BELLACCI, TOMMASO da FIRENZE, blessed. — Franciscan of the Friars Minor Observant, born in Florence in 1370, died in Rieti on 31 October 1447. Having abandoned his youthful dissipations and become a friar, he won everyone’s admiration through his holy life. In 1439 he was part of the mission sent by Pope Eugenio IV to Ethiopia. He returned to Italy in 1444 after suffering slavery and persecution during the expedition. His cult was approved by Clement XIV on 17 August 1771. Feast: 31 October. V. ALBERTO da SARTIANO.
BIBL.: F. A. Savorini, Storia delle gesta del b. T. B. da Firenze, Fermo-Rieti 1773; Acta SS. Octobris, XIII, Parigi 1883, pp. 860-92; L. Wadding, Annales Min., XI, Quaracchi 1932, pp. 336-46; S. Mencherini, in La Verna, 10 (1912) and 11 (1913) and in Studi francescani, 1 (1914), 2 (1915). Maria Morseletto