Today's Ornament of Grace for Saturday of the Third Week of Advent is St. Peregrine.
Genesis 49: 2, 8-10
…Judah, like a lion’s whelp, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches like a lion recumbent, the king of beasts – who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his legs, while tribute is brought to him, and he receives the people’s homage.
Today’s first reading is one of the blessings Jacob is giving his sons on his deathbed. Jacob is saying that Judah will assume leadership over his brothers, but it is a prophesy about Jesus coming from the tribe of Judah, a promise that took around 640 years to get to King David but some 1600 years to be fulfilled in Jesus. If Advent seems long, just think how long the Chosen People waited for the Savior!
Advent is a time of waiting, but it is also a great time to think about how Jesus is the One Who leads us to salvation. Knowing this, we can trust that His promise to care for us will be fulfilled, no matter how long it seems to take. Sometimes, when we are ill or in pain or a loved one is suffering, time seems to stretch out. It is easy to allow ourselves to forget that Jesus will help us. A saint who never forgot Jesus’ promise is St. Peregrine.
Peregrine Laziosi was born in Forli, a town in Northern Italy which was, at the time, part of the Papal States. His family, along with many in that town, was against the Pope. Others were for the Pope, so a deep divide caused problems among the townspeople. To try to get the two factions to reconcile and unite, the Pope sent the Superior of the Servite Order, Philip Benizi, to preach to the people. Eighteen-year-old Peregrine, whose family had taught him to hate representatives of the Pope, dragged Philip from where he was preaching, mocked him, and beat him.
Peregrine felt bad about what he had done and asked for Fr. Philip’s forgiveness. The priest looked up at the young man and smiled, treating him with kindness. After that, Peregrine began to spend much time in prayer and in works of mercy. A few years later, he joined the Servites and was ordained a priest. He preached powerfully and spent his life caring for others, especially the poor and sick, and doing penance. People sought his advice, sensing he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
When Peregrine was 60, he developed a severe cancerous infection in his leg and foot. The pain was excruciating, and the doctor decided the leg needed to be amputated. Peregrine spent the night before surgery in prayer before a fresco of the crucifixion. He fell into a trance there and saw Jesus coming down from the Cross and touching his leg. When the doctor arrived the next morning, he found no sign of the cancer.
While Peregrine did experience a wonderful miracle, the main thing is that he put himself in the heart and hands of Jesus, whom he knew had always and would always care for him in the best way possible.
Peregrine went on preaching the good news, caring for the poor and sick, and continuing his life of prayer, penance, and praise. Patiently he waited for the day he would see his Savior. He died of a fever at the age of 85, after a long life trusting in Jesus. Peregrine is the patron saint of those suffering with cancer or other potentially fatal illnesses.
OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS
When you are ill, how might Peregrine’s life help you to trust that Jesus will keep His promise, no matter how long it might seem to take?
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