Episode 4 - Year of my Mid Life

Episode 4

YEAR OF MY MID LIFE

- ADDING SAINT PEREGRINE TO TEAM MDJ

One of the favorite joys of my youth was to jump into the station wagon along with the rest of our family and ....(fist pumping in air) ...♪ ♫ See the U.S.A. ... in our Chevrolet... America is asking you to call” ♪ ♫. From one family vacation to another we never knew what wonderful adventure we would encounter.

Whether it was visiting Boot Hill of Dodge City (err... of James Arness) fame or visiting Mr. Ranger at Yellowstone National Park... we knew our summer vacation/camping trips across his great land of ours would always provide us with new things to be discovered.

At this time, one particular memory stand above the rest.  Traveling the roads of the Northern Michigan we were treated to the sights of huge billboards announcing coming attractions. As we approached Indian River, Michigan we kept seeing signs pointing this Catholic family to the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods.  Imagine a 55’ cross carved out of one single redwood tree.  Upon that tree hung a 28’ bronzed image of the crucified Christ.  This monument sits on a hill at that shrine appropriately named Calvary.   

Conveniently located next to the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods would be our beautiful campsite at Burt Lake State Park.  One would be hard pressed to find a better camping location and tourist attraction for this Catholic family.

One would think that sight alone could satisfy the appetites of curious Catholics but this is just one of many beautiful statues at that shrine although this crucifix would obviously be the largest. It is here that this Catholic youth was introduced to the life stories of those intercessors to the divine known by the names of  Blessed (now Saint) Kateri Tekakwitha, Our Lady of the Highway and ...St. Peregrine.

The statue of St. Peregrine was most intriguing since it depicted a man showing what looked like a horrific sore on this leg. None in our family knew that this Saint was given the title of “patron saint” of those with cancer.  Little did any of us realize what a role that cancer would play in the lives of various members of this particular family.

Since that first visit to that shrine more than four decades ago, my own family has had the privilege of visiting that shrine and drawing closer to the life of this saint.   Having lived more than six centuries ago might seem to distance this saint from us “modern day” Catholics until we realize that we continue to ask others to intercede to God for us and our friends who deal with the dreaded disease.

Before this man could be considered a man of God, he was first known ti be a rabble rouser, a gang member and an anti-Catholic.  At one particular Catholic rally in his town, Peregrine was hurling insult after insult to this a man named Father Philip (later to become known as Saint Philip).  Eventually Peregrine struck Father Philip in the face and, in turn, this godly man  Philip, offered his other cheek.  So impressed was this Christian persecutor known as Peregrine that he soon thereafter converted to Catholicism. Peregrine founded his own religious order of priests and he led others to Christ.  Over the years in his ministry, Peregrine developed cancer in his leg and was to have it amputated. On the night before his scheduled surgery the image of Christ came down from the crucifix as Peregrine prayed. The next morning he awoke to find that not only had his cancer disappeared but no surgery whatsoever was required.  This saint went on to live and minister for an additional twenty years since that night of encountering Chris. He died of natural causes at the age of 85.

This was not someone distanced from the disease  who only healed others with cancer but this saint actually had and lived with this disease himself.  He knew suffering.  He knew pain. He has experience. Surely this man of God would play a valuable role on  Team MDJ in this Year of my Mid Life and will make a welcome addition to the roster of the Intercessors.

Prayer to St. Peregrine Oh great St. Peregrine, you who have been called "The Mighty" and "The Wonder-Worker" because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have recourse to you. For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had the recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction. Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of these sick persons whom we entrust to you.Aided in this way by your powerful intercessions, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His goodness and mercy. Amen.