What is Saint Roch?
[[File:PM10000923 XVIE 07999 ROch.JPG|thumb|right|250px|{{Center|[[Statue]] of Saint Roch}}]] [[file:San Rocco Venezia (Interno) - “Tomba con pala d’altare” di San Rocco.jpg|thumb|Tomb of St. Roch in Venice.]] '''Saint Roch''' or '''Rocco''' ({{circa|1295}} – {{circa|16 August 1327}}) was a [[Christian]] [[saint]]. His death is commemorated on 16 August. He is a [[patron saint]] against the [[Black Death|plague]]. He is also a patron Saint of dogs and [[false]]ly accused people. == Life == According to his legends, Roch was born in 1295 in [[Montpellier]], [[France]].<ref name=Ackerley495>Chris Ackerley; S. E. Gontarski, ''The Grove Companion to Samuel Beckett'' (New York: Grove Press, 2004), p. 495</ref> He was born with a red cross on his chest.<ref name=Ackerley495/> His family was [[wikt:prosperous|prosperous]].<ref name=Slavicek101>Louise Chipley Slavicek, ''The Black Death'' (New York: Chelsea House, 2008), p. 101</ref> As a young man he was very [[wikt:religious|religious]]. He decided to live the life of a [[hermit]].<ref name=Giorgi319>Rosa Giorgi, ''Saints in Art'' (Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2003), p. 319</ref> He gave away all he owned to the poor. At age 20 he set out on a religious [[pilgrimage]] to [[Rome]]. At this same time the plague struck [[Italy]].<ref name=Ackerley495/> While in Italy he stopped in [[village]]s to take care of the sick. Apparently everyone he tended to got well.<ref name=Ackerley495/> He finished his pilgrimage to Rome. On his return trip he was struck by the plague himself.<ref name=Giorgi319/> He decided to take refuge in the [[forest]] alone and wait for his death.<ref name=Giorgi319/> According to his [[legend]] he was visited by an [[angel]] and was healed. A dog was said to have brought him [[bread]] every day.<ref name=Giorgi319/> He then set out for Montpellier.<ref name=Giorgi319/> His legends do not agree on what happened next. In one version he returned to Montpellier and died there.<ref name=Giorgi319/> Another version say he returned to France but was