Novena to St Peregrine
Feast: 4 May
When to pray: Begin on 25 Apr and finish on 3 May, the eve of the feast. A novena is prayed on nine consecutive days.
Prayer for each day
St Peregrine, healed by Christ, pray for all living with cancer and serious illness, especially N. Give them strength, good doctors and, if God wills, healing. Amen.
Day by day
Day 1: A conversion through a slap
And to him that striketh thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that taketh away from thee thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also.
Luke 6:29, Douay-Rheims
St Peregrine, as a young man you struck St Philip Benizi, who answered you with gentleness, and your heart was changed. Jesus teaches us to answer injury with patience. Convert my heart by the kindness of others, and make me gentle. Amen.
Day 2: Servite brother
Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matt 16:24, Douay-Rheims
St Peregrine, you joined the Servants of Mary and followed Christ in religious life. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross. Help me to follow Jesus with my whole life. Amen.
Day 3: Penance
Now, therefore, saith the Lord. Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning.
Joel 2:12, Douay-Rheims
St Peregrine, you did penance for your past sins. The Lord says, Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. Give me true sorrow for my sins and a generous spirit of penance. Amen.
Day 4: Standing in prayer
And he spoke also a parable to them, that we ought always to pray and not to faint,
Luke 18:1, Douay-Rheims
St Peregrine, tradition says that as a penance you remained standing whenever you could. We ought always to pray and not to faint. Teach me to persevere in prayer and not to lose heart. Amen.
Day 5: The cancer
And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
2 Cor 12:9, Douay-Rheims
St Peregrine, you suffered from a painful cancer of the leg. The Lord said to St Paul, My grace is sufficient for thee. Give strength and courage to all who suffer from cancer, and to me in my own suffering. Amen.
Day 6: The night before surgery
And going a little further, he fell upon his face, praying and saying: My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt.
Matt 26:39, Douay-Rheims
St Peregrine, on the night before your leg was to be amputated, you prayed before the crucifix. Jesus prayed in the garden, Not as I will, but as thou wilt. Be with all who face surgery or treatment, and give them peace. Amen.
Day 7: Healed by Christ
That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet Isaias, saying: He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.
Matt 8:17, Douay-Rheims
St Peregrine, tradition tells that Christ healed you as you prayed. He took our infirmities and bore our diseases. Pray that God will heal the sick for whom I pray, according to his holy will. Amen.
Day 8: Serving the sick
And the king answering shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.
Matt 25:40, Douay-Rheims
St Peregrine, after your healing you served the sick and the poor for many years. What we do for the least of Christ's brethren, we do for him. Bless all doctors, nurses and carers. Amen.
Day 9: Patron of cancer patients
Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man. And the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.
James 5:14-15, Douay-Rheims
St Peregrine, patron of those with cancer, I commend to you all who are ill. Let them receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, and may the prayer of faith save the sick. Obtain for them grace, comfort and healing. Amen.
Scripture
Douay-Rheims numbering (modern in brackets): 2 Cor 12:9; James 5:14-15; Joel 2:12; Luke 18:1; Luke 6:29; Matt 16:24; Matt 25:40; Matt 26:39; Matt 8:17. Scripture index
Source
Written for The Crusade, 2026. How we check sources