"Are you a dog person or a cat person?" Not to get too philosophical on you, but this is one of the fundamental questions of human existence. A question that, had the Supreme Executive Committee in its infinite wisdom chosen the other Saint Gertrude ("of Nivelles" rather than "the Great"), could have perhaps been decided once and for all. You see today Roch, the patron saint of dogs, takes on Gertrude, the patron saint of...not cats but...the West Indies. Alas.
Of course, there are other criteria on which to base your decision as you seek to choose between a 14th century Frenchman and a 13th century German woman. Like whether you prefer cabernet to beer or croissants to pretzels. But enough of these European stereotypes!
Yesterday, in the most lopsided battle of the year, Joseph trounced Christina Rossetti, sending her into her personal "bleak midwinter," 79% to 21%. He'll face Absalom Jones in the Saintly Sixteen.
This is the last battle of the first full week of Lent Madness 2016. Save your voting energy, folks, and we'll see you bright and early on Monday morning as Columba takes on Kateri Tekakwitha.
Roch
Roch (Rock in English) is known as the patron saint of dogs, falsely accused people, and plagues. Many legends surround the saint, who was born in 1350 in Montpellier, France, to a rich merchant family. According to one legend, God touched Roch at birth, leaving the mark of a red cross on his breast. Rejecting his father’s directive to become a governor of their town following his father’s death, Roch instead sold his possessions and began a pilgrimage to Italy. During his journey, he passed through a town stricken by the plague. Roch miraculously cured the inhabitants with touch and the sign of the cross. Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent himself from contracting the plague, and stories say he fled to the wilderness to die.
As Roch was lying in pain, a dog appeared to him in a clearing. The dog began licking his sores and nurturing him to health. A water source sprang up beside him. Popular iconography of Roch shows him afflicted with sores and a dog by his side.
When Roch healed, he returned home. Unfortunately, his uncle, the governor, did not recognize him and threw Roch in prison as a spy. For five years, Roch lived in the prison without revealing his identity. It was not until he died that people recognized him by the cross-shaped birthmark on his breast. Following his death, the people of the village wept and gnashed their teeth in loss and regret, and a group of followers of Roch sprang up in Montpellier. Seeing the popularity of Roch, the Roman Church built the Church of San Rocco in Venice and entombed his remains.
Collect for Roch
Merciful Jesus, you know our deepest sorrows and aches and offer us comfort through your love and companionship. Thank you for the ministry and miracles of your loyal servant, Roch, who sought to comfort the sick and infirm for the sake of your love. Create in us hearts full of compassion and love that we would be agents of your healing and love in a broken world. Amen.
Gertrude
Gertrude the Great (sometimes called Saint Gertrude of Helfta) was a late thirteenth-century German Benedictine nun, mystic, theologian, and writer.
Little is known of Gertrude’s early life except that she was born in 1256. She entered school at the monastery of St. Mary at Helfta at the young age of four. While some speculate that her parents offered her to the Church as a child oblate (a person dedicated to a life in God’s service), another theory is that she was an orphan. In the monastery school, Gertrude was under the care of Saint Mechtilde, the younger sister of the monastery’s abbess, Gertrude of Hackeborn.
Gertrude joined the monastic community in 1266. Her later writing shows that she was well educated in rhetoric and Latin. Gertrude began to experience visions at the age of twenty-five. She shifted her study from the secular to focus on scripture and theology and devoted herself to a life of prayer and meditation. Wanting to share her experiences and dedication to God, Gertrude began writing spiritual treatises for her monastic sisters and became a spiritual counselor to whom people flocked for advice.
Gertrude produced numerous writings, although only a few survive today. The longest piece still in existence is The Herald of Divine Love. Partly written by Gertrude and partly written by other nuns, The Herald is composed of five books. Book Two, written by Gertrude, forms the core of the work. It includes vivid descriptions of Gertrude’s visions, including details on the veneration of Christ’s heart.
Gertrude died at Helfta, near Eisleben, Saxony (Germany) around 1302. While Gertrude is now regarded as one of the great mystics of the thirteenth century, she was not broadly remembered after her death until the Latin edition of her work was published in 1536.
Collect for Gertrude
Almighty God, your Holy Spirit gives to one the word of knowledge, and to another the insight of wisdom, and to another the steadfastness of faith. We praise you for the gifts of grace imparted to your servant Gertrude, and we pray that by her teaching we may be led to a fuller knowledge of the truth we have seen in your Son Jesus, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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273 comments on “Roch vs. Gertrude”
I am neither a dog nor a cat person--in my circumstances keeping a pet would be an act of animal cruelty--but I love the two forms of sainthood represented here: Roch drafted into sainthood by popular devotion (later, and perhaps reluctantly, recognized by "authorities") and Gertrude, force fed learning and suddenly invested with the charism of visions. The Roch legends are clearly inspired by the Bible (for example the parable of Dives and Lazarus) and represent a different kind of formation by Scripture (like my fifth-grade Sunday School student of 50-odd years ago who, when asked to name a miracle of Jesus, volunteered, "He turned stones into bread." That's not what the text says, but it's what the heart knows when His bread sustains us in the stony wilderness of our exile in the world. As I recall, I probably voted for Gertrude, but it has taken me a very long time to succeed in writing this Post. Neuropathy, like autocorrect, plays havoc with Comments!
Thanks for persevering, John!
The dogs are great, and tempted me but to sit in a prison for 5 years without telling your uncle who you are? Gertrude was no less uninspiring. I did vote however.
I agree. Seemed like senseless suffering to me.
I agree also. What good can a saint do for others if he's locked up in prison? Seems a strange decision on his part.
I also wonder at Roch's silence. And the Bio didn't help, offering no explanation as to why he kept quiet.
I couldn't help wondering if his uncle knew who he was and didn't want the competition to his authority. In that case, maybe Roch kept quiet to preserve peace. Pure speculation, probably based on my own overly suspicious mind. I voted for him anyway, because he cured the sick and allowed a dog to cure him.
Rumor has it Roch didn't tell who he was to avoid worldly glory
This is a close one - But as a Martha, I usually end up voting for the doer rather than the thinker!
Ah, but that's not to say Gertrude didn't do anything, right? Thinkers and writers are doers, too!
Had to go with Roch....animal lover, cool name, gave up his wealth, and as much as I love books as a librarian, those that serve others in the name of Christ always win me over.
Why on earth didn't Roch just tell them who he was? Gertrude!
Once again, it seems to be a thinker vs. a doer. I stand on the Rock, for his service to plague victims. I have my doubts about dog saliva's curative powers, but compared to some of the stories we heard about last year's Saints, it's downright sensible! Although, if Gertrude were around today, I might approach her for some counseling.
You mean to tell me that all of those dogs, including my own, that lick their wounds, are wrong?
Just went and read some of Gertrude's writings. Wow! Her adoration and awe sings across the centuries.
Wait until we get to St. Denis and his act of preaching.
Patron of the falsely accused and an action of compassion that enters the pains of others rather than walls them off - Roch seems to be a saint for today. Gertrude would also be very tempting if I were at a different place in my own life.
Our two dogs are family, but being cured by dogs and enduring prison does not rank up with a life of service and writing that inspires generations. I go with Gertrude.
Once again, though there have been exceptions, I will go with the woman. It is so good to know there have been women in all ages that went against the norms of the day to be the person God meant for them to be. Women are and have been scholarly, excellent writers, and expressive. She also was so in tune with God in her life that she could see visions and write about them in a compelling way.
Pooh! I had recommended Gertrude the patron saint of cats to the SEC last year during nominating season. I am SO disappointed and respectfully request that she be in the 2017 bracket. But, since I don't dislike dogs, I just like cats better, I voted for Roch--besides, the falsely accused need their very own patron saint and he fits the bill nicely. Can hardly wait for the kitsch round on this guy...I'm sure the "other" Gertrude was a nice lady but I must go and lick my wounds, since no dogs are evidence...
Jack the Dog, (see Facebook page) is quite clear this morning that if I do not vote for Rocco...then I run the risk of having a new birthmark on my chest...courtesy of Jack the Dog...so what can I say? Rocco! All the way!!!
Jack made you do it! Hope we will be getting a sermon on this.
I voted for Roch because I couldn't find the "Dog" button.
Ah, so the first groupies were formed in Montpellier...
Haha! Roch on!
For the second day in a row, the Supreme Executive Council seems to have forgotten the results of the contest between Absalom Jones (82%) and Matthias (18%). While the last two contests have, indeed, been lopsided, I would like to see Absalom Jones' achievement celebrated!
I also asked this question and am wondering why??
There's been a "Roch" magnet (purchased at a Benedictine abbey!) on our fridge for years, watching over the dogs who've been part of our family. So--Roch it is.
It's Roch, patron of dogs, for being the kind of person a dog would be drawn to. And for his courage and compassion in caring for plague victims. And for the saintly qualities that made his fellow villagers mourn him so int3ensely.
The patron saint of dogs and plagues is a tough opponent, but a woman who pursued a well-rounded education in quiet service to God and others, and whose contributions were overlooked for a couple of centuries, seems a more likely story than that of the Roch, heartwarming though it may be. Gertrude gets my vote.
"When Roch healed, he returned home. Unfortunately, his uncle, the governor, did not recognize him and threw Roch in prison as a spy. For five years, Roch lived in the prison without revealing his identity. It was not until he died that people recognized him by the cross-shaped birthmark on his breast."
IT AMAZES ME THAT HE DIDN'T SHOW HIS UNCLE THE SCAR. he got my vote anyway-there's got to be more to that story....
Humans can only aspire to the saintliness of dogs. So, since I can't vote for the dog, I'll vote for Roch. By doing so, I am violating my rule of always voting for the Mystic, but...dogs.
Mike, you got me. Often and often I've watched a dog loving her 'God on earth' and wished I could display such devotion. To have your God incarnate before you always--how blessed is a happy dog! So, Roch.
Roch: First is was the dog thing, but then those great legs in the painting clenched it for me. 😉 LOL
That brought me a chuckle, too, but it was Gertrude for me today.
I liked both of these proposed saints, which, I suppose, puts me between a Roch and a hard place. However, when someone is the patron saint of dogs, plagues, and the falsely accused...that's the person who gets my vote. Roch on into the weekend everyone!
As a dog owner, I can't not vote for Rocco!
Gertrude for me...can't have too many good female spiritual directors!
Kudos to Gertrude. It's a ruff choice, but upon this Roch I cast my vote! I canine tell a lie.
Great one Peg! Made me laugh!
As Gertrude comes from Soxony, like my Dad and, since I'm half saxonian too, she gets my vote!
So Roch says to the dog, he says, "Heel!" And then later on, the dog says to Roch, he says, "Heal!"
P.S. Peggy Pate, you made me howl with laughter.
SEC — your anticipation of puns out the wazoo was certainly correct.
Yes, eventually the SEC will have to add a rimshot button to the site.
Speaking as one who had worked in law enforcement for a quarter-century, I couldn't vote for anyone other than the patron of the falsely accused.
Dude, you Roch!
I grew up with dogs and cats; only cats now. I voted for St. Roch because of the miraculous cures and because of the dogs.
And how, may I ask, am I supposed to build evening prayer around today's Lent Madness when neither Roch nor Gertrude are in Lesser Feasts, or Holy Men & Women or any other lectionary I can find with SCRIPTURES attached. Quick, I need scriptures for these Saints -- lest we end up with the dog returning to it's vomit.
Perhaps Scriptures referring to people seeking counsel from older, wiser, holy people, such as David consulting the prophet or Mary consulting Elizabeth? (to go with Gertrude's work in teaching and counseling) or many healing stories in the Bible?
Good thought, Lucy. I ended up checking out Friday in 1st week of Lent, and decided Psalm 130 felt Gertrude-ish. Used Ecc "Better a live Dog than a dead Lion" for the opening. Contemplated the Ezekiel 18:21-28 from the Friday in lent, which was reminiscent of dogs returning to vomit, thought about St. John the Baptist in jail, but as I drove up to the church, Luke's "did not our hearts burn" from the two going to Emmaus felt right for Gertrude. During the Sermon time, one person suggested Hannah giving Samuel to Eli, and another suggested the even the dogs getting the crumbs from under the table. Good time had by all.
Just for the record I voted for Gertrude. The icon blew me away: a book, a pen and a heart aflame, what else does anyone need? Well maybe more beautiful clothes. . .I went forth and bought a blouse.