February 17
Saints of the Day...and Events

 

The seven founders of the Servants of Mary or Servites, (Mid 13^th century)

    Seven young wealthy laymen retired to live with God... in a few years the Order had more than one hundred convents in several nations of Europe, as well as in India and on the Island of Crete

    Can you imagine seven prominent men of any large modern city banding together, leaving their homes and profession, and going into solitude for a life directly given to God? That is what happened in the cultured and prosperous city of Florence in the middle of the 13^th century. At this time, the city was torn with political strife as well as by the heresy of the Cathari; morals were low and religion neglected.

    On the feast of the Assumption in 1233, seven of the members of a Florentine Confraternity devoted to the Holy Mother of God were gathered in prayer under the presidency of Alessio Falconieri. The Blessed Virgin appeared to the young men and exhorted them to devote themselves to Her service, in retirement from the world. It was in 1240 that they decided to withdraw together from the city to a solitary place for prayer and the service of God.
    Their aim was to lead a life of penance and prayer, but they soon found themselves disturbed by increasing numbers of visitors. They next retired to the deserted slopes of Monte Senario near Florence, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to them again. There the nucleus of a new Order was formed, called Servants of Mary, or Servites, in recognition of their special manner of venerating the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady.
    Alessio felt himself unworthy to become a priest, remained a lay-brother, and worked to insure the material and financial requirements of the community. Helped build the Servite church at Cafaggio. He was the only one of the seven founders still alive when the order was approved by Pope Benedict XI in 1304.

    In 1244, under the direction of Saint Peter of Verona, O.P., this small group adopted a religious habit similar to the Dominican habit, choosing to live under the rule of Saint Augustine. The new Order took a form resembling more the mendicant friars than the older monastic Orders. One of the most remarkable features of the new foundation was its wonderful growth. Even in the fourteenth century, the Order had more than one hundred convents in several nations of Europe, as well as in India and on the Island of Crete. The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows is one of their regular devotions, as is also the Via Matris, or Way of the Cross of Mary.

The seven founders were:

• Alexis Falconieri
• Bartholomew degli Amidei
• Benedict dell'Antella
• Buonfiglio Monaldi
• Gherardino Sostegni
• Hugh dei Lippi-Uguccioni
• John Buonagiunta Monetti

Beatified 1 December 1717 by Pope Clement XI - Canonized 1887 by Pope Leo XIII

Additional Information
    http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/define61.htm
    http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/02-12.htm

Translate español | français | deutsch | italiano | português

Readings

Servants of Mary, bless all laypeople on their spiritual journey. Help us look to Mary for examples of faith, service, and humility. And help us to remember that God calls us to love him in his children and our neighbors. Remind us that it is more important to live for eternity than to die to time. Amen. -unknown