St. Peregrine Laziosi

Peregrine Laziosi was born in Forli, Italy, in the year of 1265.

During his days as a young man, Peregrine was so opposed to the papacy that he struck St. Philip Benezi, who was a representative of Pope Martin IV, with his fist. In his humility, Philip offered Peregrine his other cheek to strike. This moved Peregrine so much that he apologized and vowed to change his life. Peregrine followed through by joining the Friar Servants of Mary and soon after, he became a monk.

Known for preaching, holiness, penance, and devotion to the sick and poor, Peregrine would stand in prayer for hours as an act of contrition. The physical stress of standing for such long periods caused him to develop varicose veins, which may have been what led to the development of cancer in his leg.

Peregrine’s leg cancer worsened to the point of requiring amputation by the time he reached 60 years of age. The night before the surgery was to be performed, he prayed both for God’s healing, and the grace to accept God’s will whatever the outcome. Peregrine then fell asleep at the cross, which led him to experience a vision of the crucified Jesus coming down from the cross and touching his cancer-ridden leg. When he awoke shortly after, miraculously, the cancer was gone.

Peregrine lived 20 more years in service of Christ, dying in 1345. He was canonized by Pope St. Benedict XIII in 1726.