Original scientific paper
Saint Rocco in the traditional heritage of the Catholic Croats
Marko Dragić
orcid.org/0000-0001-5362-6814
Abstract
Among the saints about whom there is not much professional and scientific literature is St. Rocco who is the patron of plague epidemics, wounds and cholera. Over twenty original contemporary examples of Saint Rocco testifies that this saint is very worshiped in the Catholic traditional heritage of Croats. Croats even today talk about the miraculous healings through the intercession of St. Rocco. In many places during the feast of St. Rocco many pilgrims go to the shrine of that saint, holding processions and organizing a great national celebrations. In the oral communication even in our time there are legends about St. Rocco and the plague. Versed legends that are still remembered have an outstanding aesthetic value. The plot of these legends is in accordance with the life of St. Rocco. Catholic Croats even today pray to St. Rocco, and recommend to that saint. Oral and literary examples, rituals, customs, and toponyms named after Saint Rocco are indisputable proof that the cult of this saint in the Catholic traditional heritage of Croats, and also the deep rootedness of the Croatian people in the Western Christian civilization.
Keywords
the cult of Saint Rocco; miraculous healings; legends; religious and secular traditions; prayers
Hrčak ID:
106390
URI
Publication date:
19.7.2013.
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