St. Peregrine is the Patron Saint of Cancer. His feast day is celebrated May 1.

Prayer to St. Peregrine

We thank you for showing all humanity the power of prayer to Jesus Christ on the cross. How He reached down from the cross, touched, and healed you, straightens our devotion to worshiping Him.  We acknowledge the many miracles attributed to you, St Peregrine.  I humbly ask you to kneel next to me as I pray to Christ our Lord on the cross as you did.  

Amen

The lesson of Peregrine’s life is not that God worked a miracle, but that a faithful, trustful servant placed himself, unconditionally, in the hands of our Lord. Peregrine’s trust in God can be a model for us in dealing with the pain, sickness, and crosses of our lives.

John 9:1-3

“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from his birth.  And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.”

         In this example, Jesus teaches us disease and illness do not mean it is from our sins, but so the works of God can manifest in us.  When I was first diagnosed with cancer, a cancer my doctors said I shouldn’t have, I asked God: “Why me”?  The answer quickly came back: why not you?  Why should I give you nothing and this cancer to someone else?  I then asked God a more straightforward question: “Why?”  This answer took longer.  Eventually, I heard: watch how much those in the medical field give, learn from them, and in return, make them smile because they need it.  So I did. 

 John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

 Matthew 6: 31-33

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

        When diagnosed with cancer, we can become hyper-focus on ourselves and our illness.  We are scared.  Cancer treatments can be horrible and painful, change your life on a dime, and even end one’s life sooner than one hopes.  When doing this, we lose sight of all the skilled people around us who want to heal us.  Intelligent and loving people who studied their careers for God to send you to them: we focus on the internet instead of God’s will.  Second opinions are good; every good doctor will say so.  But follow the path God gives us, as only he knows why.

 John 1:12-13

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

        Go to church and pray to God.  Then, go to mass, close your eyes like the blind man above, and listen to the word of our Lord.  Feel the songs as you sing them.  Let Him know you are his child.  Let him know he is your Lord.  Let him know through your illness, you are spreading His will of kindness and compassion.  I found that when I stopped focusing on myself and my illness but on those around me, I could spread His kindness and see so many other sicker than myself.  You find humility when this happens. 

 John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

        I can add nothing to this passage but embrace it with your heart: Your heart is inside God’s heart.  Cancer is not a death sentence; we will all die.  Cancer gives us time.  Let me repeat this; cancer gives us time.  A husband, a father, my neighbor down the street died of a heart attack that baffled his doctors.  I know little of his faith as he had just moved in.  His life ended.  Cancer gave me time to reflect.  Am I the best child of God that I can be?   Cancer might not be a death sentence, but an eternal lifesaver.