ALLUCCIO (LUCIO), BEATO

ALLUCCIO (Lucio), Blessed. — Son of a certain Homodei, born in the Val di Nievole at an uncertain date, he spent his early years as a shepherd and 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, now called Alberghi). The community, which in medieval fashion dedicated itself through charity to the care of the institution, later took the name of “friars of the b. A.” Through the work of this outstanding hospital worker, other hospices were erected in the territories of Lucca, Pistoia and Florence. A. was a layman, but he communicated daily 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 Office proper to the Blessed to the diocese of Pescia; this concession was later renewed by Pius IX on 6 June 1851. He is commemorated on 23 Oct.