LUCCHESIO of POGIBONSI, Blessed. — First Franciscan tertiary. Born c. 1181, died 28 Apr. 1260. In his youth he gave himself over to worldly life and married the Blessed Bona dei Segni; always dissatisfied with his state of life, he first took up a military career, becoming a condottiere and siding with the Guelphs; then he turned to commerce; until he found peace in devoting himself to an ascetic life.
Having sold and distributed all his goods to the poor, he devoted himself to a life of piety and charity toward his neighbor, especially the poor and the sick of the hospital at Poggibonsi and of the Tuscan Maremma. When in 1221 Francis instituted the Third Order, he was among the first to belong to it and is regarded as its firstborn. The Blessed Davanzato Davanzati was his disciple. He experienced frequent ecstasies and performed miracles even during his lifetime. In the Franciscan Order his feast is celebrated on 28 April.