Blessed Luchesius
Blessed Luchesius (Italian: Lucchese; also Luchesio; born c. 1181 AD in Gaggiano, near Poggibonsi, Tuscany, Italy; died April 28, 1260 AD in Poggibonsi, Italy) was an Italian layman who, with his wife Buonadonna, is traditionally honored as among the first members—often said to be the very first—of the Third Order of Saint Francis. He is venerated as a Blessed of the Franciscan Order. His feast day is April 28.
Once a grasping merchant and partisan, Luchesius underwent a profound conversion and, with his wife, gave away his wealth to the poor and devoted his life to works of mercy under the inspiration of Saint Francis of Assisi. His cult was confirmed in the eighteenth century.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Luchesius
| Blessed Luchesius | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | April 28 |
| Profession | Layman; merchant; Franciscan tertiary |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Third Order of Saint Francis (Franciscans) |
| Patronage | Franciscan tertiaries; married laypeople; those who serve the poor |
| Attributes | Franciscan tertiary habit; giving alms; carrying the poor and sick |
| Birthplace | Gaggiano, near Poggibonsi, Tuscany, Italy |
| Death Place | Poggibonsi, Tuscany, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; layman and early Franciscan tertiary who gave his life to works of mercy; died at Poggibonsi |
| Primary Shrine | Poggibonsi, Tuscany, Italy |
Biography
Luchesius was born about 1181 near Poggibonsi in Tuscany. In his early life he was a merchant and grain-dealer, absorbed in the pursuit of gain, and he was caught up in the bitter factional strife between Guelphs and Ghibellines that divided the towns of Tuscany. He was known for his greed and his hard dealing.
In time, however, Luchesius underwent a deep conversion. Moved by grace—and, according to tradition, by the influence of Saint Francis of Assisi—he turned away from avarice and worldly ambition. With his wife Buonadonna, who shared in his change of heart, he distributed his wealth to the poor, keeping only a small plot of land which he worked with his own hands to support himself and to have something to give in alms.
Luchesius and Buonadonna are honored in Franciscan tradition as among the first, and often as the very first, to be received by Saint Francis into the Third Order—the way of life he established for laypeople who wished to follow the Gospel ideal while remaining in the world. Luchesius gave himself to prayer, penance, and untiring charity, personally carrying the sick and the poor, tending them, and begging for them.
He died at Poggibonsi on April 28, 1260; his wife had died shortly before him. Luchesius was venerated as a Blessed from the time of his death, and his cult was confirmed in 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII. His feast is kept on April 28.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: None
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Luchesius have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
April 28
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.