St. Peregrine Healing Ministry
PEREGRINE, MIRACULOUSLY HEALED
Jesus said to the paralytic: “Take up your bed and walk”. And immediately he was healed: he took up his bed and began to walk. Jn 5: 8-9
As recorded in his Life of the Blessed Peregrine of Forlì (VPF) by the Sienese humanist Nicolò Borghese (†1500), Saint Peregrine in his 60s was stricken with a gangrenous ulcer on his leg which required amputation. The night before the surgery, he dragged himself to the Chapter Room, where there is a fresco of the Crucifixion. He remained there in trustful prayer to the crucified Christ (cf. VPF 7). Overcome by pain, he dozed in a trance and as in a dream saw the crucified Jesus come down from the cross, and liberate him from every ailment of his leg. At once he woke up, and realized that his leg was healed and as strong as if it had never had anything wrong. After giving thanks to the most merciful God for such an extraordinary gift, he returned to his cell (VPF 7). The following morning, the doctor Paolo Salazio came to conduct the amputation. But he saw that the leg was completely cured. He turned to his assistants and exclaimed: What a great miracle!
INTRODUCTION
The rite of blessing always begins, in the tradition of the Servants of Mary, with the Ave Maria, the angelic salutation of the Virgin Mary:
Leader: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
All: Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Leader: In the name of the Father + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
INSTRUCTION
The leader announces the theme of the prayer gathering with the following or similar words:
Leader: “The glory of God is the man who lives”.
This is what Jesus revealed to us, as he healed the sick, forgave sinners, and went about doing good everywhere and proclaiming the Good News of salvation.
That Good News is heard in every age.
And it reached Saint Peregrine, filling him with wonder.
When in later life he was stricken with an incurable disease he begged healing from the crucified Christ.
The miracle was granted and he gave thanks to God.
As we gather here together in the time of prayer we are in special union with our brothers and sisters who are sick.
Through the intercession of Saint Peregrine, who received miraculous healing, we will ask God to send longed-for healing of the body and essential healing for the spirit, together with the courage to carry our crosses with patience and trust.
SCRIPTURE READING
Reader: From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (53: 2b-5)
Through his wounds we are healed
Without beauty, without majesty we saw him, no looks to attract our eyes; a thing despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering, a man to make people screen their faces; he was despised and we took no account of him.
And yet ours were the sufferings he bore, ours the sorrows he carried. But we, we thought of him as someone punished, struck by God, and brought low. On him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed.
SHORT RESPONSORY
Leader: On the wood of the cross * Christ bore all our sins.
All: On the wood of the cross * Christ bore all our sins.
Leader: So that by his wounds we may be healed
All: Christ bore all our sins.
Leader: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
All: On the wood of the cross * Christ bore all our sins.
MEDITATION ON THE WORD OF GOD
Now there is a silent time for meditation, or the leader may offer reflections on the Word of God. Connections can be made with the faith-journey of the young Peregrine Laziosi, who turned from violence with the light of grace and found the true meaning of his life.
INTERCESSION AND LITANIES OF ST. PEREGRINE
After the meditation on the Word of God those present make their intercession to the Heavenly Father with the following prayer.
Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy
Christ, hear us Christ, graciously hear us
God, the Father in Heaven, have mercy on us
Jesus, Son and Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, One God have mercy on us
Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us
Our Lady, Humble Servant and guide of pilgrims, pray for us
Virgin and Lady of Sorrows pray for us
Mary, Queen of your Servants pray for us
Saint Joseph, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Peter and Saint Paul pray for us
Saint Augustine, Seven Founders and Saint Philip Benizi and Saint Juliana pray for us
Blessed Joachim and Francis of Siena, Blessed Bonaventure and All Servite Saints pray for us
Saint Peregrine, child of Forlì, Youth of fire, youth of repentance, Youth in search of the Kingdom of God pray for us
Peregrine growing in virtue, moving to God’s salvation, pilgrim towards lasting joys pray for us
Converted to meekness, man of repentance, growing in wisdom from God pray for us
Peregrine, gentle friar, obedient and poor, merciful, austere and chaste man of God pray for us
Servant of God, Servant of Mary, Servant of brothers in faith pray for us
Beloved disciple, close to the cross of the Lord, strengthened in weakness by Christ pray for us
Peregrine, new Job, sorely tried and trustful, healed by the power of God pray for us
Model of penitence, saintly example, new son of the Virgin by the Cross pray for us
helper for the incurably sick pray for us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
Spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
Hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world Have mercy on us.
All: O God our Father, ever merciful and kind, you sent your Son on earth as healer of bodies and soul to rescue humanity stricken by sin and by death. For your will is that we should have life to the full.
Look kindly, we pray, upon all who are suffering or sick, for they place all their trust in your help.
By the prayers of Saint Peregrine, grant them your healing, as once you sent healing on him.
Grant that your Son, Jesus Christ saving Lord stretch forth his hand from the cross to bless in our day his servants in pain, as they turn to him, wounded and weak.
Endow them, we pray, with serenity and peace, that they may thank you and honor your Name, through your Son Jesus Christ, who has died and is risen, living and reigning for ever and ever.
Amen.
ACT OF DEVOTION
If the location and conditions around the prayer-gathering are suitable, an Act of Devotion can now be celebrated, as, for example, making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead with the “Oil of Saint Peregrine”, or paying respect to a relic of the Saint or some similar gesture (cf. Mk 16: 18).
CONCLUSION
Leader: May the Lord God, our Savior give us patience and strength and his light of consolation in our sorrows.
All: Amen.
Leader: May the Lord heal our wounds and grant us to live in serenity and peace.
All: Amen.
Leader: May the Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and lead us to life everlasting in the heavenly kingdom.
All: Amen.
