Powerful Prayer to Saint Peregrine
O great St. Peregrine,
You have been called “The Mighty,”
“The Wonder-Worker,”
because of the numerous miracles
which you have obtained from God
for those who have had recourse to you.
For so many years you bore in your own
flesh this cancerous disease that destroys
the very fibre of our being,
and who had recourse to the Source
of all grace when the power of man
could do no more.
You were favored with the vision of
Jesus coming down from His Cross
to heal your affliction.
Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of
the sick whom we entrust to you.
(Pause here and silently recall the names of the sick
for whom you are now praying)
Aided in this way by your powerful
intercession, we shall sing to God,
now and for all eternity,
a song of gratitude for His great
goodness and mercy. Amen.
About St. Peregrine
St. Peregrine was born in Forli, Italy around 1265. At that time, Forli was governed by the Pope as part of the Papal States. Peregrine grew up in a family which was actively involved in the opposition or anti-papal party. Because of anti-papal political activity, the city was under the Church penalty of interdict which meant that Mass and the Sacraments could not be celebrated in the city. St. Philip Benizi was sent to Forli to preach the reconciliation of the city and the removal of the penalty.
Young Peregrine was so intense in his political fervor that he heckled St. Philip during his preaching, and at one point struck him. The moment of striking Philip seemed to drastically change Peregrine. He began to channel his energies into good works and eventually joined the Servants of Mary and pronounced his vows in the Servite Priory in Siena, Italy. Peregrine then returned to Forli, where he spent the rest of his life. He especially dedicated himself to the sick, the poor and the fringe people of society. He also imposed a special penance on himself to stand whenever it was not necessary to sit. This led to varicose veins.
The varicose veins deteriorated into an open, running sore on his leg. This open, running sore was diagnosed as cancerous. The wound became so obvious, odorous and painful that the local surgeon scheduled surgery to amputate the leg.
Peregrine had given himself to so many people in similar situations, and now found himself having to lean on his own faith and in the goodness of God. The night before the operation he prayed before the image of the Crucified Christ in the priory chapter room. At the age of 60 he was now challenged to carry a new and more difficult cross. This night, His prayer led him into deep trance-like sleep in which he envisioned the crucified Christ leaving the Cross and touching his cancerous leg. When Peregrine awakened from the trance of prayer, he discovered the wound healed and the leg saved. St. Peregrine lived 20 more years. He died on May 1st, 1345 at the age of 80, and was canonized a Saint on December 27th, 1726.
Feast Day
Feast Day: May 1
Name Meaning: “The pilgrim”
Patron Saint of: Cancer, Cancer patients, Sick people, AIDS sufferers, Skin diseases
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