ST PEREGRINE, PATRON SAINT OF CANCER PATIENTS - 1 MAY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY

Saints celebrated on the 1st of May

WELCOME!

SAINT PEREGRINE LAZIOSI

Peregrine Laziosi was born in 1265 in Forli, a small town north east of Florence. In the late thirteenth century, Forli was best known as a stronghold of opposition to the Papacy. In 1282, Pope Martin IV excommunicated the whole town. In an effort to resolve this situation, the Pope sent Father (later Saint) Philip Benizi, who was head of the Servites, a newly founded order of friars who were much involved in caring for the sick, to preach to the townsfolk. Philip’s visit was not a success: he was roughed up by a mob and thrown out of the town. One of those who assaulted him was the young Peregrine Laziosi.

HE TURNED TO GOD

This incident was a turning-point for Peregrine. He was gradually overcome with remorse for what he had done, and this led him to turn to God. He eventually joined the Servites, Philip’s own order, as a lay-brother, when he was thirty years old.

HE WAS MIRACULOUSLY CURED

He threw himself into their work of caring for the sick, especially during the frequent outbreaks of plague. Some time later, Peregrine himself fell ill, but not with plague. He had a malignant growth on his leg that was so severe that the doctors proposed to amputate the whole limb. Peregrine spent a night in prayer before a crucifix, after which he was miraculously cured.

As a result, he is considered a patron of cancer patients. Very many people can witness to the results of his intercession. Peregrine died of old age in 1345; he was canonised in 1726.

(R. Edwards)

The following prayer is said for nine consecutive days.

PRAYER:

O glorious wonder-worker, St Peregrine, who suffered so patiently with incurable cancer in thy leg and then wert healed miraculously by a touch of Our Lord’s divine hand, I beg of thee to obtain for me the deliverance from the infirmities that afflict my body (especially…), if this be God’s Holy Will.

Obtain for me also a perfect resignation to the sufferings it may please God to send me, so that, imitating our crucified Saviour and His sorrowful Mother, I may merit eternal glory in Heaven. Amen.

St Peregrine, pray for us.

Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory be…