Roque (14th century)

Biography

He then left on a pilgrimage to Rome, but first he had distributed his assets: he donated half to the poor and the other he reserved for himself, leaving an uncle of his as administrator. Throughout the trip he stopped where any epidemic struck and devoted himself to caring for the sick. He lived for several years in the Eternal City until he decided to return to France to liquidate the rest of his fortune. Along the way he contracted the plague and took refuge in a forest near Plascencia so as not to infect anyone. It is likely that he would have died of hunger if it had not been for a dog that fed him every morning with bread stolen from his master's table. He once followed the animal into the forest. He found the sick man and not only became his friend, but also improved his behavior. “Saint Roque and his dog” is often said of two people who are always together. When he returned to Montpellier, no one recognized him because the many penances had disfigured his face. He was taken for a rebel and locked up in prison, where he died five years later, patiently suffering all the punishments and humiliations.