The Patron Saint of Cancer. As a youth St. Peregrine was in open defiance of the church he was part of the anti-papal party. During a certain uprising the Pope sent St. Philip Benizi to mediate. Peregrine actually struck St. Philip during this confrontation when St. Philip turned the other cheek St. Peregrine was overcome that he repented and converted to Catholicism. Following a vision from the Virgin Mary, Peregrine went to Siena and joined the Servities, years later Peregrine was sent to Forli to found a new a new house of the Servite order. While acting as a priest in the Servite church his great preaching and ability as a confessor brought many people back to the church. He was afflicted with cancer and the decision was made to amputate his foot. He spent the night before surgery in prayer, and the following morning he had been completely cured.
