Handmade St. Roch Statue

Product Description

Saint Roch was born in France in 1295. When as a young man he heard that the plague had reached Italy, he walked from Montpelier to Rome to help the victims. While in Rome, Roch himself caught the plague. Believing he was soon to die, he went into the forest at the edge of the city, built a small hut, and began to pray and prepare himself for death. As he was praying, a small dog came to him holding a piece of bread in its mouth. Roch took the bread from the dog. The dog then licked the plague wounds on Roch's leg, and the wounds were healed. Roch ate the bread, and, brought back to wholeness by the dog and his gifts, he and the dog returned to Rome, where they worked to heal others and comfort the dying. The story demonstrates both the bond between humans and dogs and the power of each to heal and rejuvenate the other. At the top of this image of St. Roch is a sentence from a sermon by the Rhineland mystic Meister Eckhart (1260-1329). The full quote is: "Every single creature is full of God and is a book about God. Every creature is a Word of God. If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature - even a caterpillar - I would never have to prepare a sermon, so full of God is every creature."
This one of a kind figure is completely hand made by Hank Schlau and hand painted by Karen Schlau. Suitable for indoor/outdoor use. Comes boxed with a history card. Perfect gift for any animal lover.

Measures 6 x 2 x 1.5 inches.

Packaging mentions that St. Roch is the Patron of Dogs. He is also the patron of those with knee problems and skin rashes, bachelors, and surgeons.