St. Peregrine, whose name means ?pilgrim,? was an Italian Servite who dedicated himself to the care of the sick and the poor. He worked tirelessly, spent long hours in prayer, and drew people to God. A life of poverty and penance eventually left its mark on the aging Peregrine. A painful cancerous sore developed on his leg, and in order to save his life the doctors decided to amputate. Peregrine spent the night before in prayer. He was taken up into a mystic state and saw the figure of Jesus on the crucifix come down and touch the painful wound. The next day the doctors confirmed that the sore was gone and that no trace of the cancerous growth could be detected. For this reason, Peregrine is the patron of all who suffer from any type of cancer. Having suffered from this disease, he understands the pain of those who are ill, and intercedes for them before God. He is also the patron of those who suffer from skin diseases and people with AIDS.