SAN ROQUE FIESTA
Our country’s rich religious experience can be easily captured by our Fiesta Celebrations. The fiesta is of Spanish origin (the reason for the Spanish term which means Feast). Spain, being a Roman Catholic country, set aside certain days to remember particular saints with processions and festivities. Our Fiestas are held to honor particular saints for their great service to God and our Faith. When we honor the saints, we honor their Creator — God. Much the same as if we honor a great painting or sculpture or piece of music, we honor the person who created it.
In the community where I belong, we celebrate the Feast of our patron … San Roque (Patron Saint of dog lovers, dogs, knee problems, invalids and pestilence). Born at Montpellier towards 1295; died 1327. His father was governor of that city. At his birth St. Roch (popularly known as Roque in the Philippines) is said to have been found miraculously marked on the breast with a red cross. Deprived of his parents when about twenty years old, he distributed his fortune among the poor, handed over to his uncle the government of Montpellier, and in the disguise of a mendicant pilgrim, set out for Italy, but stopped at Aquapendente, which was stricken by the plague, and devoted himself to the plague-stricken, curing them with the sign of the cross.
He next visited Cesena and other neighboring cities and then Rome. Everywhere the terrible scourge disappeared before his miraculous power. He visited Mantua, Modena, Parma, and other cities with the same results. At Piacenza, he himself was stricken with the plague. He withdrew to a hut in the neighboring forest, where his wants were supplied by a gentleman named Gothard, who by a miracle learned the place of his retreat. After his recovery Roch returned to France. Arriving at Montpellier and refusing to disclose his identity, he was taken for a spy in the disguise of a pilgrim, and cast into prison by order of the governor, — his own uncle, and some writers say, — where five years later he died. The miraculous cross on his breast as well as a document found in his possession now served for his identification. He was accordingly given a public funeral, and numerous miracles attested his sanctity.
Normally the feast day celebration is held on the 16th of August but for pastoral considerations, our parish will celebrate San Roque’s Feast on the 18th of August (Sunday) for this year. Under the spiritual guidance of our parish priest, Rev. Fr. Edgardo C. Coroza, OFS; it is hoped that by celebrating the feast of our patron, it would help bring the liturgical life of the church into the life of the family; and help build and strengthen the domestic church. It is a way to make the celebrations of the Church, and the communion of saints a vibrant living thing for our community.
The communion of saints is an invaluable resource to us, a source of intercession, help and inspiration. Every struggle we face is shared by a saint. Every trial we encounter has been fought and won before by one of our brothers or sisters in Christ. Each saint has a unique story, some particular strength that they can bring to your family. Celebrating name days marks in some special way the feast day of the saint whose name is used as a baptismal or confirmation name. Canon law specifies that each baptismal name should contain a saint’s name. In its place, you could choose a patron for whom you feel a special affinity.
We likewise invite everyone to join us in continued prayer through the intercession of San Roque (during the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, San Roque was our prayer companion to help us through this health crisis. Let us continue to seek his intercession.) As we celebrate His Feast Day, we pray:
O most merciful and loving Father, who through an angel promised San Roque that whoever should invoke his name would be safeguarded from epidemic and contagious diseases. Grant that through his intercession Our Homes, Barangays and Communities May be preserved from all dangers both of body and soul brought about by these contagious diseases.
O Blessed San Roque 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 no less. Offer to God our sighs and tears and obtain for us the physical and spiritual health we seek amidst whatever health crisis we are and we will experience. SAN ROQUE, pray for us, that we may be relieved from all diseases of body and soul. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“The saints encourage us with their witness not to have fear of going against the current or fear of being misunderstood and derided when we speak of the Lord and of the Gospel… They show us with their lives that the one who remains faithful to God and to his words experiences now on this earth the comfort of his love and then experiences it a ‘hundredfold’ in eternity” (Pope Francis).
Fiesta Celebrations is what truly makes IT MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES, and the Fiesta Celebration in San Roque de Pasay is a living testimony to this ideological thrust. Happy Feast Day San Roque, and more power to the Parish Pastoral Council and its parishioners!
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For any personal comments or suggestions, you may call 0917-4805585 or email me at [email protected].
