Saint of Dogs, Bachelor's & the Falsely Accused

Roch and the Roch Society are named for Saint Roch, venerated as the Patron Saint of Dogs. The story of St Roch’s journey from nobleman to saint is an interesting one. It tells the tale of an enduring relationship between dogs and humans that has resonated with people across countries and cultures for centuries.

St. Roch, born Roch de Montpellier into a wealthy French noble family in the 14th century, decided to turn his back on his privilege. He believed in the importance of helping those in need and living a life of humility and service and decided that spiritual growth and selflessness would be the focus of his life.

He became an orphan at the age of 20. He reacted to the death of his parents by giving away all of his possessions his noble title and donning the simple clothing of a pilgrim to set off on a pilgrimage to Rome, which at the time was afflicted by the plague. Along the way, he came across plague-stricken Italian towns where he stayed a while to help the afflicted. He used what have been described as “miraculous healing abilities” to heal many of them, and it is because of this work Saint Roch is venerated and famous throughout Italy as San Rocco.

During his duties tending to others, Roch contracted the plague through sustained contact with the infected, so he withdrew into a forest, built a shelter, and waited to die, unable to cure himself as he had done for others.

Roch was about to die of the plague alone in a forest, but suddenly, a dog appeared; it had smelt him out and found his shelter. The dog seemed to understand Roch's dire condition and regularly began to bring him bread stolen from his owner's table to sustain him. The dog licked his plague wounds and, through his unwavering affection, provided Roch with the emotional support and hope that he needed to survive his illness and find a way through a very dark time in his life.

The companionship, care, and devotion that the dog gave Roch were critical factors in his eventual recovery, and it is this story of a miraculous bond between Roch and his faithful canine companion that resonates with people globally and is a powerful testament to the spiritual connection between humans and their loyal pets. This spiritual connection forms the foundation of our vision. We at Roch work in support of our canine friends and service to their owners, work with them to make the world a friendlier place for dogs, and create an inclusive community for dog lovers that transcends borders, languages, and cultures.

St Roch’s Dog

St. Roch’s dog is considered a saint by many, and his story continues even after the death of St Roch himself. The dog was called Guinefort and owned by a local nobleman, Count Gothard. After Roch had recovered, the dog led him back to its master, who, after becoming a friend and student of Roch, gifted Guinefort to him. Once Roch had fully recovered, he and his dog made their way back to Montpellier in France, but Roch was arrested for being a spy upon his return and spent five years in jail before dying behind bars in 1327.

Guinefort somehow survived all of this and was cared for by another noble family, becoming a legend for himself in his own right. One day, the family went out, leaving Guinefort, their baby, and their nanny alone in the house. While the nanny was distracted, a snake appeared and attacked the baby, so Guinerfort sprung to the baby's defense and killed the snake, leaving its blood and gore all over the floor and the baby. When the family returned, they at first thought that Guinefort had hurt their baby and emotionally reacted by killing Guinefort before then realizing their mistake and realising that Guinefort had saved their baby.

The nobleman buried Guinefort in a well, planting trees around it to mark his grave. Local women from the nearby villages began to visit with their own babies and began praying to Guinefort for protection, bringing their babies clothes and candles as an offering.

Source: The Golden Legend (1295) by Jacobus de Varagine, Archbishop of Genoa.Source: The Cult of Guinefort, an Unusual Saint by Michael Lynn.