He is the protector of infectious patients, disabled and prisoners. It has the dog as the emblem, the cross on the side of the heart, and the angel, symbols of the pilgrim. San Rocco is one of the most loved saints and celebrated by popular piety Although despite this great popularity, the news about his life is very fragmented.
The statue of San Rocco in procession in Torrepaduli (Lecce) (photo Claudio Ricci, taken on August 15, 2010 Flickr CC By-NC-SA 2.0)
Biographical information is scarce
San Rocco was born in Montpellier between 1345 and 1350 and died at Voghera Between 1376 and 1379 very young not more than thirty -two years of age. According to all biographies, parents Jean and Libère de la Croix They were a couple of specimens Christian virtues, rich and wealthy but dedicated to works of charity.
Saddened by the lack of a son, they addressed continuous prayers to the Virgin Mary of the ancient Church of Notre-Dame des tables until the required grace is obtained. According to the Piavotation, the newborn, to whom Rocco’s name was given (from Rog or Rotch), He was born with a vermilion cross impressed on his chest.
Around twenty years of age he lost both parents and decided to follow Christ to the end: he sold all his assets, entered the Franciscan third order and, worn the habit of the pilgrim, voted to go to Rome to pray on the tomb of the apostles Peter and Paolo. Stick, cloak, hat, bottle and shell are its ornaments; Prayer and charity its strength.
From France to Italy
It is not possible to reconstruct the chosen path to get from France to our country: perhaps through the Alps and then head towards Emilia and Umbria, or along the Italian Costa to get the Tyrrhenian coast from Liguria.
What is certain is that in July 1367 it was ad Acquapendentea town in the province of Viterbo, where ignoring the advice of the people fleeing the plague, our holy asked to serve in the local hospital by putting themselves at the service of everyone. By tracing the sign of the cross on the sick, invoking the Trinity of God for the healing of the plagues, San Rocco became the instrument of God to operate miraculous healings.
In Acquapendente San Rocco stopped for about three months until the epidemic thinks, and then headed towards Emilia Romagna where the disease raged with greater violence, in order to be able to lend its rescue to the unfortunate victims of the plague.
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