Pacifico – or rather Carlo Antonio, as he was called at his baptism – was born on March 1, 1653, in San Severino Marche (Italy) to the nobles Antonio Maria Divini and Maria Angela Bruni, the last of thirteen children. From an early age he demonstrated a strong religious sensitivity, so much so that he often imitated the gestures that the priests made during the Eucharistic celebration. Orphaned at a very young age, he was taken care of by a maternal uncle, a priest, Don Lucio Bruni, archdeacon of the cathedral of San Severino. Don Lucio was a good and cultured man, but austere and rigid, and he had two maids who treated the boy as a servant. Despite everything, at his uncle’s school, Carlo Antonio was able to complete his typical studies for his age.
At the age of 17, he was accepted into the Order of Friars Minor in the convent of Forano, celebrated by the Fioretti of Saint Francis, taking the name of brother Pacifico. On December 28, 1671, he made his religious profession and devoted himself to the philosophical studies at Montalboddo (today Ostra) and to theological studies at Fossombrone, in which cathedral he was ordained priest on June 4, 1678.
Having dedicated himself enthusiastically to teaching and preaching in the convents of Treia and Montalboddo, he had to suspend all ministry after three years because of his precarious health: this characterized his entire life, punctuated with various assignments in the Marche, but always interrupted due to some malady. He was sent to Urbino, then he was vicar of the convent of San Severino, then he returned to Forano, where he remained for five years, spending many hours in prayer and dedicating himself to the apostolate and announcing the word of Christ in the different towns in the Marche.
Later he was named guardian at San Severino, but then he had to return to Forano; in September 1705, he was again assigned to the convent in the city of his birth where he stayed until his death. Then, burdened with ailments, he devoted himself all the more to the ascetic path, fully highlighting his virtues: obedience, poverty, intense prayer and prolonged meditations, in a solitary and quiet life punctuated with ecstasies and miracles. To the various disorders were also added deafness and progressive blindness, so that in his last years he could not even celebrate the Eucharist or hear confessions. But he endured everything for the love of God, with humility and respect for all.
He found himself fully free to dedicate himself to his Lord in a continuous dialogue of love and, precisely because of his condition, people sought him without respite in order to entrust to his heart their needs and anxieties and returned reassured with his blessing. Endowed with prophetic sensitivity, it is said that he told the Bishop of the city, Mons. Alessandro Calvi, who went to visit him on June 11, 1721: “Monsignor, to heaven, to heaven! I’ll follow her soon too!” At these words the prelate was surprised, but the same evening, he fell ill, to die, a few weeks later, on July 25.
But even Brother Pacifico was shaken by violent fevers on July 5, which forced him to bed from where he could no longer get up. Thus, he ended his days on September 24, 1721, at the age of 68 years and 6 months. At the funeral there was a great participation of people.
Of his spiritual profile we remember the daily confession, an extraordinarily mortified life, the heroic patience in the tribulations to be called the “Franciscan Job”. Many where the miracles that the Lord accomplished through his intercession.
His cause was initiated in 1752. He was beatified by Pope Pius VI on August 4, 1786, and canonized by Pope Gregory XVI on May 26, 1839.
Cf. Friars Minor Saints and Blesseds, ed. Fr. Silvano Bracci, OFM, and Sr. Antonietta Pozzebon, FMSC. Edition Velar, 2009, pp. 316-318.