Pacificus of San Severino

St. Pacificus (Pacifico) of San Severino (1 March 1653 – 24 September 1721) is an Italian Roman Catholic Saint.

Biography

He was born at San Severino, the son of Antonio M. Divini and Mariangela Bruni. His parents died soon after his Catholic confirmation when he was only three years old. He suffered many hardships until December 1670, when he took the Franciscan habit in the Order of the Reformati at Forano, in the March of Ancona. Pacificus was ordained on 4 June 1678, subsequently becoming Lector (or Professor) of Philosophy from 1680 to 1683 for the younger members of the order, after which, for five or six years, he worked as a Catholic missionary among the people of the surrounding country. He then suffered lameness, deafness, and blindness for nearly 29 years. Unable to participate in missions, he then cultivated the contemplative life. He was said to have "borne his ills with angelic patience, worked several miracles, and was favoured by God with ecstasies". Though he was a constant sufferer, from 1692 to 1693 he held the post of Guardian in the monastery of Maria delle Grazie in San Severino, where he later died. His cause for beatification was begun in 1740; he was beatified by Pope Pius VI on 4 August 1786, and was solemnly canonized by Pope Gregory XVI on 26 May 1839. His feast is celebrated on 24 September.

External links

• (Italian) San Pacifico da Sanseverino Marche

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton.