Share with fellow dog lovers!
Although most of your friends with feathers, fins, and feathers know that Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, did you know that there is also a guardian deity of dogs? To celebrate every year Feast of St. RocheWe’ve fetched the information you need to know!
Who is Saint Roch, the Patronus of Dogs?
Born in 1348, the image of a cross imprinted on his chest from birth is an outward sign of Roch’s inner devotion. Despite growing up the son of a noble governor, at the age of 20 he gave away his worldly possessions and embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome at a time when Italy was in the grip of the plague. . Said to have miraculously cured many sick people along the way, while managing the sick in Piacenza, Roch himself fell victim to the disease.
Leaving the city, Roch retreated into the woods. Despite making a shelter out of materials provided by trees, and drinking from a nearby spring, Roch would have starved to death if it weren’t for the actions of a nobleman’s kind-hearted dog.
The dog takes bread every day for the sick pilgrim and licks his wounds to help him heal. The image depicting the devoted dog accompanies images of the saint in works of art to this day.
When is St. Roch’s Day?
Saint Roch is remembered with the above prayers August 16, known as Saint Roch’s Day and Saint Roch’s Day. Celebration of the day Roch died, in 1376 or 1379.
Patronus of dogs, and…
Along with being the patron saint of dogs, Saint Roch is also the patron saint of:
- veterans
- who have been falsely accused
- bachelor
- Drug store
- tile maker
- second hand dealer
- sick cattle
- Patronus against disease
The Story of Saint Roch and Guinefort, A Folk Saint in Canine
Although their timeline makes their paths impassable, the story of Saint Roch is often intertwined with that of Saint Guinefort, with the four-legged French folk saint taking on the role of caretaker. Roch’s dog, who lost his name in the mists of time.
For those who don’t know the story of Guinefort, he was a loyal Greyhound of a knight who lived in the 1300s. When the knight returned from a hunting expedition, his guardian found him. a dog next to an overturned kennel, his mouth bleeding. Believing that the dog had eaten his newborn son, the knight knocked Guinefort down.
As the dog lay dying, the truth came to light: the dog had in fact killed a snake that would have taken the baby’s life.
Heartbroken by his hasty actions, Guinefort’s human family buried the brave Greyhound in a well, which they turned into a temple.
Although it was never officially recognized by the Catholic church, in the late 1930s parents in the Lyon region with worried sick children would visit the Guinefort shrine to pray to the four patron saints. children’s feet.
Praying St. Roch for dogs
Holy Roch, patron saint of dogs, I ask you to pour your love on my dog.
May my pet dog always be loving, loyal and a joy to me and those I love.
Carry my dog to the Father’s throne and ask Him to bless my dog with a long life and great happiness.
Pray dear saint that my dog is not sick and that my dog always comforts me like your beloved dog comforted and cared for you.
Thank you for asking God to bless my dog and may God have special graces for all of our dogs and dog owners.
May they bring great love to each other and live together in peace. Amen.
Patronus of Montpellier
Saint Roch came into this world and died in the French city of Montpellier, which celebrates his death every year with the Fete de la Saint Roch, which includes an animal blessing in the day’s activities.
Saint Roch in art
Patronus of dogs has inspired a number of sculptors over the centuries. Along with statues that hold places of honor in many houses of worship around the world, there are also depictions of Saint Roch and the puppy that helped him on his way to recovery on display in museums:
You can view a painted pine statue of an unknown 16th-century Spanish artist which can be viewed at Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The city is also home to a 15th-century German wooden drawing of the saint at Science Museum.
In The Cloisters at The Met in New York City, art enthusiasts can view early 16th-century French and German wooden displays in the museum’s collection of medieval and Byzantine art.
The 16th-century Italian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo recorded his interpretation of the saint and the dog that took care of him in a painting that now hangs in Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Another patron saint of dogs: St. Hubert
Although St. Roch is better known as the patron saint of dogs, St. Hubert also holds that title.
As a patron saint of hunters (although he himself refused to practice when he saw the form of a cross between the antlers of a stag), the “apostle of the Ardennes” was invoked. Volunteers help to cure rabies and is often depicted with a dog. partner.
Other patron saints of animals
There are over 10,000 patron saints, with some acting as guardians for our animal friends:
- Patronus of animals: Saint Francis of Assisi (Holiday: October 4 – a day also World Animal Day)
- Patronus of bees: Saint Ambrose (Holiday: December 7)
- Patronus of birds and poultry: Saint Gall (Holiday: October 16)
- Patronus of the Blackbirds: Saint Kevin (Holiday: June 3)
- Patronus of cats: Saint Gertrude of Nivelles
- Patronus of Cattle: Saint Bridgid of Ireland (Holiday: 1 February)
- Patronus of Animals and Cattle: Saint Anthony, Abbot (Feast: January 17)
- Patronus of Fish: Saint Neot (Holiday: July 31)
- Guardian of the goose: Saint Martin of Tours (Holiday: 11 November)
- Patronus of horned animals: Saint Guy of Anderlecht (Holiday: September 12)
- Patronus of Horses and Cattle: Saint Eligius (Holiday: December 1)
- Guardian of the lion: Saint Mark (Holiday: April 25)
- Patronus of Rams: Saint Giles (Holiday: September 1st)
- Sheep’s patron god: Saint Drogo (Holiday: April 16)
- Patronus of the storks: Saint Agricola (Holiday: September 2)
- Patronus of whales: Saint Brendan The Navigator (Holiday: May 16)
- Patronus of wolves: Saint Edmund of East Anglia (Holiday: 20 November)
Patron Saint of Veterinarians
Used to care for sick animals (it is believed that some will turn to him for help) St. BlaisisThe holiday falls on February 3, has become a patron saint for both animals and veterinarians.
Pin it to remember St. Roche
