Saint Peregrine is the patron saint for cancer, AIDS sufferers, breast cancer, cancer patients, open sores, sick people, skin diseases.

The only son of well-to do parents, St. Peregrine Laziosi was born in 1260 at Forli, in Tomagna. As a young man he took an active part in the politics of his native city, which belonged to the anti-papal party.

In 1283 Saint Philip, Prior General of the Friar Servants of Mary, attempted to preach to the citizens of Forlì. He was driven out of the city with insults and violence. Peregrine struck the papal peace negotiator, Saint Philip Benizi, across the face. Saint Philip calmly turned the other cheek, prayed for the youth, and Peregine converted.

At the age of sixty he suffered from varicose veins which degenerated into a cancer of the right leg.

His condition deteriorated to the point that a physician, Paolo Salazio, who visited him in the priory, decided, with the consent of all the friars, to amputate the leg as soon as possible. The night before the operation, Peregrine dragged himself before an image of the Crucified in the chapter room. There he became drowsy and seemed to see Jesus descend from the cross to heal his leg. The following day, the doctor arrived to perform the amputation but could find no sign of the cancer, or even of a wound.