Bl. Pacificus of Ceredano

Bl. Pacificus of Ceredano (Cerano)

(Also known as Pacificus of Novara, or Novariensis).

Born 1420 at Cerano, in the Diocese of Novara in Lombardy, supposedly of the much respected family of Ramati; died 14 June [sic, i.e., 4 June], 1482. He entered the Franciscan Order of Observants at Novara in 1445. After his ordination, he was employed in preaching, in which field the Italian Observants of that time were especially prominent. Pacificus also had a share in the preaching of the crusade against the Turks undertaken by his order. The general chapter of the Observants, held in Ferrara, 15 May, 1481, sent him as commissioner to Sardinia to administer and inspect the Franciscan monasteries in that country, where he died. According to his wish, his body was brought to Cerano and buried in the church attached to the Franciscan monastery. His head was given to the parish church of that place. He was at once honoured as a saint, and, in 1745, Benedict XIV approved his veneration for the Franciscan Order and the Diocese of Novara. His feast is celebrated on 5 June. Bl. Pacificus is famous as the author of a dissertation, written in Italian and named after him the "Summa Pacifica", which treats of the proper method of hearing confessions. It was first printed at Milan in 1479 under the title: "Somma Pacifica o sia Trattato della Scienza di confessare" (Hain, "Repert. typogr.", n. 12259; Copinger, "A Supplement to Hain", n. 12259; II, 4573-5). The work was also published in Latin at Venice (1501 and 1513).

WADDING, Annales Ord. Min., XIV (Rome, 1735), 165, 266, 326; (1650), 271; (1806, 184; (1906), 181; SBARALEA, Supplem. ad Script. O. M. (Rome, 1806), 571; (Anonymous) Vita del B. Pacifico da Cerano (Novara, 1878); BASILIO DA NEIRONE, Sul. b. Pacifico da Cerano (Genoa, 1882); CAZZOLA, Il b. Pacifico Ramati (Novara, 1882); Acta SS., Jun., I, 802-3 (2nd ed., 789-90); JEILER in Kirchenlex., s.v.

MICHAEL BIHL