Saint Peregrine

Patron Saint of those afflicted with cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses.

A SS. Philip and James' Tradition

Devotion to St. Peregrine has been a tradition at SS. Philip and James for over 50 years. A weekly novena to St. Peregrine is prayed on Wednesdays, after the noon service. A Solemn Novena to St. Peregrine is celebrated each weekend after the 11 a.m. Sunday mass.

Life of St. Peregrine

Peregrine Laziosi was born in Forli, Italy around 1265. As a youth he was a fiery and impetuous leader of a faction fostering civil discord and opposition to the Pope. When St. Philip Benizi was sent to mediate peace in the city of Forli, Peregrine personally stopped the public appeal by striking Philip.

Later, feeling remorse, Peregrine went out of the city, found St. Philip and begged his forgiveness and asked his advice.

Heroically, Peregrine gave up his companions and devoted his life to penance, prayer and care of the poor and sick. He joined the Servants of Mary, now known as the Servites, an order founded in Florence during Peregrine's lifetime, and which was devoted to prayer and service.

At the age of 60 his leg became infected with cancer and a doctor advised that it be amputated. Peregrine crawled to the Servite monastery chapel room, where he prayer to Our Lord. Miraculously his leg was cured. "Because of this miracle wrought by prayer, the church canonized him in 1726, and named him the patron saint of cancer sufferers." He died in 1345 at the age of 80. His Feast is celebrated on May 4th.

An Ancient Saint for a Modern Struggle

One of the most profound and central beliefs of Christian faith is our conviction that God wants us to experience healing and redemption. In the Gospels healing is a central feature of the public ministry of Jesus. Our belief is that God's healing grace is often mediated to us through our relationships with other people, our communion with the saints who have gone before us in faith, and through the prayer of the Church Community. Many who open their hearts in faith can experience physical healing, but all who open their hearts in faith can experience the spiritual healing which allows us to overcome the fear and despair into which suffering and disease would drive us.

For over half a century SS. Philip and James Parish has maintained and promoted a special devotion to St. Peregrine, the patron Saint of those suffering with cancer and related diseases, such as AIDS. This devotion has been a source of comfort and healing for many people, both those afflicted with the disease, and their caregivers and loved ones. This devotion to St. Peregrine has also helped to motivate the development of the ministry of spiritual healing into a major component of our parish life and ministry at SS. Philip and James. We celebrate various services of healing through out the year, which include yearly ecumenical services of healing for both AIDS and cancer. These services are conducted in conjunction with both a weekly and an annual solemn novena to St. Peregrine.