Saint Peregrine Laziosi

Feast: 1 May
Patron of: cancer patients, the seriously ill and all who are sick

Peregrine grew up in Forlì in the late thirteenth century, in a family that sided against the Pope. As a young man he struck the Servite friar Philip Benizi, who had come to preach peace, and was met with forgiveness instead of anger. He repented, joined the Servites and later returned to Forlì, where he died in 1345.

He is remembered for a healing. Around the age of sixty a cancerous wound on his leg was to be amputated; he spent the night in prayer before a crucifix, and by morning the wound had healed. He is shown in the black Servite habit, often with his leg bared or bandaged, before Christ on the cross.

For anyone facing cancer or a long illness, or praying for someone who is. Peregrine was a proud, angry young man who was turned around by one act of forgiveness, and a sick old man who took his fear to the cross.

The print of Saint Peregrine Laziosi