A novena to St. Roch (St. Rocco) is nine days of prayer asking the intercession of the fourteenth-century pilgrim from Montpellier who gave away his fortune, nursed plague victims in Italy, caught the plague himself, was fed in the forest by a dog, and died unknown in prison. For centuries Christians have turned to him in times of epidemic, and he is the patron of the sick, of invalids, of dogs, of surgeons and of people with knee problems. The novena is traditionally prayed from August 7 to 15, ending on the eve of his feast on August 16, but it can be prayed in any time of illness. Each day follows his life with a passage of Scripture.
A short prayer to St. Roch, written for this page:
St. Roch, you cared for the sick at the risk of your life and bore your own illness with patience.
Pray for me (or for name) in this sickness: (name your intention).
Protect us from epidemics, and obtain for us health of body and soul. Amen.
How to pray the novena
- Make the Sign of the Cross and name your intention.
- Read the passage and reflection for the day.
- Pray the short prayer to St. Roch above.
- End with an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.
Day 1: Leaving everything
According to his early lives, Roch was born to a noble family in Montpellier with a red birthmark in the shape of a cross on his chest. Orphaned young, he gave his inheritance to the poor. Matthew 19:21 (Douay-Rheims):
Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.
Intention: for detachment from money and possessions.
Day 2: A pilgrim
He set out on foot as a pilgrim to Rome. Hebrews 13:14 (Douay-Rheims):
For we have not here a lasting city, but we seek one that is to come.
Intention: for pilgrims, migrants and travelers.
Day 3: Among the plague victims
In Italy he found towns struck by the plague and stayed to nurse the sick. Matthew 25:36 (Douay-Rheims):
Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me.
Intention: for doctors, nurses and caregivers.
Day 4: Healing in Christ’s name
His biographers say that many were healed when he made the Sign of the Cross over them. Mark 16:17–18 (Douay-Rheims):
And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues.
They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.
Intention: for the healing of the sick, especially (name).
Day 5: Struck down
At Piacenza he caught the plague and, not wanting to infect anyone, dragged himself into a forest to die. Psalm 90:5–6 (Douay-Rheims):
His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night.
Of the arrow that flieth in the day, of the business that walketh about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil.
Intention: for protection from epidemics.
Day 6: The faithful dog
A nobleman’s dog brought him bread every day until its master followed it and cared for Roch. God fed the prophet Elijah in the same way (3 Kings 17:6, Douay-Rheims; 1 Kings in other Bibles):
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the torrent.
Intention: for the animals in my care, and in thanksgiving for God’s providence.
Day 7: Mistaken for a spy
Returning home unrecognized, Roch was arrested as a spy in a time of war and did not reveal who he was. Matthew 5:11 (Douay-Rheims):
Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake:
Intention: for all who are falsely accused.
Day 8: Silent in prison
He spent his last years in prison, praying in silence. Isaias 53:7 (Douay-Rheims):
He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth.
Intention: for prisoners.
Day 9: Recognized at death
When he died, his jailers found the cross-shaped birthmark and knew who he was. Devotion to him spread rapidly, above all in times of plague. Psalm 90:10 (Douay-Rheims):
There shall no evil come to thee: nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling.
Intention: for my intention, and for all the sick.
Frequently asked questions
When is St. Roch’s feast day?
August 16.
What is St. Roch the patron saint of?
The sick, invalids, plague and epidemics, dogs, surgeons, bachelors, the falsely accused and people with knee problems. See the patron saint of broken bones.
Is St. Rocco the same as St. Roch?
Yes. Rocco is the Italian form of his name, Roque the Spanish and Portuguese.
More prayers
- St. Roch prayer
- Prayer for the sick
- Catholic prayer for healing
- Patron saint of animals
- Patron saints of healing
- Novenas
Texts and sources
- Matthew 19:21, 25:36 and 5:11; Hebrews 13:14; Mark 16:17–18; Psalm 90:5–6 and 90:10; 3 Kings 17:6; Isaias 53:7 (Douay-Rheims).