St. Roch Coloring Page
This St. Roch coloring page shows the pilgrim in his wide hat and cape with a scallop shell, leaning on his staff, while a little dog brings him a loaf of bread and an angel watches over him. The PDF is free to print. Roch cared for the sick and is a patron of dogs.
The story of St. Roch
About 700 years ago, in the town of Montpellier in France, there lived a young man named Roch. His parents were rich, but when they died, Roch gave away everything he had to the poor. Then he put on a pilgrim's hat and cape, picked up a walking staff and set off on foot for Rome, to pray at the tombs of the apostles.
When Roch reached Italy, he found that a terrible sickness called the plague had come to the towns. Many people were sick and afraid. Roch did not run away. He stayed and cared for the sick, and people say many of them got well when he prayed over them.
Then Roch caught the sickness himself. He did not want to make anyone else sick, so he went off alone into the forest and rested in a little hut. Here comes the best part of his story. A dog from a nearby house found him. Every day the dog brought Roch a loaf of bread in its mouth! The dog's master followed it one day, found Roch and helped take care of him. Roch got better.
At the end of his life, people mistook Roch for a spy and put him in prison. He did not complain, and he died there peacefully. Much of his story comes from old tales, and we cannot check every detail, but Christians have loved him for hundreds of years.
St. Roch is a patron saint of dogs, of people who are sick and of everyone who is falsely accused. His feast is August 16.
What to color
- His pilgrim's hat and cape: brown, gray or dark red.
- The scallop shell: white or pink, the badge of a pilgrim.
- His staff and water gourd: brown wood and a yellow-orange gourd.
- The dog: any color you like, with a golden brown loaf of bread.
- The angel: white or pale blue robes and golden wings.
- The hut and town: brown wood, green trees and orange roofs.
A prayer to pray together
When someone is sick, or when a pet is sick, we can say:
St. Roch, pray for us.
Children can add: and for all the sick people and animals we love.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on his feast, August 16, the day after the feast of the Assumption of Mary.
- Make a "pilgrim walk" around your neighborhood, praying for each house you pass.
- Bake dog treats for a pet you know, or donate pet food to an animal shelter.
- Make a get-well card for someone who is sick.
- Talk about it: the dog helped Roch without being asked. How can we help someone who needs it?
Read the full story: St. Roch in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. Roch?
Pilgrims usually wore brown, gray or dark red, so his hat, cape and tunic can be any of those. Make the scallop shell white or pink, the bread golden brown and the dog any color you like.
Why does St. Roch have a dog?
His story says that when Roch was sick and alone in the forest, a dog brought him bread every day until he got better. That is why he is a patron saint of dogs.
Why does St. Roch wear a shell on his hat?
A scallop shell was the badge of a pilgrim, a person who travels to a holy place to pray. Roch was a pilgrim who walked all the way from France to Italy.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.