Peregrine Laziosi (Pellegrino Latiosi; c. 1260 – 1 May 1345) is an Italian saint of the

Servite Order The Servite Order, officially known as the Order of Servants of Mary ( la, Ordo Servorum Beatae Mariae Virginis; abbreviation: OSM), is one of the five original Catholic mendicant orders. It includes several branches of friars (priests and brothe ...

(Friar Order Servants of Mary). He is the

patron saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or perso ...

for persons suffering from

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses.

Life

Peregrine Laziosi was born in 1260, the only son of an affluent family in

Forlì Forlì ( , ; rgn, Furlè ; la, Forum Livii) is a ''comune'' (municipality) and city in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. It is the central city of Romagna. The city is situated along the Via E ...

, in northern

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. At that time Forli was part of the Papal States. Peregrine's family supported the anti-papal faction. In 1283, the residents of Forlì were under interdict.

Philip Benizi Philip Benizi (sometimes St Philip Benitius, and in Italian Filippo Benizzi) (August 15, 1233 – August 22, 1285) was a general superior of the Order of the Servites, and credited with reviving the order. Pope Leo X recognised his cult 24 January ...

, Prior General of the Friar Servants of Saint Mary, was sent to try to reconcile the divided community. While trying to preach in Forlì, Philip was heckled and struck by the 18-year-old Laziosi. He was driven from the city with insults and violence. Laziosi repented and asked Philip for forgiveness. Benizi received him with kindness. The moment had a profound effect on Laziosi. Filled with remorse, he began to pray more and to channel his energies into good works. A few years later, he joined the Servites in Siena and went on to be ordained a priest.Foley OFM, Leonard. ''Saint of the Day: Lives, Lessons, and Feast'' (revised by Pat McCloskey OFM), Franciscan Media
After some years, he was sent back to Forlì, where he founded a new Servite house there and became well known for his preaching and holiness as well as his devotion to the sick and poor. It is said that he miraculously multiplied grain and wine during a severe shortage in his area. People took to calling him the "Angel of Good Counsel", so grateful were they for his wise advice so freely given."The Story of St. Peregrine", Franciscan Mission Associates
/ref> One of the special penances he imposed on himself was to stand whenever it was not necessary to sit. When tired, he would support himself on a choir stall. At the age of 60, he developed an infection in his right leg. His condition deteriorated to the point that the physician decided to amputate his leg. The night before the operation, Laziosi spent time praying before a fresco of the

Crucifixion Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross or beam and left to hang until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthagin ...

in the chapter room. He fell into a deep trance-like sleep and seemed to see Jesus descend from the cross to touch his leg. The following day, the doctor arrived to perform the amputation, and, finding no sign of the cancer, news of the miraculous cure spread throughout the town. This only increased the people's regard for Laziosi. He died of a fever on 1 May 1345, at the age of 85. An extraordinary number of people from the town and countryside honored his death. Some of the sick who came were healed, which was attributed to his intercession.

Veneration

His body rests in the Servite church of Forlì, the Basilica of Saint Pellegrino Laziosi.

Pope Paul V Pope Paul V ( la, Paulus V; it, Paolo V) (17 September 1550 – 28 January 1621), born Camillo Borghese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 16 May 1605 to his death in January 1621. In 1611, he honored ...

declared him blessed in 1609 and

Pope Benedict XIII Pope Benedict XIII ( la, Benedictus XIII; it, Benedetto XIII; 2 February 1649 – 21 February 1730), born Pietro Francesco Orsini and later called Vincenzo Maria Orsini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 May ...

canonized him in 1726. The liturgical feast of Peregrine Laziosi is on 1 May. Laziosi is considered the

of those suffering from

. The National Shrine of Saint Peregrine is located at

Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica is a Catholic basilica on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, which also houses the National Shrine of Saint Peregrine. Located at 3121 West Jackson Boulevard, within the Archdiocese of Chicago, it is, along with St. ...

in Chicago, Illinois, as a ministry of the Friar Servants of Mary.National Shrine of St. Peregrine, Friar Servants of Mary
/ref> There is a St. Peregrine Shrine at

The Grotto ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

, at The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, in Portland, Oregon. A Saint Peregrine Mass is celebrated at The Grotto on the first Saturday of each month at 12 noon in the Chapel of Mary.The Grotto, The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother
/ref> and there is also a St. Peregrine Laziosi Parish and Diocesan Shrine in Muntinlupa, Philippines. It houses a relic taken from Laziosi himself: a rib. It is currently on display in the church's Relic Chapel. There is a Saint Peregrine Cancer Shrine with Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at Christ the King Catholic Church in Mesa, Arizona. The mission of this St. Peregrine Shrine is to promote perpetual adoration of Jesus Christ and to pray for those affected by cancer. In the midst of suffering, a sanctuary for spiritual healing and emotional peace is offered. There is also a statue of Laziosi in the mission church of San Juan Capistrano in Southern California.

Legacy

According to some, the lesson of Laziosi's life is not that God worked a miracle, but that a faithful servant placed himself, unconditionally, in the hands of God. Laziosi's trust in God therefore serves as a model for those dealing with sickness. One medical journal has cited Laziosi's case as a potential instance of bacterial or viral infection eradicating cancerous cells.Cann SH, Van Netten JP, Van Netten C. Dr William Coley and tumour regression: a place in history or in the future. ''Postgraduate medical journal''. 2003 Dec 1;79(938):672-80.
/ref>

References

External links

National Shrine of Saint Peregrine, Friar Servants of Mary

Basilica of Saint Pellegrino Laziosi

Pack M.D., George T. "St Peregrine O.S.M. -Patron Saint of Cancer Patients", ''CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians'', Vol.17, No.4, 30 December 2008

Biographical Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laziosi, Peregrine 1260 births 1345 deaths People from Forlì Italian Roman Catholic saints Servites 14th-century Christian saints Incorrupt saints Religion and HIV/AIDS Miracle workers Canonizations by Pope Benedict XIII Venerated Catholics Beatifications by Pope Clement XI

Life

Veneration

Legacy

See also

References

External links