Saint Passage d San Severine

Pacificus of San Severino (1 March 1653 – 24 September 1721), born Carlo Antonio Divini, was an Italian Roman Catholic priest known for being a miracle-worker. He was beatified on 4 August 1786, and canonized as a saint in 1839. 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. In December 1670 he took the Franciscan habit in the Order of the Reformati at Forano in the March of Ancona, taking the name "Pacificus". Pacificus was ordained 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. 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.