Saint Roch Returns Good for Evil

By: Bro. Bot Balbiro

St. Roch like any other saints became saint not because of their good works but because of God’s grace.

As presented in his icon with a dog beside him, St. Roch or Rocke is not the Patron Saint of the dogs but rather of the sicks.

He had contracted a cyst which basically has a manifestation of breaking some tissues into wound on body parts.  Nevertheless, with this torment that was ostensibly unbearable, St. Roche pondered:

“I offer thee this pain and I am thankful for it is a gift from thy hand.  The visit is sweet and dear to my soul.  Coming from thee, death is gain to me.”

He is the only son of John and Libera of Montpellier, raised from a renowned and well-to-do family. Montpellier is one of the cities in France between Rome and Italy.

In spite of their affluence John and Libera had been dejected because they were barren at their old age.  Although she had been in the comfort of being moneyed, Libera had been reliant on God’s provision, and that, they were recompensed to conceive a child.

His father had been the Governor of Roche.  He was born with a cross birthmark on his chest.  After almost 20 years of Roche’s birth, his father had afflicted with a disease.  Before his death, Roche’s father left his will of testament:

 “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.”

On his deathbed, John, Roche’s father, ordained him to take over the gubernatorial seat which the former passed on to his uncle. 

At his young age, there had been an outbreak of the disease in the province of Italy.  As he arrived at Aquapendente, he went to the hospital of St. John which was filled with plague-stricken people, and offered his assistance to the superintendent named Vincent.  The latter replied,  “I see, 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.” 

Out of  zeal of his charitable heart, St. Roch dealt with the superintendent and said, “Why, 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 Tertiary to the plague-stricken.  St. Roche traced on the forehead of each of them the Sign of the Cross, and immediately they were cured. 

He joined the Third Order of St. Francis, resigned his worldly possessions in favor of his uncle, sold his possessions and gave the money to the poor.  He then put on a pilgrim’s habit, and started off of Rome on foot.

Though he could hardly stand, with his bastion as support of his frailty, his heart was burning of compassion on learning that many people at Piacenza were under the perilous disease, which veiled the pain of his sickness that he endured so he returned to help the needy.  He never harbored any grudge against this region which harmed him in the past but rather returned good for evil, bringing them back to health with the Sign of the Cross.

When we are anguished by bad health, commission of sin is prevented if we don’t grumble against god but rather offer this ordeal. 

The onlookers who witnessed his condition 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 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 won out of charity because he was crying out so often from the pains!”

In his time of destitution, the good God worked a wonderful miracle to feed St. Roch through the dog which devotedly brought him bread.

In a short distance from his shelter, there were rich residents who had escaped to that place from the plague.  One of the dwellers was named Gothard. 

One day when Gothard was taking his meal, the dog grabbed the bread from his hand and quickly disappeared.  Same things happen the next day and the day after.  Marveled as he was by the eccentric behavior of the animal, he followed the dog until he reached St. Roch’s shed.  There he found the sick Saint lying on a bed of leaves and helpless, with his dog best friend which feeds him. Being a pious man, this man lent a hand to the Saint.

Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, on his return to Montpellier which is his hometown, he had gone through another trial.  War broke out the South of France.  He was bushed with diverse sufferings and penances and felt even more pressed into it when no one identified who he was because his physique really changed.  He was suspected as a spy so the police promptly arrested him, “What is your name?”… “What is your family background?”… “Which country do you come from?”… “Why did you come to this town?”…

In the calmness of his heart, St. Roch answered, “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.  By his silence, the Governor then commanded,   “Throw this man into prison.  He will not answer our questions, therefore he is guilty!”

This talk of Bro. Bot about this display of meekness by St. Roche actually reminded me of my personal experience.  Unlike St. Roche who remained his composure, I became haughty in this past encounter of mine when the bus driver which I stopped signaled of rejection not to ride his bus.  I was in a hurry to catch with the client’s appointment so I ran faster and struggled to jump up on the bus’ door.  The bus driver together with his conductor could do nothing anymore because I was already inside.  Upon entering the passengers’ bus, I bombarded the driver, “Are you in this business!  Why are you rejecting a passenger?”  The driver instead of an apology reacted sarcastically, “If you don’t want to be misidentified as  a Preacher (because regularly there are really preachers even up to this time who enter the bus and ask for love offering after their evangelization), dress up not like a preacher!”  The more that it triggered my already irritated mood.  The conductor remained unmoved but the driver kept on yakking and arguing with me.  As immature Christian during that time, the first reaction that came out of my mind was to curse the driver upon getting off the bus and shouted, “I wish that you stumble upon a mishap while on the road!”  Because of this, the driver hit my shoulder side with his bus as he closed his door.  Arrogance versus arrogance, indeed, which is opposite to St. Roche’s character.

St. Roch endured the incarceration for five years with his appalling jailers.  A word from him would have been sufficient to a clueless Uncle who was the Governor of Montpellier, to regain the nobility that had been lost, but did not think of it.

When St. Roche died, the prison gleamed with a Heavenly light and angels sang beautiful songs. His remains emitted a beautiful sweet smelling perfume, and enclosed with glorious light rays.

When the oblivious Governor was advised of St. Roch’s death, he was remorseful for being lethargic to help him in his case.  He learned about the miracle occurred inside the cell so he went to probe.  Lo and behold, glorious rays which wrapped the Saint struck him as he passed through the prison’s door.  Too late the hero when he found out that St. Roche was his nephew who gave his father’s gubernatorial seat instead of him as the successor, whose parents likewise administered the prison.  The Governor recognized him fully as he flipped his shirt and saw for the last time the marvelous cross birthmark on his chest.

Hold to what is charitable  

St. Roch was submerged in holy joy and pre-occupied by his desire to help others up to the point of forsaking his own.   In His prayer, he said:

 “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.”

Be a good news to others 

St. Roche had been a good news to others because anyone who approached him was healed.

Stop trying to be worthy

Jesus’ style of His kingdom is unique which is different to that of human’s system.

All of us are living by merit; you earn what you get and get what you earn.  In this world, it is through system of merit.  This reminds me of the couple’s story:

On their way to the church to exchange marital vow, a couple has a fatal car accident. In a while, the couple's souls landed sitting outside heaven’s gate waiting on St. Peter to do the paperwork so they can enter.

While waiting, they wonder if they could possibly get married in Heaven. St. Peter finally shows up and they ask him. St. Peter says, "Be back after 50 years" for confirmation.

After 50 years the couple returned to St. Peter to ask for the approval.  The Saint then replied, "Contemplate more wisely before taking into marriage and be back after 50 years."

In the span of another 50 years, the couple went back and asked St. Peter for their marriage.  Then St. Peter responded, "Be back after 50 years, I don't know if there's a Priest who would ascend into heaven."

It can be possible that we’re worthy before our significant others but nobody is worthy in the eyes of God.

You will wonder on God’s decision but you will ponder God’s decision.

We are living not by merit but by grace 

Attendance of Prayer Meeting does not expect of a reward otherwise feeling of dejection will haunt you.

Joy envelopes your being when you serve for the sake of others.

We’re doing what is good not because people are good but because we desire others to likewise benefit of this charity.

Conversely, in the parable of the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-13) where the laborers who sweat for eight hours expected a huge compensation compared to the hired workers who toiled less than eight hours but received the same amount with that of the former, teaches us the challenge to be joyful even amidst the difficult household chores.  Instead of being irritable and nagging your siblings because of their being careless on their uniforms which deform their dress, be joyful of their appreciation when they face the mirror that they look good because of their uniforms that are well-pressed.

Don’t scream at your children when they scatter things on your well-polished floor.  Just be joyful that they appreciate to lie down and do their things in a well-cleaned floor. 

Don’t expect a reward, expect the grace.