Saints celebrated on the 28th of May
BLESSED HERCULANUS OF PLEGALI
Blessed Herculanus of Plegali (or a Piegula, as he is called in Hub. Men.*) was born in Pieve Pelago, formerly called Piegao. A Franciscan friar of the Observance, he lived in the first half of the 15th century.
He was a very zealous and earnest preacher of repentance. When he spoke of the suffering of Christ, it often happened that his listeners broke into loud sobs. He also had a great influence on political matters, especially in Lucca, as can be seen from the history of his life; he used it to urge the people to turn around their lives and to improve morals.
That he not only exhorted others, but also practised what he preached, he proved by the strict penitential exercises which he imposed on himself. Often he ate nothing the whole week, only on Sundays he enjoyed some bread and vegetables; to his nightly practice of watching and praying he added outward penance.
He died at the convent at Carfagnana in 1451. He is probably the same one who is also mentioned in Migne's* appendix as St-Herculan, and in whose name there is a church at Castelnuovo in Modenese.
(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861)
*A hagiography source used by the authors
Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of the blessed Herculanus may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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