Saint of the day, September 24

September 24 – St. Pacificus of San Severino

Born: March 1, 1653
Died: September 24, 1721
Nationality: Italian
Vocation: Franciscan priest
Canonization: 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI

St. Pacificus of San Severino spent years preaching throughout the Italian countryside. Later, as serious illness limited what he could do, prayer became an even greater part of his life. His feast day is September 24.

Born Carlo in San Severino in 1653, St. Pacificus lost both parents when he was young. He entered the Franciscan order as a teenager and was ordained a priest in 1678. He taught philosophy to younger friars before serving as a missionary in the surrounding region.

For nearly three decades, St. Pacificus lived with serious health problems, including difficulty walking, hearing loss, and blindness. No longer able to continue his missions, he devoted more of his time to contemplation. He also served for a time as the superior of a Franciscan community in San Severino. Accounts of his life describe his patience amid suffering and report miracles associated with him.

St. Pacificus died in San Severino on September 24, 1721. Pope Gregory XVI canonized him in 1839. His life invites us to remain close to God when our circumstances change and to trust that prayer, too, is a way of serving Him.

St. Pacificus of San Severino, pray for us!