{"id":78137,"date":"2026-05-20T13:27:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spaziospadoni.org\/training-institutions\/arciconfraternita-di-misericordia-di-lucca\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T15:16:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T14:16:37","slug":"archconfraternity-of-mercy-of-lucca","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/spaziospadoni.org\/en\/training-institutions\/archconfraternity-of-mercy-of-lucca\/","title":{"rendered":"Archconfraternity of Mercy of Lucca"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Archconfraternity of Mercy of Lucca is a volunteer association belonging to the Confraternities of Mercy Movement, founded in Florence in 1244 by Pietro da Verona, later Saint Peter Martyr. Today, the Confraternities of Mercy are present in Italy and abroad with more than 700 confraternities.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Logo<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

History<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Archconfraternity of Mercy of Lucca, founded on the model of the Confraternity of Mercy of Florence, which was already operating in the thirteenth century, is the city\u2019s oldest volunteer association. Even in ancient times, confraternities were associations of the faithful established to carry out works of piety and charity. Two confraternities lie at the origins of the Archconfraternity of Mercy of Lucca: the older, known as the Company of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, cared for the transport of poor people\u2019s bodies to their burial place and also assisted the sick. The more recent Company of the Most Holy Crucifix, later known as the Company of Christian Charity, dates back to 1664 and was established by a group of young people who met to pray before the shrine of a small crucifix. Since 1819, after moving from one oratory to another in Lucca, this Company has been based in the Church of Saint Saviour and has extended its activities to rescuing and caring for the sick, who are also assisted at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two Companies are the only religious associations in Lucca that, thanks to their irreplaceable charitable work, survived the confiscations and anticlerical edicts of Napoleon and the Baciocchi family, until a decree of 20 January 1860 by the Provisional Government of Tuscany established the Archconfraternity of Mercy of Lucca, renamed the Company of Christian Charity, and incorporated the Company of the Most Holy Name of Jesus into it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work of the Archconfraternity of Mercy was particularly important during the war, despite the shortage of resources and personnel; at the most difficult times, when tires and fuel for the vehicles were unavailable, hand-carried stretchers were brought back into service. The history of the Archconfraternity of Mercy shows us how it has always acted in the name of Christian charity and solidarity; almost five centuries ago, its members began by burying the poor and assisting the sick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, this gesture is repeated for new people in need: not only the poor, the sick, and the injured, but also elderly people living alone, people with disabilities, non-EU immigrants, and potential victims of loan sharking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From this perspective, the Archconfraternity of Mercy is not only a volunteer service that helps make up for shortcomings in public services or rushes out with its ambulances to assist accident victims, injured people, and heart attack patients, but above all an ongoing commitment to giving joyfully, helping others, and bearing witness to faith through deeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today\u2019s commitments continue the association\u2019s centuries-old history. Today, however, the Archconfraternity of Mercy is called to complement its traditional work of helping people in need with more decisive action to eliminate the root causes of need itself. For this reason, the association is committed to affirming and promoting, in every area of society, a civilization of love and solidarity toward the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Activities<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n