God who never forgets about those who trust in Him, heard the prayer
of good St. Rock. A gentle rain began to fall near the door of the hut and formed a little stream. St. Roch, who
was very thirsty, had a good drink from the stream. He washed his wounds and soothed for a time his terrible pains.
Then, the good God worked a wonderful miracle to feed St. Roch.
Just as God took great care of the Prophet Elias, and of St. Paul in the desert,
by making a crow carry bread to them every day, He caused another animal to bring bread to St. Roch.
Not far from his hut there were some lovely country houses, where
the rich people of the city had retired, to escape from the plague. In one of these houses there lived a person named
Gothard, a wealthy but God-fearing man. He had many servants, and a large pack of hounds.
One day when Gothard was eating, one of these dogs carried off the bread
he had in his hand. The gentleman was amused at the animal’s action, thinking either the dog was very hungry or
playing a trick on him. The dog disappeared rapidly, carrying off the bread in his mouth. The next day and the
day after the same thing took place. Very much astonished, Gothard finally decided 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 St. Roch, who, in exchange, gave the dog his blessing.
Gothard was amazed and entered the hut, with caution. There he
saw poor St. Roch lying on a bed of leaves, unable to move. He began to question him, but the humble man begged him
to go away immediately so that he might not get the plague. Gothard left the hut, but was greatly moved by the terrible
sight that he had seen. He returned, to the hut. Gazing at the poor sick man he pleaded, “Please let me look after
you and care for you until you are in good health again.”
Saint Roch humbly replied, “Thank you dear friend.
You are a kind man and I believe you have been sent by the good God.” From then on the two pious men lived together.
They encouraged one another by holy conversations, by saying many prayers and by doing much penance.
St. Roch, hearing that the plague was still taking the lives of
many people at Piacenza, felt sorry for them, and decided to return in order to
help the poor, sick people of that city. As yet he could hardly stand, but his heart was full of charity and this gave
him the necessary strength he needed. He started in the early morning, leaning on a stick, and walked slowly to the
hospital. There, forgetting the past injuries and wanting to return good for evil, he visited the sick as he had done
before, and restored them to health with the sign of the Cross.
He then went through the city, healing all who came to him.
At sunset, good St. Roch left Piacenza and went back to the forest with a number
of grateful persons. Then all the wild beasts, which had also been struck by the plague, came to the Saint, begging
him with their whines and groans, to cure them. St. Roch blessed them and they went away healed.
At the sight of all these miracles, the people again thought very well
of St. Roch. They came from all parts to visit the two men in the forest. Seeing that these two men were living a very
good life, and practicing much virtue, they begged the help of their prayers. One day, however, St. Roch, being now
thoroughly cured, received a command from God to return to his own country.
Gothard was troubled when he heard that his friend would soon be
leaving him. But St. Roch consoled him and told him that it was the Holy Will of God. He then encouraged him to
persevere until death in the life of prayer and penance, which he had chosen. The good saint also gave him some good advice
on how to sanctify himself, when he was living alone. 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 St. Roch, can still be seen in Piacenza,
in the church of St. Ann.
Faithful to the commands of Heaven, St. Roch returned to Montpellier.
He had to pass through one more trial before being called to his Heavenly reward. War was then destroying the south
of France. The holy saint was so worn out with his penances
and sufferings, that when he arrived in his native town, no one knew who he was. People thought that he was a spy, disguised
as a pilgrim.
The police immediately arrested him! They questioned him,
“What is your name?”… “What is your family background?”… “Which country do you come
from?”… “Why did you come to this town?”…
St. Roch quietly answered each question, “I am a pilgrim
and servant of Jesus Christ,” but he continued to remain silent about his name, his family, and his country. He wanted
to suffer in silence, like Jesus did. Because of his silence, the judges believed that he was truly guilty. The Governor
then commanded, “Throw this man into prison. He will not answer our questions, therefore he is guilty!”
Poor St. Roch, what was he going to do now? How would he ever get
out of prison? St. Roch spent five years in a horrible dungeon! His jailers were very cruel to him and
would not give him a lot of the necessary things to help him to live well. A word from him would have been enough to
make himself known to his Uncle, the Governor of Montpellier. Then he might have reappeared in the city surrounded with all
the honour due to his noble birth.
Like St. Alexis, good St. Roch wanted to live a poor, humble, and
hidden life, in the very midst of his relatives. He did not wish for honour and glory in this life. From the depth
of his dark and dirty dungeon, he continued to sing beautiful hymns of praise and thanksgiving, to Jesus and Mary. He
asked Our Lady, to give him the grace to be patient, and to give him the grace to persevere to the end. The Governor
and the prison guards hardly paid any attention to poor St. Roch.
When St. Roch felt that his end was near and that his painful life
was coming to an end, he asked to see a Catholic priest, so that he could receive the Last Sacraments. When the priest entered
the prison he was amazed to see a glorious light, shining around the body of the holy saint! After having given him
the Last Sacraments, he ran to inform the Governor of the miracle he had just seen.
Shortly after, the Saint slept and saw in a dream, a heavenly messenger
who said to him: “Roch, the time has come for you to receive the reward of your labours and sufferings, and for your
soul to repose in Heaven. God is pleased with you! If you wish to obtain some grace for mankind, ask it from Almighty
God before you die and your desire shall be granted.”
St. 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,
O 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 the sickness, or be preserved from this scourge. I ask for this grace, not because of my
own merits, but in the name of Thy great mercy and goodness which is infinite.”
Just after saying these words he died, while looking up to Heaven and
pressing his crucifix to his heart. He is believed to have been thirty-two years of age.
As soon as St. Roch died, many miracles took place. The prison
again shone with a Heavenly light and angels sang beautiful songs. His body gave off a beautiful sweet smelling perfume,
and was surrounded with glorious rays of light. 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.” The Catholic Church has
added this sweet and wonderful promise to the liturgical prayer of St. Roch.
When the Governor was informed of the death of this unknown man, he was
angry with himself for having taken so long to help the poor man. He wished to find out the full truth about the reported
miracles, so he went to the prison himself. As soon as he passed through the prison door he was struck by the glorious
light, which surrounded the holy man.
He then looked at the Heavenly Tablet and saw the name; it was that of
his nephew! The mother of the Governor, and grandmother to St. Roch, also ran to the prison. She uncovered the
Saint’s chest, and saw once more the wonderful “red cross” which he had since his birth.
St. Roch died in 1327. His holy remains, glorified in some degree
even before the final day of resurrection, were buried with great pomp and ceremony. A church was soon built to receive
them. From the very beginning, God worked many signs and miracles for the faithful who had devotion to this holy man.
During the Council of Constance in 1414, the plague broke out in the
city. Processions and public prayers in honour of St. Roch were ordered, and immediately the plague disappeared.
After that, devotion to the Saint spread throughout the whole world.
The relics of St. Roch were partly taken to Arles
in 1399, and partly to Venice, in 1485. Many Popes have approved devotion
to St. Roch. Pope Urban VIII permitted his Feast Day to be celebrated on August 16th.
May St. Roch intercede for us at the throne of God that we may also walk
faithfully in the footsteps of St. Francis! May he obtain for us the grace to be perfectly resigned to God’s Most
Holy Will in all our sorrows. Then our crosses and sorrows will become for us a ladder, which leads to Heaven.
But most of all may he preserve us from the plague of both body and soul.
St. Roch, Pray for Us!
PART II-----------**** +
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Here followeth the Life of S. Rocke
S. 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 S. 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 S. 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 S. 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 S. 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 S. Rocke from the city and suburbs, lest by him the city might be the more infected. Then S.
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 S. Rocke had made within boughs, whereas sprang a fair and bright well,
which is there yet unto this day. Whose water S. 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 S. Rocke, and there
beheld how familiarly the hound delivered the bread to S. Rocke. Then Gotard reverently saluted the holy man and approached
to him, but S. 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 S. Rocke. S. 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 S. 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 S. Rocke all that was happed.
And S. Rocke told to Gotard tofore, that his gossip
should hastily die, which was done indeed. And S. Rocke, moved with pity and mercy, being full sick, went into Piacenza,
being full of pestilence, and left Gotard in the wood. And though S. 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 S.
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 S. Rocke alone in the valley. And S. 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 S. 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 S. 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 S. 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 S. 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 S. Rocke into the prison,
as he was accustomed every day, he saw a great light and shining in the prison, and S. 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 S. 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 S. Rocke to abide there alone three days. And in the end
of the third day the angel of God came to S. 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 S. 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 S. 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 S. 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 S. Rocke should be delivered out of it. And they that
came to the prison found S. 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
S. 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 S. 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 S. 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 S. 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 S. 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.
