Alluccio (Lucio), Blessed

ALLUCCIO (Lucio), Blessed. - Son of a certain Homodei, born in the Val di Nievole, on an uncertain date, he was a shepherd in his early years, died at Pescia on 23 Oct. 1134. He devoted himself to the service of a hospital near Pescia, which became famous after his death, under his name (also called "in Campo," from the nearby church of S. Pietro in Campo, in a place now called Alberghi). The community too, which according to medieval custom devoted itself in charity to the care of the institution, later took the name of "friars of the bl. A." Through the work of this hospitaler par excellence, other hospices were erected in the territories of Lucca, Pistoia and Florence. A. was a layman, but he communicated every day under both species. He was buried in the hospital in which he had lived. In 1344 Guglielmo, archbishop of Lucca, had his Acts drawn up in authentic form. On 24 Sept. 1764, by Clement XIII, the Mass and proper Office of the blessed were granted to the diocese of Pescia, a grant which was later renewed by Pius IX, on 6 June 1851. He is commemorated on 23 Oct.

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