Welcome to Saint Rocco Parish

The world is in Coronavirus emergency. A virus of which little is known, which is alarming the whole world, and which has infected entire nations, including Italy. A virus, which started from China, which has slowly spread throughout the world and which, since last February, has also touched Europe.  Faced with such a dangerous situation, where the fear of a possible epidemic is always lurking, we take refuge in faith. Of course: in some cities (especially in those outbreaks) Holy Masses and any other type of aggregation, even religious ones, have been prohibited. But God is present everywhere and everywhere … and he never leaves us alone.  When there is faith and trust in God, devotion is born.  There is a Saint, in particular, who is prayed to precisely during periods of plague or epidemic. This is San Rocco from Montpellier . The devotion to San Rocco began in the middle of the Middle Ages when, against the terrible spread of the plague, it was invoked to placate the contagion epidemic. Over the years, and with the succession of different miracles, the invocation and faith in San Rocco has also extended to the agricultural world and that of animals, always to protect them from serious diseases, epidemics and even earthquakes. The miraculous healing of San Rocco.  But why San Rocco ? During one of his pilgrimages to Rome, as a poor friar of the Franciscan Third Order as he was, he also contracted the plague but, despite everything, he devoted himself to the care of the sick and, invoking God, he obtained many healings for them. He also miraculously healed from the plague, before being captured on his way back to France. He died in prison, accused of being a spy.  San Rocco is the protector invoked in plague epidemics since the Council of Ferrara.  Prayer is needed and is the thing we need to do!  Ask for his intercession against this Coronavirus epidemic that is spreading like wildfire, we can recite the following prayer to Saint Rocco:  .PRAYER TO SAINT ROCCO O Blessed Saint Rocco, Patron of the sick, have pity on those who lie upon a bed of suffering. Your power was so great when you were in this world, that by the sign of the Cross, many were healed of their diseases. Now that you are in heaven, your power is not less. Offer, then, to God our sighs and tears and obtain for us that health we seek. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

(Repeat the following 3 times)  

Saint Rocco, pray for us, that we may be preserved from all diseases of body and soul. 

The Novena to our Patron, St. Rocco begins this Friday, August 27th.  We include the novena prayers in the bulletin so that YOU CAN join in the communion of praying each day as a parish family, preparing to celebrate the joyful feast of our Parish Patron.  Viva San Rocco!!!!

PRAYER TO SAINT ROCCO

O Blessed Saint Rocco, Patron of the sick, have pity on those who lie upon a bed of pain and suffering. Your power was so great when you were in this world, that by the sign of the Cross, many were healed of their diseases. Now that you are in heaven, your power is not less. Offer then to God our sighs and tears and obtain for us that health we seek. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen. (Repeat the following 3 times) Saint Rocco, pray for us, that we may be preserved from all diseases of body and soul.

LITANY OF SAINT ROCCO

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.

St. Rocco, generous despiser of the world, pray for us.

St. Rocco, faithful disciple of Christ, pray of us.

St. Rocco, who did sacrifice thy goods and thyself for the poor, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who did continually bear the mortification of Jesus Christ, pray for us.

St. Rocco, whose heart was burning with charity, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who did seek contempt for love of Jesus Christ, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who did expose thy life to care for the sick, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who did serve the plague stricken with heroic courage and zeal, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who did arrest the ravages of the plague by the Sign of the Cross, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who did save from the contagion several famous cities, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who was finally attacked by the plague, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who did become a model of patience for the plague-stricken, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who did recover thy health by a miracle, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who not-withstanding they innocence, was put in chains, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who did end thy life in prison as a criminal, pray for us.

St. Rocco, who is efficaciously invoked against the plague by the Church, pray for us.

St. Rocco, crowned by Jesus Christ with glory and honor, pray for us.

St. Rocco, our protector and patron, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ hear us.  Christ graciously hear us.

Pray for us, Oh, glorious St. Rocco, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

LET US PRAY:  Grant O Lord, we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of our glorious Patron, St. Rocco, Thou may look favorably on our behalf; safeguard our families and parish; turn away Thy wrath, and reconcile us to Thy Divine Majesty.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  AMEN.