Saint Peregrine Laziosi was a 14th-century Catholic saint recognised as the patron saint of people with cancer, incurable diseases, and desperate situations. Born in Forlì, Italy, in 1265, Peregrine led a tumultuous youth marked by religious indifference and hostility towards the Church.
However, his life took a decisive turn when he met Saint Philip Bénizi, a preacher of the Order of the Servites of Mary. Under his influence and through the grace of conversion, Peregrine abandoned his dissipated lifestyle to embrace a life of piety, penance, and devotion to the Virgin Mary.
After his radical conversion, Peregrine joined the Order of the Servites of Mary in Siena, where he lived a life of intense prayer, contemplation, and service to the sick and needy. Despite the physical suffering caused by a cancer that had developed in his leg, Peregrine maintained an unshakeable faith and complete trust in divine providence.
It is reported that during a night of fervent prayer, Peregrine received a miraculous vision of Jesus Christ that healed his afflicted leg. This miracle strengthened his devotion and zeal for the service of God and others. Peregrine became a source of inspiration and consolation for many of the faithful, especially those facing difficult health trials.
Canonised in 1726, Saint Peregrine is venerated as a powerful intercessor and an example of perseverance in faith, courage in the face of suffering, and compassion for the sick and afflicted. His life reminds us of the importance of conversion, prayer, and trust in divine mercy, even in the darkest moments of our existence.
