Peregrine Laziosi

Peregrine Laziosi (c. 1260 – 1 May 1345) was an Italian saint belonging to the Servite Order (Friar Order Servants of Mary). He is widely revered as the patron saint for individuals afflicted with cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses, a patronage stemming from his own miraculous healing.

Life and historical context

Born in 1260 in Forlì, a city then part of the Papal States, Peregrine was the only son of an affluent family that supported an anti-papal faction. In 1283, during an interdict on Forlì, he infamously heckled and struck Philip Benizi, the Prior General of the Servites. Deeply remorseful after this encounter, Peregrine sought forgiveness from Benizi, who received him with kindness. This moment profoundly affected Laziosi, leading him to devote himself to prayer and good works. He later joined the Servites in Siena and was ordained a priest.

Upon returning to Forlì, he founded a new Servite house and became known for his preaching, holiness, and compassionate care for the sick and poor. During a severe local shortage, he was said to have miraculously multiplied grain and wine. His wise counsel earned him the epithet "Angel of Good Counsel." A significant penance he imposed on himself was to stand whenever possible, using a choir stall for support when tired.

Miraculous healing and death

At the age of 60, Peregrine developed a severe infection in his right leg, which deteriorated to the point where amputation was deemed necessary. The night before the scheduled surgery, he prayed before a fresco of the crucifixion, falling into a deep trance where he believed he saw Jesus descend from the cross to touch his afflicted leg. The following day, the physician found no sign of the infection, a miraculous cure that quickly spread throughout the town, increasing the reverence people held for him. He died peacefully of a fever on May 1, 1345, at the age of 84, with an extraordinary number of people attending his funeral. Many of the sick who were present reportedly experienced healings attributed to his intercession.

Veneration and Legacy

Peregrine Laziosi was declared blessed by Pope Paul V in 1609 and canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726. His liturgical feast day is celebrated on May 1. His body rests in the Servite church in Forlì, the Basilica of Saint Pellegrino Laziosi. Numerous shrines and churches worldwide are dedicated to his patronage, including the National Shrine of Saint Peregrine in Chicago, Illinois, and a St. Peregrine Shrine at The Grotto in Portland, Oregon. A Saint Peregrine Laziosi Parish and Diocesan Shrine in Muntinlupa, Philippines, houses a relic of his rib.

The legacy of Peregrine Laziosi emphasizes not only divine intervention but also the power of unconditional trust in God, serving as a model for those facing illness. His case has also been noted in medical literature as a potential instance of infection eradicating cancerous cells.