Alluccio (Lucio), Blessed

ALLUCCIO (LUCIO), blessed. - Son of a certain Homodei, born in Val di Nievole on an uncertain date, he was a shepherd in his early years; he 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,” after the nearby church of S. Pietro in Campo, in a place now called Alberghi). The community too, which according to medieval custom devoted itself out of charity to the care of the institution, later took the name of the “brothers of blessed A.” Through the work of this hospital attendant par excellence, other hospices were established in the territories of Lucca, Pistoia, and Firenze. A. was a layman, but received Communion every day under both kinds. He was buried in the hospital where he had lived. In 1344 Guglielmo, archbishop of Lucca, had his Acts drawn up in authentic form. On 24 Sept. 1764 Clement XIII granted the Mass and Proper Office of the blessed to the diocese of Pescia, a concession subsequently renewed by Pio IX on 6 June 1851. He is commemorated on 23 Oct.