As we move through life, we all can agree with the wisdom, “Our health is our wealth”. Health of body and peace of mind are important and valued gifts, that perhaps are not fully appreciated, until they are made feel vulnerable.
I Pray, as we begin the summer months, that we all will be blessed with health of body and peace of mind. I’m very conscious, currently, many parishioners and people live with the reality of illness and suffering.
Very few have not been touched by the story of cancer in life. I recently became aware of the wonderful intercessory power of a saint associated with prayers for those who live with cancer.
Peregrine Laziosi was born in 1265 in Forli in Italy. As a young man, he led a worldly and dissolute life. In his teens, he joined the enemies of the Pope in his hometown and became a ringleader of rebels.
Pope Martin IV sent Philip Benizi of the Order of Servites (Servants of Mary) as his personal ambassador to try to bring peace to the angry rebels.
While addressing crowds of malcontents one day, he was dragged off the rostrum, beaten with clubs, and pelted with rocks. Peregrine knocked down Benizi with a vicious blow to the face.
Young Peregrine was stricken with remorse. He cast himself at the feet of the bruised and bleeding priest and asked for his forgiveness. Benizi granted it with a smile.
From that moment, Peregrine became a staunch champion of Benizi. He heeded Philip’s suggestion and often prayed in Our Lady’s chapel in the Cathedral. While kneeling in the chapel one day, he had a vision of the Blessed Mother holding in her hands a black habit like the one the Servites wore.
“Go to Siena,” Mary told the astonished Peregrine. “There you will find devout men who call themselves my servants. Attach yourself to them.”
The Servites warmly welcomed Peregrine, and Benizi himself ceremoniously clothed Peregrine in the religious habit.
Daily, Peregrine sought to become a more fervent religious man. To atone for past misdeeds, he treated himself harshly and worked hard for the poor and afflicted.
People took to calling him the “Angel of Good Counsel,” grateful for his wise advice so freely given.
After being ordained a priest, Peregrine went to Forli and founded a Servite monastery. A few years later, a cancerous growth appeared on his right foot — so painful that he finally agreed to have the foot amputated.
The night before the surgery, Peregrine spent hours in prayer then dozed off and dreamt that Christ was touching him and healing his foot. The thrill of it woke him up and in the dim moonlight he saw that his foot, carefully bandaged a few hours earlier, was completely healed.
From that time forward, when Forli people were sick, they appealed to Peregrine’s prayers. Some were cured when he whispered “Jesus” into their ears.
The Church has since appointed him patron of persons with cancer, foot ailments, or any incurable disease. Peregrine died in the year 1345 at the age of 85 and was canonized in 1926. St Peregrine’s Feast Day is May 1.
Generations of people have found comfort from this great saint’s intercession. The following prayer may offer hope and consolation for those who live with illness at this time…
Prayer to St Peregrine, Patron of Cancer Patients
Glorious wonderworker, St Peregrine,
You answered the divine call
With a ready spirit,
And forsook all the comforts of the world
To dedicate yourself to God
In the Order of His Most Holy Mother.
You laboured manfully
For the salvation of souls.
And in union with Jesus Crucified
You endured the most painful sufferings
With such patience
As to deserve to be
Healed miraculously
Of an incurable cancer
In your leg by a touch
Of his divine hand.
Obtain for me
The grace to answer
Every call of God
And to fulfil His Will
In all the events of life.
Enkindle in my heart
A consuming zeal
For the salvation of souls.
Deliver me from the infirmities
that afflict my body
(State your intention(s) here)
Obtain for me
Perfect resignation to the sufferings
It may please God to send me,
So that, imitating our Crucified Savior
And His Sorrowful Mother,
I may merit eternal glory in heaven. Amen.
St Peregrine, pray for me
And for all who invoke your aid.
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