Rochus on traditions are legendary. Thus he lost both parents early on, gave his fortune to the poor, joined the Third Order of Franciscans, and went to 1317 on a pilgrimage to Rome, while he helped care for Pestkranken, this was his gift, simply by the Pestkranke Sign of the Cross of Christ to heal miraculously. In Rome again healed many people, including a cardinal, yet he remained poor and without prestige. On the return journey, he was even in Piacenza of the plague infested; in the hospital if his poverty will not be tolerated, he moved into a hut near the forest back. As an angel appeared to his care, and the dog of a neighboring nobleman brought him bread, until he could return home cured.

1322 then he returned to Montpellier, but Rochus was kept for a spy, you threw him into prison. Humbly, as always, he failed his true identity and remained five years, until his death in prison. Only then was he to cross the birthmark on his chest recognized, since its birth, growing and had become more beautiful. 

  Jacques-Louis David: Rocco asks Mary to cure for Pestkranke, 1780, at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Marseilles
Rochus' life story written by the philosopher and statesman Francis Diedo 1478 in Venice. Older records dated after 1430 and also have little credibility.

Rochus was the beginning of the 15th Century in southern France adores. A part of his bones were then transferred to Venice, where for him the 1485-built church of S. Rocco. From there, spread the devotion, Rocco was one of the popular saints, often referred to as Nothelfer matter, although he was not one of the classic 14 Nothelfer belongs. Hospitals for Pestkranke were named after him called Rochus Hospital. In particular, the Franciscans promoted his worship because he Tertiar her Order was. In Ruffano in the province of Lecce in Puglia is for him a large patronage annually celebrated, he was buried there. In southern France and northern Spain, today houses the letters "VSR", "Vive Saint Roche," "Long live the Holy Rochus" appropriate. In Germany there since the 1666 - also by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe described - on the pilgrimage Roch near Bingen, there was the 1754 Rochus Brotherhood was founded.