Chaplet of St. Peregrine

St Peregrine is the Patron Saint of Cancer Patients. This chaplet has a prayer guide which accompanies it.

THE STORY OF ST. PEREGRINE

The Order of Servants of Mary (Servites) began in the thirteenth century under the inspiration of Our Blessed Mother who appeared separately to seven young men of Florence, Italy, urging them to dedicate themselves to prayer and service. The seven soon became noticed and others joined them in the hills above the city.

One who applied was Peregrine Laziosi who had been an activist in the anti-papal movement in the city of Forli but had been won over by the Prior General of the Servites, Philip Benizi, who later became a saint. Peregrine labored for years as a brother in the Order and at age 60 was diagnosed with cancer of the leg brought on by many years of disciplined prayer while standing, resulting in varicose veins which became ulcerous. On the night before the scheduled amputation of his leg, Peregrine dragged himself to the foot of the cross in the community chapter room and fell into a deep trance-like sleep. Upon waking, he discovered that this leg was completely cured. Because of the miracle wrought by prayer, the Church canonized him in 1726 and named him patron of cancer sufferers. His Feast Day is May 4.

The lesson of Peregrine’s life is not that God worked a miracle, but that a faithful, trustful servant placed himself, unconditionally, in the hands of our Lord. Peregrine’s trust in God can be a model for us in dealing with the pain, sickness and crosses of our lives.