Prayer to St Roch
St. Roch is a saint traditionally invoked against plague and contagious illness, and he is honored as the patron of dogs and dog owners. His feast day is August 16, though some Franciscan tertiary tradition keeps August 17. He is also called Rocco in Italian and Roque in Spanish.
At Find A Prayer, we write original prayers for people who want words for a specific need, including illness and fear. The details of his life come from a traditional account, and sources differ on his dates. According to that account, he was born at Montpellier in France and made a pilgrimage.
He fell ill with plague, withdrew into a forest so that he would not infect others, and a dog brought him bread each day. Each prayer below asks God for help through the intercession of St. Roch, and Catholics ask saints to pray to God for them and worship God alone. Start with the first prayer if you need healing or protection from illness.
Your parish's practice may differ from the details written here, so use the traditions of your own community as well. Ask for his intercession for the sick and the afraid, and keep following the care your doctor recommends.
A Prayer to St. Roch for Healing and Protection from Illness
Lord God, you heal body and soul, and you never turn away the sick. Through the intercession of St. Roch, I ask you to look upon me with mercy. He was invoked against plague and contagious disease, and he withdrew into a forest so that he would not infect others. Protect me and my household from illness that spreads. Restore my strength, ease my pain, and guide the doctors and nurses who care for me. Give me the courage to lean on you each day. Hear me through the prayers of St. Roch, and let my life rest in your care. Amen.
A Prayer for the Sick and Those Who Care for Them
Father, you hear the cries of the sick and the weary. Through the intercession of St. Roch, who was invoked against contagious disease, we ask you to comfort everyone who is suffering today. Shield those who tend the sick from exhaustion and fear. Give patience to caregivers and rest to those who have kept long vigils at a bedside. Strengthen the sick in body and spirit. Remember those whose pain no one else can see. Let your mercy reach every patient and every family awaiting news. Amen.
A Prayer to St. Roch for a Beloved Dog
Heavenly Father, you made every creature and gave us the joy of sharing our homes with animals. St. Roch is honored as the patron of dogs and dog owners, and according to the traditional account, a dog brought him bread each day. Through his intercession, I ask you to be near my dog, who is unwell. Guide the veterinarian who treats him, and give me patience while we wait for answers. Keep him comfortable and keep us both in your peace. Help me love him faithfully each day. Hear this prayer through St. Roch. Amen.
A Prayer in a Time of Epidemic or Fear of Illness
God of all consolation, you hold our lives and our fears in your hands. In a time of epidemic, I bring you my fear of illness. Through the intercession of St. Roch, who was invoked against plague, I ask you to calm my anxious heart. Protect the people of this city and this nation from the spread of disease. Give wisdom to those who make public health decisions and courage to those who serve the sick. Turn my worry into trust, and keep me from the snare of fear. Amen.
A Prayer for Pilgrims and Travelers
Lord, you led your people on every road and brought them safely home. St. Roch made a pilgrimage, according to the traditional account. Through his intercession, I ask your protection on every trip I make. Watch over those who travel far from home, and keep them safe on roads, rails, and waterways. Be a companion to all who walk toward holy places. Lead us to the places you have prepared, and bring us home in peace. Amen.
A Short Prayer to St. Roch
Lord, through the intercession of St. Roch, hear my prayer. You know the fear that sickness brings and the loneliness of isolation. Heal my body, steady my heart, and keep the people I love close to your peace. Give me patience in every waiting room and every sleepless night. Let the sick and the afraid receive comfort through his prayers each day. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture to pray
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.— Psalm 91:3 (ESV)
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.— Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
Frequently asked questions
Who was St. Roch?
St. Roch is a saint traditionally invoked against plague and contagious disease, and he is honored as the patron of dogs and dog owners. According to the traditional account, he was born at Montpellier in France and made a pilgrimage. He fell ill with plague and withdrew into a forest so that he would not infect others. While he was there, a dog brought him bread each day. He is also named patron of invalids, surgeons, bachelors, and people with knee problems, and he is called Rocco in Italian and Roque in Spanish.
Why is St. Roch the patron saint of dogs?
The traditional account tells of a dog that brought him bread each day while he was ill in a forest, and he is honored as the patron of dogs and dog owners. If you want a prayer for a dog in your care, the prayer for a beloved dog on this page is written for that purpose. It uses his intercession and asks God to be near the animal.
When is St. Roch's feast day?
St. Roch's feast day is August 16. One source says Pope Gregory XIV added him to the Roman Martyrology, which fixes his feast on that date. Some Franciscan tertiary tradition keeps August 17 instead. The prayers do not depend on which date you choose.
Are the dates of St. Roch's life certain?
No, the dates of his life are not certain, and sources differ on them. The traditional Acta and modern scholarship disagree about when he lived, so this page gives no year for his birth or his death. The details of his story come from a traditional account. Anyone comparing sources should expect the dates to differ from one account to the next. The prayers on this page ask for his intercession whatever the dates were.
Do Catholics pray to saints instead of God?
No, Catholics ask saints to intercede, which means asking them to pray to God for us. Catholics worship God alone. Asking St. Roch for help is a request that he pray to God on your behalf, and it does not replace prayer to God. Each prayer on this page is addressed to God and asks for St. Roch's intercession. If you read the prayers aloud, the words are directed to God, with St. Roch named as the one asked to pray with you.
Does praying to St. Roch replace medical care?
No. Prayer accompanies medical care and never replaces it. The prayers on this page ask God for healing and ask St. Roch to intercede, and they are meant to be said alongside the treatment your doctor recommends. Keep following your doctor's instructions while you pray. The prayers here ask God for comfort, patience, and courage during treatment. No promise is made about any medical result, and no prayer is said to bring a cure.