A merchant from Poggibonzi in Tuscany, Luchesius abandoned his commercial and political activities after hearing the preaching of Saint Francis. He is historically the first member of the Franciscan Third Order. He devoted the rest of his life to penance and works of mercy until his death in 1232.
Guided reading
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BLESSED LUCHESIUS, CONFESSOR (1232).
The secular life of Luchesius
Luchesius was a merchant from Poggibonsi, initially more concerned with his commercial and political affairs than with his faith.
Luce, or Luchesi Luce, en Luchèse Merchant from Poggibonsi who became the first member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. us, was a merchant from Poggibons Poggibonzi Town in Tuscany where Luchesius lived and traded. i, near Si ena. P Sienne Italian city defining the area of activity of the blessed. olitics and commerce occupied him more than the service of God and the salvation of his soul.
Conversion by Saint Francis
Touched by the preaching of Saint Francis of Assisi in Tuscany, Luchesius asks the saint how to ensure his salvation.
Saint Francis Saint François Founder of the Order of Friars Minor. was then traveling th rough T Toscane Region of Italy where the saint's life takes place. uscany, announcing the word of God and calling souls to penance. He came to Poggibonzi; all the people crowded to hear him, and in the midst of the crowd was the merchant Luchesius. The Saint had the talent, with the grace of God, to touch his heart, and after the sermon he saw him present himself to him and ask him what he must do to gain heaven.
First member of the Third Order
Following a revelation, Saint Francis makes Luchesius the first member of his Third Order, the rules of which would later be approved by the Pope.
The Saint then had a revelation from above by which he knew that Luchesius was the man who was to be the first to embrace the Rule of the Third Orde Tiers-Ordre Religious order to which Elizabeth belongs. r that he had long intended to found. He gave him the habit and imposed upon him the rules that were later approved by Nicholas IV. The m Nicolas IV Childhood friend of Conrad, Minister General of the Franciscans, and later pope. erchant then abandoned politics and commerce entirely to occupy himself only with his salvation and works of mercy. He retained the glory of having been the first member of this Order which has saved so many souls and which, today, seems to be coming back to life everywhere.
Death and recognition of the cult
Lucchese died in 1232; his cult was officially authorized by Pope Innocent XII at the end of the 17th century.
Ble ssed Lucchese rende bienheureux Luchèse Merchant from Poggibonsi who became the first member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. red his soul to God in 1232. The Fri ars Minor obta Frères Mineurs Religious order welcomed by Engelbert in Cologne. ined from Inno cent XII, in Innocent XII Pope who beatified Saint Zita in 1696. 1694, the permission to celebrate the feast of Blessed Lucchese on April 28.
Man ual of the Third Orde Manuel du Tiers-Ordre Bibliographic source of the text. r.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Merchant and politician in Poggibonsi
- Meeting with Saint Francis of Assisi during his preaching in Tuscany
- Conversion and request for spiritual direction from Saint Francis
- Reception of the Third Order habit (first member in history)
- Abandonment of commerce and politics for works of mercy
- Confirmation of cult by Innocent XII in 1694