St. Peregrine, pray for us!

As I have shared previously in this newsletter, this month marks 10 years since my diagnosis and successful treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

I remember a decade ago when I was in the midst of this life-changing experience, I received an email from Pray More Novenas about an upcoming novena to St. Peregrine, a saint I had never previously heard of who is the patron saint of cancer patients.

The timing of the novena was providential, and soon an army of family and friends were joining me in praying it. Now 10 years out and completely cancer-free, I want to encourage anyone reading this to join me in praying the novena for those who are suffering from the disease, those who have died, and those who are caring for cancer patients.

The novena begins today and you can sign up here to read today’s prayer and get the rest of them via email.

While we’re at it, you really need to hear the story of St. Peregrine.

Peregrine Laziosi (1260-1345) of Forli, Italy was basically the Most Interesting Saint in the World. At age 18, he was a leader of the “anti-papal” party and hated the Catholic Church. When a visiting priest came to his town, Peregrine punched him in the face. When the priest’s only response was that he would pray for Peregrine, he experienced an immediate conversion and begged forgiveness. He changed his life dramatically and prayed frequently to the Virgin Mary. After seeing a vision of Mary surrounded by angels, he became a priest of the Order of the Servants of Mary (the same order of the priest he had punched).

As a priest, he served the sick and dying in his hometown and spent long hours on his feet, which allowed a sore on his foot to become cancerous. The night before his leg was supposed to be amputated, Peregrine prayed that he would be able to continue his work if it was God’s will. He prayed in front of an image of the crucifix all night and the image of Jesus reached down to heal his foot. The next morning, there was no trace of the disease. Peregrine lived to be 80. Stay saintly, my friends.

If you live in Chicago, the national shrine to St. Peregrine is located at Our Lady of Sorrows basilica on the west side of the city, and it’s well worth a visit.

Thank you so much for your consideration in joining the novena. St. Peregrine, pray for us!