The Novena is celebrated every Friday evening at 7:00 PM (ET). It includes Mass and Novena ~ Blessing of sick and honoring of the Relic of St. Peregrine. Monson, Massachusetts. To include your name or the name of a loved one suffering with cancer, click here: Phone: (413) 267-3622 ![]() |
PRAYER TO ST. PEREGRINE
O God, You gave St. Peregrine
an angel for his companion,
the Mother of God for his teacher,
and Jesus for the Physician of his
infirmity. Grant, we beg You,
through his merits,
that on earth we may love our
holy angel, the Blessed Virgin,
and our Savior, and in heaven
bless them forever. Grant that
we may receive the favor we
now ask ...
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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To Saint Peregrine O great St. Peregrine, you have been called "The Mighty," "The Wonder-Worker," because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you. For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction. Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of the sick whom we entrust to you. Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His great goodness and mercy. Amen.
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ST. PEREGRINE![]() St. Peregrine was born in Italy in 1265. By God's grace, with the help of St. Philip Peregrine began to place his energies into good works and joined the Servants of Mary. While working with the poor and the sick he imposed on himself a penance, Peregrine would stand whenever possible, rather than sit. This led to varicose veins which caused the leg to deteriorate into an open running sore. This was diagnosed as cancer. The wound became so obvious, odorous and painful that the local surgeon scheduled surgery to amputate the leg. The night before the operation he prayed before the image of the crucified Christ in the priory chapter room. His prayer led him into a deep trance-like sleep during which he envisioned the crucified Christ leaving the cross and touching his cancerous leg. When Peregrine awakened from the trance of prayer, he discovered the wound healed and the leg saved. Twenty years later he died at the age of 80. |
St. Peregrine Brings Courage, Healing to the Seriously Ill He was a member of the anti-papal party. He once heckled and then struck out at a man preaching the word of God. And now many Catholics around the world look to this same man, who later became St. Peregrine, at they fight the ultimate battle of their lives — that against cancer, AIDS, and other serious diseases. A perpetual novena to this Italian saint who lived more than 700 years ago is held every Friday at 7:00 PM at St. Patrick’s Parish in Monson, MA. Father Jeddie Brooks, pastor of St. Patrick’s, began the novena during Lent of this year as part of the parish retreat. It was so well received that he decided to make it a perpetual novena in May. The weekly event now features a Mass, blessing of the sick and veneration of a relic of St. Peregrine. Father Brooks said he began the novena as a way of bringing comfort to families in the parish who have been touched in some way by cancer. “I’m offering a faith-filled prayerful way that people can assist themselves or others during this time of suffering and pain,” he said. But why pray to St. Peregrine? The early facts about St. Peregrine are few and uncertain. He was born in Forli, Italy, around 1265. At that time, Forli was governed by the pope as part of the Papal States. Peregrine grew up in a family which was actively involved in the opposition or anti-papal party. Forli was a stronghold of anti-papal party activism. Because of this anti-papal political activity, the city was under the church penalty of interdict. This means that Mass and the sacraments could not be celebrated in the city. St. Philip Benizi, the prior general of the Servants of Mary, was sent to Forli to preach the reconciliation of the city and the removal of the penalty. Young Peregrine was so intense in his political fervor that he heckled Philip during the preaching and at one point Peregrine actually struck St. Philip. The moment of striking St. Philip seemed to drastically change Peregrine. He began to channel his energies into good works and eventually joined the Servants of Mary and pronounced his vows in the Servite Priory in Siena. He was 30 years old. Peregrine then returned to Forli where he spent the rest of this life. The best information indicates that he was not a priest but a choir brother, who undertook an apostolate among the people of Forli. He especially dedicated himself to the sick, the poor and the fringe people of society. He also imposed a special penance on himself to stand whenever it was not necessary to sit. This led to varicose veins. The varicose veins deteriorated into an open, running sore on his leg which was diagnosed as cancer. The wound became so obvious, odious and painful that the local surgeon scheduled surgery to amputate the leg. Suddenly, Peregrine was confronted with the ugliness and suffering of his life. He had given himself to people of similar situations and then found he must lean on his own faith in the goodness of God. The night before the operation he prayed before the image of the crucified Christ in the priory chapter room. At the age of 60 he was challenged to carry a new and more difficult cross. His prayer led him into a deep trance-like sleep during which he envisioned the crucified Christ leaving the cross and touching his cancerous leg. When Peregrine awakened from the trance of the prayer, he discovered the wound had healed and the leg was saved. St. Peregrine lived 20 more years. He died on May 1, 1345 at the age of 80. He was canonized on Dec. 27, 1726. He was named the patron saint of those who suffer from cancer. The people of Forli chose him to be the patron saint of their city. His feast day is celebrated May 4. “We are a people of miracles,’ said Father Brooks. “We accept them and we pray for them.” The weekly novena attracts about 15 people from the parish and surrounding communities, said Father Brooks, nothing that there are several other ways that people may request their prayers. |
St. Peregrine Devotions
The St. Peregrine Center at The Grotto run by the Order of the Servants of Mary (Portland, Oregon)
The Miracle Prayer
A devotion for those who are ill.
Novena Prayer to St. Peregrine
Fr. Pat's St. Peregrine Page
Visit our good friend's page for prayers and more information on this holy saint.
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