Pacificus of San Severino

Pacificus of San Severino was born at San Severino as the son of Antonio Maria Divini and Mariangela Bruni. His parents died soon after his Confirmation when he was aged three. He suffered hardships until December 1670 when he took the Franciscan habit in the Order of the Reformati at Forano in the March of Ancona.[1]

Pacificus was ordained to the priesthood on 4 June 1678 and served as professor) of philosophy from 1680 to 1683 for the newer members of the order. Following this he worked for four or five years as a missionary in the surrounding area until suffering lameness and deafness in addition to blindness he was unable to continue giving missions. He then cultivated the contemplative life. Subject all his life long to intense bodily pains, "he sought for comfort and relief in God alone, and was by him favoured with marvellous supernatural graces and with the gift of working miracles".[2] He was said to have "borne his ills with angelic patience, worked several miracles, and was favoured by God with ecstasies".[1]

Though he was in constant suffering from 1692 to 1693, he held the post of Guardian in the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in San Severino, where he later died on 24 September 1721.[1]

The canonization process commenced in 1740 under Pope Benedict XIV, in a move that accorded him the title of Servant of God as the first stage. Pope Pius VI beatified him on 4 August 1786; Pope Gregory XVI canonized him on 26 May 1839. His feast is celebrated on 24 September. Pacificus is considered the patron saint of those with chronic pain.

Locations named in honor of Pacificus are relatively few; one church in North America, a chapel in Humphrey, New York, bears his name.[3]

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Pacificus of San Severino". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

• San Pacifico da Sanseverino Marche (in Italian)