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Bible Questions and Spiritual Discussion
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Catholica
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04/11/2012 18:23 |
Here is more of St. Peregrine and his intercession.
Wonder Working St. Peregrine
St. Peregrine lived to be eighty years of age. He died in the year 1345. So great was the number of miracles at his death and later at his tomb, that he was beatified by the Church in 1609. The Apostolic Delegate to Spain remarked: "What St. Anthony with his signs and miracles is to Italy, St. Peregrine is to Spain." He was once solemnly declared Universal Patron of Spain. Vienna considers him her most popular saint. He is invoked and well known in Austria, Hungary, Bavaria, and Italy.
Spain especially was the scene of many miracles. In one city alone, Citta de Castello, from the year 1694 to 1726 more than 300 cures were authenticated by ecclesiastical authorities. In Barcelona, Catholics speak of him as "the Mighty," "the Marvelous," the "wonder working St. Peregrine." It will suffice to mention but two of these cures. Rev. Isidore Costa, S.J., Rector of the Seminary of the Society of Jesus in Barcelona, had been long afflicted with a painful, cancerous growth on his leg. Physicians held no hope for him. Father Isidore then prayed with confidence to St. Peregrine. The pain and stench stopped. The wound was instantly cured. This Father attested to under oath.
The body of a seven-year-old Italian boy was completely covered with ulcers. On the advice of his physician, the child's mother went to the Church of the Servite Fathers at Forli and had a Mass offered in honor of St. Peregrine. When she returned home, her child was completely cured of the terrible disease.
Pope Benedict XIII solemnly canonized St. Peregrine in 1726. His feast is celebrated May 2. His body was exhumed and found incorrupt. In contrast to the onetime cancerous foul stench, it emitted a heavenly odor which men and women found impossible to describe by comparison to earthly flowers. His body is still preserved intact.
The Cancer Saint
St. Peregrine of the Servite Order has been picked by the Church as Patron of those suffering from Running Sores and Cancer. Certain saints, because of events in their lives, seem to specialize in interceding for definite types of peoples. As St. Joseph is patron of a happy death, St. Christopher, guardian of travel, so, too, St. Peregrine, because of the miraculous cure of his cancerous growth, is known as "the Cancer Saint."
St. Peregrine is not well known in America. And yet, the most dread disease in America is Cancer. It takes second place among fatal diseases in our country. Of the American children born this year, about 20 per cent of the boys and 22 per cent of the girls will become its victims sometime during their lives. Though millions of dollars are being spent by the government and private agencies on research and care, and thousands spending themselves, cancer is still the nation's second biggest killer.
But there is still one hope, and that lies in confident and persevering prayer. God who created the world and fashioned the human body with all its mysterious functions, is Master of His own creation. He can and does suspend the laws of nature for those who have faith in His goodness. Prayer is omnipotent. It can also take away impossible-to-cure diseases. We have but to remember the solemn promise of the Savior: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened" (Matt. 7, 7-8).
Furthermore, the saints are our friends in heaven. They favor no special nationalities, for the Church is universal. They intercede for all who pray to them with confidence. Since St. Peregrine is the "Cancer Saint, " why should not people who fear or who suffer from cancer or any form of running sores pray to him, when there is so little hope in the natural powers of men to cure? The fact that thousands of miraculous cures were already reported—and many thousands more that were never made known to the public—should inspire confidence in St. Peregrine's prayers before God and the Virgin Mary. If it is God's Will, these prayers will be answered, that God may reward our confidence and that He may be glorified in His Saints!
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Craig from Illinois
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04/11/2012 21:40 |
Andre, this is rich material. My first skeptical opinion when reading this is that it would be good material for Art Bell's Coast to Coast program on the paranormal. I know, that's a self-centered and shallow point of view. But this isn't something I read about or hear about in my Protestant circles. In fact, a miraculous healing isn't something I get to hear about often in my everyday quiet life.
I'm really enjoying this discussion. You have been gracious to provide so much information even though it seems like it's just you and me talking now, Andre. I have also gleaned that you have a solid foundation of priorities when going to prayer. It's my baseless opinion that non-Catholics think that Catholics only pray to Saints. Or that God is not accessible through prayer except through Saints or the local priest. Is there an element of truth about how Catholics pray that result in my misconception?
Thanks,
Craig
PS: I wish I knew about St. Peregrine last Spring.
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Catholica
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04/11/2012 22:09 |
Hi Craig,
The world is rich with miracles. I can remember Brian in a month-end podcast in not too distant memory, talking about how he visited a site of many miraculous healings in New Mexico, not maybe a few years ago now. I'd have to search for it, and its probably not available anymore. But a famous one is at Lourdes, France, where (we believe) the Blessed Mother (of Jesus) appeared to St. Bernadette, and a miraculous spring emerged from the ground, and many, many people have been healed there and are still healed today. Not everyone that goes is healed, but the crutches and other artifacts remain as testament to healing miracles that have really happened.
I think the reason why there is the misconception that we only pray to saints is because the practice seems so unique to us, though it is not. Most people in America aren't really familiar with the Eastern Orthodox or Coptic Churches, or the history behind the three. But in these ancient branches, they also practice praying through the saints. But still the practice was largely abandoned at the reformation by those newly founded sects who wished to cast off the "shackles" of Tradition. Calvinists even went so far as to desecrate and destroy shrines containing the relics of saints.
In truth that view is skewed. Our main focus is on the Lord Jesus, and anyone who has listened to a Catholic Mass would not deny this. Even though we ask the saints for intercession the center of our faith is squarely on Jesus.
You'll have to forgive me, Craig, but I don't visit the prayer forum very much. What happened last spring?
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Craig from Illinois
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04/12/2012 21:28 |
I certainly didn't intend for you to remember or make the connection. My mother was diagnosed with cancer on April 10th, 2009. She died mercifully on July 12th, 2011. We prayed for a cure and if not a cure, a peaceful and painless end. She got the latter and our family is grateful.
When I think about what more could have been done I am left with remorse. Should there have been more prayer, prayers to St. Peregrine, ask more people to pray with us, laying of hands, etc. etc. But a result of my remorse is a search for all things associated with prayer.
Some people have already expressed doubt and raised eyebrows when I talk about what I have learned and contemplating. I am in a period of learning and assessment, but not practice. I still pray but many times I consider my prayer habits as my spiritual nemesis. I over think it all. Some people seem very comfortable praying. But I wonder if they are really considering the communication between the spoken words from the heart and the listening ear of God. Or maybe they are just praying like their childhood influence taught.
Again, this topic is enlightening, fascinating and very rebellious for this Mennonite from Central Illinois. Thanks again for your contribution.
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Saint Grogan
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04/13/2012 13:01 |
Perhaps Grogan directed that Bible verse at you Craig.
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Catholica
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04/13/2012 18:20 |
C. S. Lewis once wrote:
". . . devotions to saints . . . There is clearly a theological defense for it; if you can ask for the prayers of the living, why should you not ask for the prayers of the dead? I am not thinking of adopting the practice myself; and who am I to judge the practices of others?"
{Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly On Prayer, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1964, pp.15-16}
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Marcie in MO
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04/13/2012 18:41 |
In my humble opinion, there are too many miracles associated with various Saints, Mary and the rosary to ignore. Even if over 50% of them weren't true there are still way too many to just blow off. I believe everything in the Bible is truth, but we know that God continues to speak today. Do you think He is limited by what He has inspired in the Bible and never goes outside what is already written there? Just something to ponder.
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John T
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04/13/2012 18:43 |
Thanks for the comment from C.S. Lewis, that's very interesting!
John
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Craig from Illinois
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04/13/2012 20:46 |
Marcie,
I'm looking down that path and seeing what you are seeing. It is something to ponder. It is something to explore. It's humbling to know that for 2000 years these spiritual questions have been pondered and explored by our forefathers.
This thread reminded me of this 60 Minutes piece done last Christmas. It's about Mt. Athos, a mountain where only Byzantine Orthodox Christian monks live and worship, just like they have for over 1000 years. There are two parts to this episode.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7392864n&tag=contentMain;contentBody
A quote from the final few minutes of part II...
"The goal for each monk is to get closer to Christ every day. Total union with Christ is only possible when they leave this world."
I can embrace that idea!
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Forge
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04/13/2012 21:16 |
Just gonna toss my hat in the ring. Bear in mind most of this thread has been removed and I cant read probably the most contentious posts, but it seems to me.... The bible has a few specific constraints for being saved, if those are met and the Spirit not blasphemed, does it truely matter the way in which we seek Him? I mean look at Proverbs (dont recall specifically but early one in the book) "All things seem right to a man but God judges his heart" (Or somesuch paraphrase, exact quotes seem less important when the verse my vary by translation.) If you are honest and forthright in your pursuit of Him, He will bless you and find you wherever you happen to be.
Dont hold to praying to anyone but the 3 made one myself, but then... I been wrong before and He forgave me then too.
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