Pacificus of San Severino (1 March 1653 – 24 September 1721), born Carlo Antonio Divini, was an
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
* Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...
known for being a miracle-worker.
He was beatified on 4 August 1786, and canonized as a saint in 1839.
Life
Carlo Antonio Divini was born at
San Severino as the youngest of thirteen children of the nobles Antonio Maria and Mariangela Bruni Divini. His parents died not long after his
Confirmation when he was aged three. He was raised by his maternal uncle Luzizio Bruni, archdeacon of the
Cathedral of San Severino, a good and cultured man, but far too strict to care for a small child.
["Saint Pacificus", ''Daily Compass'']
/ref> In December 1670 he took the Franciscan
, image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg
, image_size = 200px
, caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans
, abbreviation = OFM
, predecessor =
, ...
habit in the Order of the Reformati at Forano
Forano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Rieti in the Italian region Latium, located about north of Rome and about southwest of Rieti. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,697 and an area of .All demographics and othe ...
in the March of Ancona,[Bihl, Michael. "St. Pacificus of San Severino." The Catholic Encyclopedia]
Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 15 May 2018 taking the name "Pacificus".
Pacificus was ordained
Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...
to the priesthood on 4 June 1678 and served as professor) of philosophy for the next six years for the newer members of the order at Fossombrone
Fossombrone is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Pesaro e Urbino, Marche, central Italy.
History
The ancient Roman colony of ''Forum Sempronii'' took its name from Gaius Sempronius Gracchus.
Near the Furlo Pass, during the Gothic War ...
. Following this he worked for four or five years as a missionary in the surrounding area. He is described as "... tall, thin man with pale skin, an eagle nose, a clear voice and a modest and friendly appearance."[
Although in poor health, he walked a good part of central-northern Italy to preach. In 1684, his health began to fail. Suffering lameness and deafness in addition to blindness he was unable to continue giving missions and 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". He was said to have "borne his ills with angelic patience, worked several miracles, and was favoured by God with ecstasies".][ It is said that he predicted the terrible earthquake that devastated Abruzzo in 1703.][
Despite chronic ill health, he moved between the monasteries of San Severino and Forano, holding responsible positions in both places. 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.][
]
Veneration
Crowds turned out for his funeral and miracles were soon reported at his grave. In 1725 his mortal remains were placed in the abbey church.[Odden, Per Einar. "Den hellige Pacificus av San Severino (1653-1721)", Den katolske kirke, December 24, 2005]
/ref>
The canonization process commenced in 1740 under Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV ( la, Benedictus XIV; it, Benedetto XIV; 31 March 1675 – 3 May 1758), born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 17 August 1740 to his death in May 1758. Pope Be ...
, 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. The following year, Pacificus' relics were covered by a wax figure, placed in a glass coffin and moved to a chapel built in his honor.[ ]Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI ( la, Gregorius XVI; it, Gregorio XVI; born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari; 18 September 1765 – 1 June 1846) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 February 1831 to his death in 1 June 1846. He ...
canonized him on 26 May 1839. His feast is celebrated on 24 September. Pacificus is considered the patron saint
A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or perso ...
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. The Latin Catholic Church of Büyükada
Büyükada ( el, Πρίγκηπος or Πρίγκιπος, rendered ''Prinkipos'' or ''Prinkipo''), meaning "Big Island" in Turkish, is the largest of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara, near Istanbul, with an area of about . It is offic ...
rinkipoin Istanbul
)
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code = 34000 to 34990
, area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side)
, registration_plate = 34
, blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD
, blank_i ...
, Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...
-called San Pacifico Latin Catholic Church- is dedicated to St. Pacificus.
References
External links
San Pacifico da Sanseverino Marche
{{Authority control
1653 births
1721 deaths
17th-century Christian saints
17th-century venerated Christians
17th-century Italian Roman Catholic priests
18th-century Christian saints
18th-century venerated Christians
18th-century Italian Roman Catholic priests
Beatifications by Pope Pius VI
Incorrupt saints
Italian saints
People from the Province of Macerata
People from Macerata
Reformed Franciscans
Venerated Catholics
Canonizations by Pope Gregory XVI
Franciscan saints