Secret and Hidden Saints

Saint Roch in Prison in Montpellier (predella, panel 6 of 7)
French School
Wellcome Collection

T

he words "secret" and "hidden" are closely related, often interchangeable, but with slight differences. "Secret" is more commonly used in the New Testament to describe actions done for God's recognition, not human praise. For example, in Matthew 6:4, Jesus says, "so that your almsgiving may be in secret," emphasizing actions unseen by others.

St Roch, often depicted as a pilgrim with a staff, seashell, an open sore, an angel, and a dog, was a nobleman from Montpellier, France. Born with a cross-shaped mark on his chest, he gave his inheritance to the poor after his parents died when he was twenty. He handed the city's governance to his uncle and began a new life as a poor pilgrim.

St Roch, free from earthly cares, joined the Third Order Franciscans, donned pilgrim's garb, and set out for Rome to visit holy sites. Along his journey, he found a town devastated by the black plague. At great personal risk, he stayed to care for the sick in homes and hospitals. Miraculously, he cured many simply by making the Sign of the Cross. As he journeyed through plague-stricken towns, he finally contracted the plague in his leg. Rather than burden anyone, he withdrew to a remote forest hut, commended himself to God, and awaited death. A nobleman's hunting dog found him, bringing food and licking his wounds.

The nobleman followed his dog into the woods, discovering and aiding St Roch. Once his health improved, St Roch felt called to return to Montpellier. There, he concealed his identity in the war-torn city, arousing suspicion. Accused of being a spy, he remained silent, trusting God's will. Imprisoned by his own uncle, who failed to recognize him, St Roch was forgotten but cared for by angels until his death five years later.

After his death, his grandmother identified him by the red cross birthmark on his chest. He was given a grand funeral, and a church was built in his honor. His veneration quickly spread across Europe, approved by several popes.

The title "Secret and Hidden Saint" is a fitting title for St Roch, not because he sought to hide from God, but because he chose to hide from the eyes of the world, seeking instead the approval of his heavenly Father. In an age where every act of kindness, every moment of service, and every good deed is often broadcasted for likes, shares, and comments, St Roch offers us a countercultural example. He lived in a time plagued by disease, yet he did not seek recognition or praise for his works of mercy.

In our world today, we face a different kind of challenge—not a physical disease, but the subtle pull of self-promotion and the desire for validation. Social media, while a wonderful tool for connection and communication, can sometimes lead us to focus more on being noticed than on the true purpose of our actions. It’s easy to let the desire to be seen and appreciated overshadow the sincerity of our intentions.

St Roch offers us a gentle reminder that true holiness often goes unnoticed by others. The most profound acts of love are those done quietly, in secret, and hidden, known only to God. His life invites us to reflect on our motives: Are we serving others out of love for God, or are we seeking the approval of the world?

When St Roch returned to his hometown, he chose to remain anonymous, even when it meant facing imprisonment and death. He placed his trust in God, knowing that true reward is found not in human praise, but in the eternal love of the Father. We are called to follow his example in our own lives. Let us strive to do good humbly, without seeking attention, trusting that God sees and cherishes every hidden act of love.

For my third and last point, I recall the Oratio Imperata in which St Roch was among the saints invoked for protection against COVID-19. We are all survivors of the pandemic. Thanks to St Roch, the Secret and Hidden Saint, hidden from the eyes of the world.

Pope Francis actually recognized the so many Secret and Hidden Saints in our midst during the height of the pandemic. The St Roch's are the “ordinary people, often forgotten, who do not appear in newspaper and magazine headlines… [these ordinary people] without any doubt are in these very days writing the decisive events of our time: doctors, nurses, supermarket employees, cleaners, caregivers, providers of transport, law-and-order forces, volunteers...”

The life of St Roch reminds us that it's not so much about what we do, but about what God does through, with, and in us, often in secret. Amen. Fr JM Manzano SJ