ST. ROCCO – PATRON SAINT OF CONTAGION, EPIDEMICS

By the grace of God, I was alerted to a St. Rocco Statue that was rescued. This statue just arrived today, and it is beautiful and only needs a few touch-ups here and there.

St. Rocco (aka St. Roch) is the patron saint of contagion, epidemics and illness. His feast day is August 16.

St. Rocco was born of noble parentage about 1340 A.D. in Montpellier, France. At birth it was noted that he had a red cross-shaped birthmark on the left side of his chest. As a young child, St. Rocco showed great devotion to God and the Blessed mother. At an early age, his parents died leaving him an orphan under the care of his uncle, the Duke of Montpellier. Soon after, St. Rocco distributed his wealth among the poor and took a vow of poverty.

St. Rocco dressed in the clothes of a pilgrim and departed for Rome. Along the way, he stopped at Aquapendente, which was stricken by the plague, and devoted himself to the plague victims, curing them with prayer and the sign of the cross.

You can read more about St. Rocco here: https://stroccosociety.com/strocco.html

 

ST. ROCCO PILGRIMAGE SITE

I have made the decision to offer St. Mary of Pine Bluff as a St. Rocco Pilgrimage Site; a place of solace and quiet prayer during this coronavirus outbreak:

1. Beginning Monday, March 16, we will be live-streaming our 7:30am CST daily Masses.
2. We will conclude each Mass with the St. Michael Prayer and the Prayer to St. Rocco.
3. The Church will be open every morning for the faithful to come and pray.
4. Confessions offered all day, every day across the lawn at my 24/7 rectory Confessional.

Everyone is welcome to come and pray in this beautiful church, mostly preserved from its origin in 1888. But, if you live too far away, we will bring this “St. Rocco Pilgrimage Site” to you through the modern technology of live-streaming.

During this challenging time, let’s call out to God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength! St. Rocco, pray for us!

 

Prayer to St. Rocco (Patron of contagion, epidemics, illness)

O great St. Rocco, deliver us, we beseech you, from contagious diseases, and the contagion of sin. Obtain, for us, a purity of heart which will assist us to make good use of health, and to bear sufferings with patience. Teach us to follow your example in the practice of penance and charity, so that we may, one day enjoy the happiness of being with Christ, Our Savior, in Heaven. Amen.

 

St. Mary of Pine Bluff – St. Rocco Pilgrimage Site
3673  County Road P
Cross Plains, WI 53528