“You’re like Saint Roch’s dog.” We’ve heard it a thousand times, and almost everyone knows the tongue twister about the tail. But who was that dog, and why does it always appear beside the saint with a loaf of bread in its mouth? We’ll tell you one of the most beautiful stories of loyalty in the calendar of saints—and one that feels very close to home for us: Blas, our cocker spaniel, never leaves our side for a minute.
Who Was Saint Roch
Saint Roch was born in Montpellier, in southern France, around 1300, into a wealthy family. As a young man, he gave his possessions to the poor and set out on a pilgrimage to Rome. It was the era of the great plague epidemics in Europe, and instead of fleeing them, Roch stayed in the towns and cities he encountered along the way to care for the sick.
For centuries, Saint Roch was the saint people turned to for protection against epidemics. His feast day is August 16.
The Story of Saint Roch’s Dog
Tradition has it that while caring for plague victims in Piacenza, in northern Italy, Roch himself became infected. To prevent infecting anyone else, he left the city and took refuge alone in a forest, prepared to die there.
But he was not alone. Every day, a dog appeared, bringing him a loaf of bread in its mouth and licking the sores on his leg. It took the bread from the table of its master, a local nobleman named Gottardo Pallastrelli. Surprised that his dog disappeared every day with a loaf of bread, Gottardo followed it into the forest and found Roch ill. He took him home, nursed him until he recovered, and, moved by his example, ended up following in his footsteps as a pilgrim.
Some versions give the dog a name: the most common is Melampo.
How to Recognize Saint Roch in a Church
If you enter a church in Spain, you are likely to find an image of Saint Roch. He is instantly recognizable:
- Dressed as a pilgrim, with a staff, scallop shell pouch, and sometimes a hat adorned with shells.
- Pointing to a sore on his thigh, a reminder of the plague.
- With a dog at his feet holding a loaf of bread in its mouth, and sometimes an angel healing his wound.
Because of this image and the story of the forest, Saint Roch is today the patron saint of dogs and pilgrims. In many places, pets are blessed in his honor on August 16.
And What About the Tongue Twister About the Tail?
“Saint Roch’s dog has no tail because Ramón Rodríguez cut it off.” There are versions in which it was “stolen” or “torn off,” but they all serve the same purpose: practicing your R’s. The fact that we know it has nothing to do with the story of the saint; it is simply one of those tongue twisters we learned as little girls and still repeat to our nieces and nephews.
Saint Roch in Galicia: the Betanzos Balloon
As Galician girls at heart, we cannot talk about Saint Roch without thinking of Betanzos. Every August 16, at midnight, the Saint Roch Balloon is launched from the Plaza de los Hermanos García Naveira, considered the largest paper balloon in the world. The tradition was started in 1875 by a saddler named Claudino Pita, and his descendants have kept it alive to this day. If you happen to be in the Mariñas one summer, don’t miss it.
A Story of Loyalty You Can Wear
At its heart, the story of Saint Roch’s dog is a story of companionship: the story of someone who does not leave you alone when you need it most. That is why we love it so much. And that is why we believe that giving a medal is an act of love: it is telling someone that you are with them and that you pray for them, even if you are not by their side.
At Khartes Madrid, we are two sisters, Marian and Bárbara, who design religious medals and make them by hand in Spain, with pearls and natural stones and gold plating. Each one comes with its chain, wrapped as a gift, and with an illustrated print and the story of its devotion. Blas, our faithful companion, wears the Saint Benedict medal, the ultimate medal of protection.
Khartes Medals
Protection for Those You Love Most
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If you want to learn more about the medal Blas wears, we explain it in the meaning of the Saint Benedict medal.
Facts You Can Check
- According to legend, a dog visited Saint Roch every day with a loaf of bread and licked his wounds until his master, Gottardo Pallastrelli, followed it; the most common name for the dog is Melampo. Source
- The story of Saint Roch is recorded in Santiago de la Vorágine's La leyenda dorada, and the saint is identified by his pilgrim attire and the dog that accompanies him. Source
- The Saint Roch Balloon of Betanzos has been launched every August 16 since 1875, a tradition started by the saddler Claudino Pita. Source
The most beautiful medals in the world are at Khartes.
Thank you for reading.
Marian and Bárbara (and Blas)
The most beautiful medals are at www.khartesmadrid.com. Follow us on Instagram: @khartesmadrid.