The Saint of Miraculous Healing

"Give Me Your physically challenged appendages". Saint Roch

Before entering any cemetery the living must perform the ritual of walking backwards. The living must also leave the cemetery in the same way. Supposedly this appeases the taboo that only the dead may enter through the gates.

Here, New Orleans people are known to be highly superstitious. with Saint Roch it is not a superstition but a safety precaution. I am becoming a believer in superstition . The creepy voices , the moans, and screams heard throughout the cemetery are quickly converting the skeptic. But I digress, I must get on with the story. Those who infringe on the superstition tradition. I've honored their beliefs, still I will smudge myself upon clearing the gates on exiting. Smudging is an ancient ritual where the impure are covered with the smoke and or ash from burning sage.

For over 100 years, there have been ghosts, and their stories coming out of St. Roch Cemetery. And while the modern New Orleans Ghost Tours do not currently go to St. Roch Cemetery, which means if the living visit this city of the dead. We are at the mercy of God. The story of Saint Roch cemetery is certainly worth telling.

St. Roch Cemetery was founded by Reverend P.L. Thevis in 1874. During one of the yellow Fever outbreaks that plagued New Orleans. weary of God's people being struck with this fever. However, the reverend was banished into the marshes and swamps surrounding New Orleans' during his banishment an unusually large black dog appeared to protect him and the saliva from the dog's tongue aided in the cleric's healing and return to health.

The reverend petitioned the saint of miraculous healing for protection from the recurring epidemics, Saint Roch, heard the prayer and granted the minister's humble request to protect his congregation during these epidemics. When nobody from the Reverend’s Church died of Yellow Fever, he founded this Cemetery, as part of his promise to Saint Roch. He honored his vow that if Saint Roch would keep his people safe, he would build a chapel in the saint's honor. The promised Chapel is now inside of the Cemetery that was built and dedicated to Saint Roch.

Any given day you can go there and find yourself there by yourself. Maybe this is why there are a number of ghost and ghost stories associated with the Cemetery.the Ghosts of Saint Roch upon request will manifest their form and have frequently engaged in conversation with the living. They prefer not to use the Spirit Box when communicating with the non dead.

The most famous ghost story associated with St. Roch Cemetery is that of a ghost dog which is often seen wandering through the Cemetery. The Ghost Dog of St. Roch Cemetery is described as an unnaturally large black dog. It has been captured in pictures and video, I have personally not seen any of the photographs or videos of this ghost but, I have felt his warm breath against my skin and I've heard his panting following behind me.

Now, a rational person , as I believe that I am, would think, “Is it possible that this ghost or apparition is simply a stray dog wandering the Cemetery?” I tried my best to believe that an invisible stray dog was following me. And that is a perfectly valid explanation. Those inclined to superstitious beliefs say the ghost dog is the very dog that aided and comforted Reverend P.L. Thevis.

The only reason I talk about this is that people who have tried to approach this dog follow it through the cemetery with the intent of petting the animal are disappointed. Just when the dog is within reach it vanishes.

Interestingly Saint Roch which this Cemetery is named after, is the Patron Saint of Dogs. Could this explain why the ghost of a dog is seen in the Cemetery? Is this dog the eternal companion of Saint Roch? You decide.


After they returned to France, the holy man and his dog were arrested as spies. They would both spend the next five years in prison together.

Some rumor has it that the dog and the reverend survived prison by caring for other prisoners. Other prisoners say that the duo were cared for by an angel. Could this miracle be true?

Whatever the case, he never mentioned his nobility to prison officials and as a result, he languished in prison under false allegations until his death in 1327.

an angel brought from heaven a table divinely written by the hand with letters of gold into the prison, which was laid under the head of . The Reverend.. And on that tablet was written that God had granted to him his prayer for his congregation. The message was that who that calleth meekly to S. Rocke he shall not be hurt with any pestilence

History does not tell us what happened to the dog, but it is certain that he was equally rewarded for his service. One belief is this dog is present with us recreated in every family canine today.

Another interesting ghost story that is told about St. Roch Cemetery is that of a hooded apparition that is seen walking through the Cemetery.

Now, just a hooded human form walking through the Cemetery would not be strange on its own, such might but, this specter is sure to capture your complete attention.

being a visitor to St. Roch Cemetery. You’re just walking around minding your own business, checking out the tombs and burial vaults which fill St. Roch Cemetery. All of a sudden, you see a man dressed in a black robe, his hood pulled over covering his head. Surely you’d pay attention, it isn’t a sight you see every day. Then, just as quickly as you noticed him, he walks through a wall, or simply vanishes into nothing

This hooded ghost has even been seen walking through the Cemetery after the gates are locked. Nobody can get in or out, but for some reason, this ghost still wanders the pathways of the Cemetery. If the hooded figure doesn't make you suspect it's a ghost,I don't know what would.

Nobody knows who this ghost is. We can assume, based on his clothing, that he was involved with the Church, but we cannot say for sure. If you’re ever in St. Roch Cemetery and see a man in a black robe wandering around, follow him. You may be one of the lucky few people to see the Spirit of Reverend P.L. Thevis. He is rumored to continue to guard the chapel and its cemetery.

The Reverend may be standing a watchful eye over the hundreds of artificial limbs, crutches, statues , and various body parts, tributes from generations of grateful patrons who Saint Roch has healed or comforted in their time of illness and dire need.