Servants of Our Lady of Sorrows

Founded: September 8, 1233, Florence, Italy Canonized: January 15, 1888 by Pope Leo XIII (group canonization) Feast Day: February 17 Patronage: The Servite Order; friendship; those leaving worldly success for God; devotees of Mary's Sorrows

THE SEVEN NAMES AND THEIR FULL IDENTITIES

BONFILIUS (Buonfiglio dei Monaldi) - First Superior; died between 1250-1262
ALEXIS FALCONIERI (Alessio Falconieri) - c. 1200 – February 17, 1310; lived to 110; remained lay brother
MANETTUS (Benedetto/Benedict dell'Antella) - died January 20, 1268; first Provincial of Tuscany
AMADEUS (Bartolomeo degli Amidei) - died 1265/1266 at Monte Senario
HUGH (Ricovero/Ricoverus dei Lippi-Ugguccioni) - died May 3, 1282 in Germany
SOSTENE (Gherardino di Sostegno) - died between 1265-1273; first Provincial of Umbria
BUONAGIUNTA (Giovanni di Buonagiunta Manetti) - died August 31, 1257; noted preacher

FLORENCE IN THE 13TH CENTURY: CONTEXT FOR THE FOUNDATION

A City of Contradictions

When the Seven Founders were born (late 12th-early 13th century), Florence was experiencing its Golden Age—becoming one of the wealthiest, most cultured, and most powerful city-states in Europe. The city's prosperity was built on:

Banking and Finance: Florentine bankers financed kings and popes across Europe. The florin, Florence's gold coin, became international currency.

Textile Trade: Florence dominated the wool and silk industries, importing raw materials and exporting luxurious finished cloth throughout Christendom.

Political Power: Florence was a republic dominated by merchant guilds who controlled civic life.

Cultural Flowering: This was the beginning of what would become the Renaissance—architecture, art, literature, and learning flourished.

Yet beneath the prosperity lay darkness:

Political Violence: The city was torn by vicious conflict between Guelphs (papal supporters) and Ghibellines (imperial/German supporters). Political murders, revenge killings, and factional warfare were constant.

Religious Heresy: The Cathari (Albigensian heretics) had penetrated Northern Italy, teaching dualism, rejecting the Incarnation, denying the sacraments, and leading souls away from Catholic truth.

Moral Corruption: Wealth bred greed, luxury, sensuality, and pride. Many Florentines pursued money and power while neglecting their souls.

Social Inequality: Extreme wealth coexisted with desperate poverty. The poor suffered while the rich indulged.

Into this world came seven young men who would choose an entirely different path.

PART I: THE INDIVIDUAL FOUNDERS - THEIR BACKGROUNDS

1. BONFILIUS MONALDI (Buonfiglio dei Monaldi)

Family: The Monaldi were an ancient, noble Florentine family of considerable wealth and influence.

Character: Sources describe Bonfilius as natural leader—serious, pious, and possessed of organizational gifts. These qualities led his companions to choose him as their first superior when they began communal life.

Death: Died sometime between 1250-1262 at Monte Senario. Exact date lost.

Legacy: As first superior, established the community's initial structures and disciplines.

2. ALEXIS FALCONIERI (Alessio Falconieri) - THE HUMBLE CENTENARIAN

Birth: c. 1200 in Florence

Family: Son of Bernard Falconieri, a "merchant prince" and wealthy leader of the Florentine Republic. The Falconieri were powerful Guelphs who opposed imperial control.

Childhood: Despite his family's wealth and status, Alexis "grew up in the practice of the most profound humility." While his social position entitled him to pride, he cultivated meekness and simplicity.

The Defining Virtue - Humility: Throughout his extraordinarily long life (110 years), Alexis's distinguishing characteristic was heroic humility:

Though from one of Florence's leading families, he begged for alms on the streets where he had once walked as a prominent citizen
Though he had opportunities for leadership, he refused all positions of authority
Though his companions became priests, he always refused ordination, considering himself "unworthy" of the priesthood
Though he lived longest and became the order's living memory, he remained a simple lay brother serving the material needs of the communities

Practical Service: Alexis's duties were "confined principally to the material needs of the various communities":

Managed daily temporal affairs
Handled finances and supplies
Organized construction projects (built the church at Cafaggio in 1252 with financial help from Chiarissimo Falconieri)
Begged in Florence's streets when funds ran low

Family Legacy: His niece Saint Juliana Falconieri (1270-1341), trained in sanctity under his personal direction, founded the Servite Third Order (later the Religious Sisters, Servants of Mary). She was canonized in 1737.

Longevity: Alexis lived to approximately 110 years old—a biblical lifespan that allowed him to:

Be the only founder to witness final papal approval (1304)
Serve as living link to the founding vision for 77 years after the order began
See the order spread throughout Italy, France, Germany, and beyond
Instruct generations of Servites who never knew the other six founders

Death: February 17, 1310 at Monte Senario. According to tradition, at his death he was visited by an apparition of the Infant Jesus, witnessed by several in attendance.

Burial: Near the Church of Santissima Annunziata in Florence, served by the Servites. His body and shrine remain there.

Beatification: December 1, 1717 by Pope Clement XI (who extended the same honor to the other six on July 3, 1725)

3. MANETTUS (BENEDICT DELL'ANTELLA)

Family: The dell'Antella were wealthy Florentine merchants and cloth traders.

Role: When the order divided into provinces in 1260, Manettus became the first Provincial of Tuscany, demonstrating leadership and administrative skill.

Death: January 20, 1268 at Monte Senario

Characteristic: Tradition records him as particularly devoted to contemplative prayer.

4. AMADEUS (BARTOLOMEO DEGLI AMIDEI)

Birth: Born into the wealthy Amidei family of Florence

Death: 1265 or 1266 at Monte Senario

Characteristic: Renowned for charity toward the poor and sick

Historical Note: The Amidei family was involved in one of Florence's most infamous feuds—their conflict with the Buondelmonti family triggered decades of Guelph-Ghibelline violence. Amadeus's choice of religious life represented a dramatic rejection of his family's involvement in political vendetta.

5. HUGH (RICOVERO/RICOVERUS DEI LIPPI-UGGUCCIONI)

Family: The Lippi-Ugguccioni were prosperous Florentine merchants.

Missionary Work: After following Saint Philip Benizi (the order's great propagator and first Minister General) to France and Germany, Hugh remained in Germany to serve as Vicar General for the German Servite province.

Death: May 3, 1282 in Germany (some sources say 1276)

Legacy: His missionary work established the Servites permanently in Germanic lands.

6. SOSTENE (GHERARDINO DI SOSTEGNO)

Family: The Sostegno family were wealthy cloth merchants.

Role: When the order divided into provinces (c. 1260), Sostene became first Provincial of Umbria.

Death: Between 1265-1273 at Monte Senario

7. BUONAGIUNTA (GIOVANNI DI BUONAGIUNTA MANETTI)

Family: The Manetti family were prominent Florentine merchants.

Gift: Noted as a particularly gifted preacher—eloquent, persuasive, able to move hearts to conversion.

Death: August 31, 1257—he was among the first of the seven to die.

PART II: THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE LAUDESI (1225-1233)

Joining the "Praisers of Mary"

Around 1225-1227, these seven young men—then in their twenties and thirties, at the height of their business success—joined the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commonly called the "Laudesi" (from Latin laudare, "to praise").

This was a lay organization of devout Catholics dedicated to honoring Mary through:

Singing her praises (laudi—Italian devotional songs)
Celebrating her four great feasts (Nativity, Annunciation, Purification, Assumption)
Works of charity toward Florence's poor
Mutual spiritual encouragement among members

Growing Friendship and Shared Vision

Through their participation in the Laudesi, the seven men developed deep spiritual friendship. They:

Prayed together regularly
Discussed Sacred Scripture and spiritual matters
Served the poor together
Encouraged each other toward greater virtue
Developed intense devotion to Mary, particularly as Mother of Sorrows (contemplating her suffering at the foot of the Cross)

Their friendship was not merely social or based on shared business interests—it was a spiritual friendship rooted in shared love for Christ and His Mother.

Marital Status

Historical sources indicate that some of the seven were married, and some were widowers when they received their call:

Two were married with families
Two were widowed
The others were presumably unmarried

This detail is significant—they were not naive young bachelors with nothing to lose. Some had wives and children who depended on them. Yet when God called, they "settled their personal affairs and made adequate provision for their dependents" before entering religious life.

PART III: THE FIRST VISION - AUGUST 15, 1233

The Feast of the Assumption

On August 15, 1233—the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—a pivotal moment arrived that would change seven lives and the Church forever.

The Miraculous Simultaneity

Each of the seven men, praying separately in different locations, received the identical vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the same moment.

This extraordinary detail—confirmed by all seven independently before they knew the others had experienced it—was seen as divine confirmation that the vision was authentic, not imagination or delusion.

The Vision's Content: Mary appeared to each man and spoke the same message:

"Leave the world, the better to serve Almighty God."

She called them to:

Abandon their wealth and prosperous businesses
Leave their families (making proper provision first)
Renounce worldly honors and comfortable lives
Embrace poverty, penance, and prayer
Dedicate themselves entirely to her service

Initial Response

None of them initially knew that the others had received the same vision. Each man wrestled privately with this extraordinary call, wondering:

Was it real or imagined?
Could he really abandon everything?
What would his family say?
How could he leave his business responsibilities?
What exactly did Mary want him to do?

When they met at their next Laudesi gathering and began to share their experiences, they discovered the miraculous truth: all seven had seen and heard the same thing, at the same time, while praying separately.

This simultaneous vision removed all doubt. This was clearly divine providence—God working through Mary to call them to a special mission.

PART IV: OBEDIENCE - SEPTEMBER 8, 1233

The Feast of Mary's Nativity

On September 8, 1233—just 24 days after the vision, on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary—the seven men obeyed.

The Great Renunciation

They gave up their businesses: Successful merchants at the peak of their careers, they walked away from profitable enterprises that provided wealth and status.

They provided for their families: Those with wives and children ensured they would be financially supported. Those with elderly parents made arrangements for their care.

They distributed their wealth: Rather than keeping their fortunes, they gave generously to the poor, to the Church, and to charitable causes.

They moved to Cafaggio: They established themselves in a dilapidated house in Cafaggio (also called La Camarzia), a poor area just outside Florence's city walls.

Embracing the Mendicant Life

In Cafaggio, they began living as mendicants—beggars for Christ:

Radical Poverty: They owned nothing personally or collectively beyond bare necessities.

Begging for Food: They went through Florence's streets begging for alms—a humiliating reversal for men who had been prosperous merchants.

Penitential Garments: They wore simple, coarse clothing—no longer the fine textiles they had once sold.

Hours of Prayer: They spent large portions of each day in prayer—both liturgical (the Divine Office) and contemplative (mental prayer).

Mortification: They practiced severe penances—fasting, sleeping on hard surfaces, physical disciplines.

Service to the Poor: Despite their own poverty, they served Florence's destitute, sick, and marginalized.

Bishop Ardingo's Approval

Bishop Ardingus (Ardingo Trotti) of Florence approved their way of life sometime between 1233-1240, giving them ecclesiastical recognition as a pious association.

Drawing Crowds and the Children's Proclamation

Their evident holiness attracted attention:

People sought their spiritual counsel and moral guidance
Crowds came requesting prayers and advice
Their witness moved many Florentines to deeper faith
Some wanted to join them in their austere life

The Miraculous Title: "Servi di Maria"

When the seven came to Bishop Ardingo for his blessing, their entry into Florence created a remarkable scene. Their appearance—formerly rich young men in splendid dress, now in grey habits of poverty—drew enormous crowds of sympathizers, curious onlookers, former companions, and those who recognized their sanctity and pressed to touch their garments and kiss their hands.

Suddenly, from the midst of the crowd, were heard the voices of children crying: "Ecco, ecco i Servi di Maria!" ("See, see the Servants of Mary!")

This same miraculous exclamation occurred even more wonderfully on January 13 (the following year), when two of the Brothers—Alexis Falconieri and John Manetti (Buonagiunta)—were asking charity in Florence. Again, infants in arms gave them their title.

One of these children was Philip Benizi—later to become one of the greatest Saints of the Order and its fifth General. He was then only five months old and spoke for the first time, crying out: "Mother, those are Mary's Servants, give them an alms!"

This supernatural proclamation from infants confirmed the divine origin of their calling and gave them their permanent name: Servi di Maria (Servants of Mary).

The Problem of Success

But this success created a problem: they had sought solitude and contemplation, but were constantly interrupted by people seeking their help.

The habitation outside the city walls which had seemed so solitary and fitted for eremitical life became thronged by troops of citizens curious to see the recipients of such great favors. They began to say among themselves that they were not wholly obedient to the voice which had said, as plainly as to the disciples of old: "Come ye apart into a desert place, and rest awhile" (Mark 6:31).

A more remote location was needed.

PART V: RETREAT TO MONTE SENARIO (c. 1241)

Seeking Greater Solitude

Around 1241 (some sources say 1244 or 1245), the seven men made a crucial decision: they needed stricter isolation to pursue their primary call to prayer and contemplation.

The "Sounding Mountain"

They relocated to Monte Senario (Mount Senario), also known as the "Sounding Mountain"—a remote, rugged peak about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of Florence, rising to approximately 817 meters (2,680 feet) elevation.

The name "Sounding Mountain" may derive from:

Winds that howled around the exposed peak
Echoes that reverberated in the mountain valleys
Or possibly from the hermits' prayers and chants that filled the mountain air

Life on the Mountain

On Monte Senario, the seven established a hermitage—a place of extreme solitude and austerity:

Caves and Crude Shelters: They initially lived in natural caves and crevices of the rocks, later building a simple monastery or hermitage by the end of 1234.

Harsh Climate: The mountain was brutally cold in winter, with snow, ice, and freezing winds. This "windy mountain" was a spur of the Apennines, lonely and savage. Summers brought scorching heat.

Severe Poverty: They survived on:

Alms brought by charitable visitors through weekly trips to Florence
Wild herbs and roots foraged from the mountain
Water from mountain springs
A small house of refuge in Florence for sheltering when fatigue or nightfall prevented return to the mountain

Rigorous Prayer: Hours each day spent in:

Liturgical prayer (Divine Office)
Mental prayer and contemplation
Meditation on Mary's Sorrows and the Passion of Christ

Extreme Penance: Their mortifications were so severe that:

According to tradition, Monte Senario sometimes appeared surrounded by flames of light (a supernatural sign of their fervor)
Roses and lilies never seen before bloomed on the barren mountain (miraculous flowers representing their virtues)
Angels were seen gathering these flowers to present to Mary

Mixed Life: They followed a mixture of hermit and community life, broken only by visits of two members each week to Florence seeking alms.

The Miraculous Vine: A Sign from Heaven (February 27, 1239)

The hermits' future was still uncertain. They had not ventured to form themselves into a religious Order, though encouraged by Bishop Ardingo. They waited, prayed, and asked for a sign.

Just below the mountain's southern crest, where richer soil allowed, the hermits had planted a vine. On the third Sunday in Lent, February 27, 1239, the Brothers witnessed an astonishing miracle:

Their vine was suddenly clothed with green leaves and clusters of ripe grapes - in late winter! All around smiled the verdure of spring, and the scent of flowers filled the air, though it should have been barren and cold.

They dared not interpret this prodigy themselves. Bonfilius dispatched a brother to tell Bishop Ardingo the amazing news and beg his counsel.

Heaven revealed the interpretation to the Bishop in a dream:

The seven hermits were seven branches of the mystic vine
The clusters were those who should join the Order
The Brothers, though Religious, were again to mingle in the world - opening their ranks to those who came

As always, they obeyed the divine voice. They would wait until Easter to receive new members, giving themselves meanwhile to earnest prayer.

Deepening Marian Devotion

On Monte Senario, their devotion to Mary intensified, particularly to Our Lady of Sorrows:

They contemplated the Seven Sorrows of Mary:

Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35): "A sword will pierce your own soul"
Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15): Fleeing Herod's massacre
Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-50): Three days of anguish
Meeting Jesus on the Way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31): Seeing her Son carrying the Cross
Crucifixion (John 19:25-27): Standing at the foot of the Cross
Taking Down from the Cross (John 19:38-40): Receiving His dead body
Burial of Jesus (John 19:41-42): Laying Him in the tomb

They understood that Mary's suffering was united to Christ's redemptive Passion, and that meditating on her sorrows would draw them closer to Christ.

PART VI: THE SECOND VISION - GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1240

The Founders Are Constituted

On Good Friday, April 13, 1240, approximately seven years after the first vision, the seven men experienced a second joint apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This time, all seven were together when Mary appeared, surrounded by angels in glorious light.

Mary Personally Founds the Order

In this second vision, the Blessed Virgin Mary herself founded the Order of Servants of Mary:

1. She Clothed Them in Black Habits

Mary presented them with black religious habits, explaining that:

Black signified mourning with Mary for the Passion of Christ
They would be her "servants" accompanying her in her sorrows
The habit distinguished them from other religious orders

(Note: Some accounts place the adoption of the black habit in 1244 under the guidance of Saint Peter of Verona, O.P., the Dominican martyr, suggesting the vision may have given the spiritual meaning while the practical implementation came later.)

2. She Presented Them with a Scroll

Mary gave them a scroll inscribed with the words:

"SERVI MARIAE" (Servants of Mary)

This was their name—their identity. They were to be "Servants of Mary," serving her by:

Contemplating her Sorrows
Imitating her virtues
Bringing others to share her compassion for Christ's Passion
Living lives of poverty, prayer, and penance in her honor

3. She Gave Them Their Rule of Life

Mary instructed them to follow the Rule of Saint Augustine—the same rule followed by Dominicans, Augustinians, and other mendicant orders.

The Rule of Saint Augustine provided:

Structure for community life
Balance of prayer and work
Guidelines for poverty, chastity, and obedience
Framework for governance and decision-making

To this Rule, they added "further guidelines that were the expression of their own Marian devotion and dedication"—creating distinctively Servite constitutions.

4. She Called Them "Seven Stars"

Mary addressed them as "seven stars", declaring that they were:

"Endowed with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit":

Wisdom - seeing all things in light of eternity
Understanding - penetrating divine mysteries
Counsel - discerning God's will
Fortitude - strength to endure trials
Knowledge - understanding created things in relation to Creator
Piety - loving devotion to God and neighbor
Fear of the Lord - reverent awe before God's majesty

These seven gifts (Isaiah 11:2-3) would empower them to fulfill their mission.

5. She Commissioned Their Mission

Mary gave them their apostolic mandate:

Spread devotion to her Seven Sorrows throughout the world
Be witnesses to her compassion and suffering
Call others to unite their sufferings with Christ's Passion through union with Mary's Sorrows
Serve the poor and suffering, seeing Christ in them
Preach and teach the Gospel with special emphasis on Mary's role

The Vision's Impact

This second vision transformed the seven men from a group of hermits into the foundation of a religious order with a clear mission, identity, and charism.

They now knew:

Who they were: Servants of Mary
What they were to do: Spread devotion to Mary's Sorrows
How they were to live: Under Augustine's Rule, in poverty and prayer
Why God had called them: To renew the Church through Marian devotion and compassion for Christ's Passion

PART VII: FORMATION OF THE ORDER (1240-1256)

Saint Peter Martyr's Investigation and Vision (1243-1244)

After Pope Innocent IV's election in June 1243, one of his earliest acts was to send Saint Peter of Verona (a Dominican, later known as Saint Peter Martyr) as Inquisitor to Northern Italy to combat the Cathari heresy and to inquire into the life of the Religious of Monte Senario.

Peter of Verona conversed with Bonfilius and Alexis, then prayed earnestly for discernment. He was answered by a vision:

Our Lady appeared to him, covered with a black mantle under which she sheltered Religious in the same habit. Among them were Bonfilius and Alexis with whom he had spoken.

Then he beheld angels gathering lilies, and among them were seven of surpassing whiteness, which Our Lady accepted and placed in her bosom.

The Saint was convinced that the Order was of God. After visiting Monte Senario, he reported favorably to the Pope, giving the Servites crucial papal endorsement.

Adopting the Black Habit (c. 1244)

While the second vision of 1240 gave the spiritual meaning of the black habit (mourning with Mary), tradition suggests that Saint Peter Martyr may have encouraged or guided the practical implementation of changing from their original grey habits to the distinctive black habit that became their permanent religious garb.

Returning to Florence

Following the second vision, the seven returned to Florence (while maintaining Monte Senario as their spiritual center and motherhouse).

They established a presence in the city to:

Preach the Gospel and devotion to Mary's Sorrows
Recruit new members to the order
Serve the pastoral needs of the faithful
Build churches and convents

Building the Church at Cafaggio/Santissima Annunziata

Around 1250-1252, under Alexis Falconieri's supervision and with financial assistance from Chiarissimo Falconieri, they built a new church at Cafaggio on the outskirts of Florence.

This church, dedicated to the Annunciation, became the Basilica of Santissima Annunziata—one of Florence's most important churches, still served by the Servites today.

From Hermits to Mendicants

The order evolved from a purely eremitical (hermit) model to a mendicant (begging friars) model:

Eremitical elements retained:

Contemplative prayer as foundation
Austere lifestyle
Monte Senario as hermitage for those called to solitude

Mendicant elements added:

Active apostolate (preaching, teaching, pastoral care)
Urban convents in cities
Begging for alms to support the community
Mobility—friars could be sent wherever needed

This made them similar to Franciscans and Dominicans—combining monastic contemplation with active apostolic work.

Ordination to the Priesthood

By 1250, several of the seven founders had been ordained to the priesthood, creating an order with both priests and brothers:

Six were ordained priests: Bonfilius, Manettus, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostene, and Buonagiunta

Alexis remained a lay brother: Refusing ordination out of humility, he served the order's temporal needs

This mixed composition became characteristic of the Servite Order.

Seeking Papal Approval

Like all new religious movements, the Servites needed papal approval to be recognized as a legitimate religious order rather than just a pious association.

First Steps (c. 1249): Pope Innocent IV gave tentative approval, recognizing them as a religious community but not yet as a fully constituted order.

Pressure for Consolidation (1256): Pope Alexander IV, concerned about the proliferation of religious orders, favored amalgamating all orders following the Rule of Saint Augustine into one large Augustinian confederation.

This threatened the Servites' distinct identity and charism.

Exception Granted (March 23, 1256): Through the intervention of supporters and recognition of their distinctive Marian charism, Pope Alexander IV issued a rescript:

Confirming the Servite Order as a separate body
Giving them power to elect a general (overall superior)
Recognizing their Rule and constitutions
Authorizing them to expand and establish new houses

This was not yet full, final approval—but it was official recognition.

Division into Provinces (c. 1260)

Four years after papal recognition, at a general chapter (the order's highest legislative assembly), the Servites divided into two provinces:

1. Province of Tuscany: Governed by Manettus (Benedict dell'Antella) 2. Province of Umbria: Governed by Sostene (Gherardino di Sostegno)

This administrative division allowed for:

More efficient governance
Better supervision of growing number of houses
Regional adaptation while maintaining unity
Training of future leaders

PART VIII: SAINT PHILIP BENIZI - THE GREAT PROPAGATOR (1233-1285)

A Saint Born the Year the Order Was Founded

Philip Benizi was born in Florence on August 15, 1233—the exact day the seven founders received their first vision of Mary. This providential coincidence was seen as a sign that he was destined to play a special role in the order.

Joining the Servites

Philip, a brilliant doctor and scholar, joined the Servites as a lay brother in 1254, seeking to live in humble obscurity. However, his exceptional gifts could not be hidden:

He was ordained priest (1258)
Appointed novice master
Elected prior of several houses
Chosen as fifth Prior General (overall superior) in 1267 at age 34

Expanding the Order Throughout Europe

As Prior General (1267-1285), Philip Benizi transformed the Servites from a small Italian order into an international movement:

Geographic Expansion:

France - established multiple houses
Germany - sent Hugh dei Lippi-Ugguccioni as vicar general
Spain - founded houses in Catalonia and elsewhere
Throughout Italy - multiplied convents and friars

Numerical Growth: By Philip's death in 1285, the order had grown exponentially in:

Number of friars
Geographic reach
Influence in the Church
Popular devotion

Spiritual Depth: Philip wasn't merely an administrator but a holy mystic and preacher who:

Lived the Servite charism intensely
Spread devotion to Mary's Sorrows
Attracted vocations through his sanctity
Performed miracles (attested after death)

Humility and Virtue: In 1268, when it appeared he might be elected Pope (after Clement IV's death), Philip fled and hid until another candidate was chosen, considering himself unworthy of such an office.

Canonization

Philip Benizi was canonized on April 12, 1671 by Pope Clement X—becoming the first Servite saint to be canonized (the Seven Founders would wait until 1888).

His feast day is August 23 (his death date in 1285).

He is considered the "Second Founder" of the Servites because he gave the order its definitive form and spread it throughout Christendom.

PART IX: FINAL PAPAL APPROVAL (1304)

Decades of Waiting

For 48 years after Pope Alexander IV's 1256 recognition, the Servites operated with provisional status. They needed final, definitive papal approval to be secure.

Various popes considered the matter but delayed final decision due to:

Concerns about too many religious orders
Pressure to consolidate mendicant orders
Political considerations
Need to evaluate the order's long-term viability and fruitfulness

Pope Benedict XI's Approval

On February 11, 1304, Pope Benedict XI (r. 1303-1304) issued the bull "Dum levamus", giving final, definitive papal approval to the Order of Servants of Mary.

This approval:

Recognized the order as fully constituted and legitimate
Granted all rights and privileges of approved religious orders
Authorized continued expansion
Confirmed the distinctive Servite charism and Rule

Only Alexis Survived to See It

By 1304, all six of the other founders had died:

Buonagiunta (1257)
Amadeus (1265/66)
Sostene (1265-73)
Manettus (1268)
Hugh (1282)
Bonfilius (exact date unknown, before 1304)

Only Saint Alexis Falconieri, then approximately 104 years old, lived to witness this joyful fulfillment of what began 71 years earlier.

Imagine his emotions: he had waited seven decades to see the order receive final approval. Six of his beloved companions had died hoping but not seeing. Now, in extreme old age, he witnessed the fruit of their shared sacrifice.

PART X: DEATHS OF THE SEVEN FOUNDERS

A Shared Tomb Despite Separate Deaths

Though the seven founders died in different years and different locations, they have always shared a single tomb—a unique and miraculous detail.

When the main altar of the Chapel at Monte Senario was being remodeled in 1649 (over 300 years after their deaths), workers discovered the remains of seven bodies in one location.

After being moved several times over the centuries, these relics now lie enshrined together in the Chapel of the Seven Holy Founders at Monte Senario, where pilgrims venerate them.

This shared tomb symbolizes their unity in life and death—they lived together, served together, and rest together awaiting the resurrection.

Individual Death Dates (Where Known)

BUONAGIUNTA: August 31, 1257 (first to die) AMADEUS: 1265 or 1266 SOSTENE: Between 1265-1273 MANETTUS: January 20, 1268 HUGH: May 3, 1282 (in Germany) BONFILIUS: Between 1250-1262 (exact date lost) ALEXIS: February 17, 1310 at Monte Senario (last to die, age 110)

From first death (Buonagiunta, 1257) to last death (Alexis, 1310), 53 years elapsed—half a century during which the original seven gradually passed away, trusting that their order would continue their mission.

PART XI: THE SERVITE CHARISM AND SPIRITUALITY

Central Mission: Apostles of Mary's Sorrows

The defining charism of the Servite Order is devotion to the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and calling others to share this devotion.

This involves:

1. Contemplation of Mary's Suffering: Deep meditation on Mary's interior suffering as she participated in Christ's Passion—not as passive spectator but as co-redemptrix uniting her will to her Son's sacrifice.

2. Compassion (suffering-with): Learning to "suffer with" Mary—entering into her sorrows, sharing her desolation, standing with her at the foot of the Cross.

3. Union with Christ's Passion: Through Mary's Sorrows, coming to deeper understanding and love of Christ's Passion—recognizing that Mary's sword-pierced heart (Luke 2:35) reveals the cost of redemption.

4. Reparation: Offering prayers, sacrifices, and penances to console Mary's Sorrowful Heart and make reparation for sins that caused Christ's suffering.

5. Evangelization: Spreading this devotion to others, helping them discover spiritual fruitfulness through meditating on Mary's Sorrows.

The Seven Sorrows in Detail

1. The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35) When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus in the Temple, the prophet Simeon blessed them but warned Mary: "A sword will pierce your own soul too." Mary learned her motherhood would involve suffering—a prophecy fulfilled at Calvary.

2. The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15) When King Herod sought to kill the infant Jesus, Mary and Joseph fled by night into Egypt—becoming refugees, living in a foreign land, hearing of the Massacre of the Holy Innocents (children killed in Jesus' place).

3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-50) When Jesus was twelve, Mary and Joseph lost Him for three days in Jerusalem—three days of agonizing searching, not knowing if He was alive or dead, experiencing a mother's worst nightmare.

4. Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31) Mary encountered her Son carrying His Cross through Jerusalem's streets—seeing Him bloodied, beaten, mocked, condemned to die, yet unable to help Him or take His place.

5. The Crucifixion (John 19:25-27) Mary stood at the foot of the Cross for three hours, watching her Son die in agony—hearing His cries, seeing His blood, powerless to relieve His suffering, receiving His final gift (John as adopted son).

6. The Taking Down from the Cross (Pietà) (John 19:38-40) Mary received Jesus' dead body in her arms—the same body she had nursed as an infant, now lifeless, cold, covered with wounds—the moment depicted in Michelangelo's famous Pietà sculpture.

7. The Burial of Jesus (John 19:41-42) Mary accompanied Jesus' body to the tomb and watched it sealed in the rock—leaving her Son in death's darkness, returning home without Him, spending Saturday in desolation awaiting Sunday's resurrection.

Servite Devotional Practices

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows (Servite Rosary): A special rosary with seven sets of seven beads (49 total) plus three introductory beads and a medal or crucifix.

How to pray it:

On the medal: Say the Act of Contrition
On each of the three introductory beads: Say one Hail Mary for the tears Mary shed
Then, for each of the seven "decades" (sets of seven Hail Marys):
- Announce the Sorrow
- Say one Our Father
- Say seven Hail Marys while meditating on that Sorrow
- Say one Glory Be
Conclude with prayers of reparation and consecration to Mary

The Via Matris (Way of the Mother): Similar to the Stations of the Cross, but following Mary's journey through her Son's Passion—seven or fourteen stations meditating on her sorrows.

The Black Scapular of the Seven Dolours: A sacramental worn by Servites and lay devotees, depicting Mary's Sorrowful Heart pierced by seven swords.

Saturday Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows: Special prayers and Masses on Saturdays honoring Mary.

September 15 - Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows: Principal feast day of Servite spirituality (day after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross).

The Servite Balance: Contemplation and Action

Following the example of the Seven Founders, Servites balance:

CONTEMPLATION:

Hours of daily prayer
Lectio Divina (sacred reading)
Mental prayer and meditation
Contemplation of the Mysteries
Monastic silence and solitude (for those called)

ACTION:

Parochial ministry (serving parishes)
Preaching and missions
Teaching in schools and universities
Hospital and prison chaplaincy
Social justice work
Spreading Marian devotion

The order remains mendicant (living simply, originally begging, now depending on alms and donations rather than endowments) while engaging in active apostolic work.

PART XII: GROWTH AND SPREAD OF THE ORDER

Explosion of Growth (13th-14th Centuries)

By the beginning of the 14th century, just 70 years after foundation:

10,000 Servites (friars)
100 monasteries across Europe
Missions on multiple continents

This astonishing growth testified to:

The order's genuine holiness
The appeal of Marian devotion
Effective leadership (especially Saint Philip Benizi)
The pressing need for contemplative yet active religious

Geographic Expansion Through the Centuries

13th-14th Centuries:

Italy: Throughout the peninsula
France: Multiple provinces
Germany: Significant presence
Spain: Catalonia and beyond
Hungary, Bohemia (Czech lands), Austria, Poland, Belgium

15th-16th Centuries:

England: Houses established (later destroyed during Reformation)
Eastern Europe: Further expansion
Missionary territories: First ventures outside Europe

17th-18th Centuries:

Crete, Philippines, India: Early missions
Mexico and Latin America: Following Spanish colonization

19th Century:

United States: First arrival from Austria (1852) in New York and Philadelphia
Wisconsin Province: Founded by Father Austin Morini (1870)—became foundation for major American growth

20th-21st Centuries:

Worldwide presence: All continents
Developing world: Strong growth in Africa, Asia, Latin America
Vocations: Increasingly multicultural and international

Current Statistics (21st Century)

Friars (First Order - O.S.M.): Approximately 800 priests and brothers serving in 28 countries with vocations from 25 nations

Cloistered Nuns (Second Order): 12 monasteries of contemplative Servite nuns

Religious Sisters (active congregations): 19 congregations of Servite Sisters engaged in education, healthcare, social work

Secular Institute: 2 Secular Institutes of Servites living in the world

Secular Order (Third Order - Servite Lay Movement): Thousands of lay men and women living Servite spirituality in secular life

Other lay groups: Confraternities, sodalities, and associations

Major Servite Shrines and Centers

Monte Senario, Italy: Original hermitage and motherhouse; pilgrimage site; burial place of the Seven Founders

Basilica of Santissima Annunziata, Florence: Major Servite church built by the founders; houses Alexis Falconieri's tomb

The Grotto (National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother), Portland, Oregon, USA: Major American Marian shrine under Servite care since 1924; 62-acre botanical sanctuary

Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, Chicago, Illinois, USA: Historic church serving Chicago's diverse populations

Numerous other churches, shrines, schools, hospitals, and social service centers worldwide

PART XIII: OTHER SERVITE SAINTS AND BLESSEDS

Canonized Saints

Saint Philip Benizi (1233-1285): Fifth Prior General; "Second Founder"; canonized 1671; feast August 23

Saint Juliana Falconieri (c. 1270-1341): Niece of Alexis; founded Servite Third Order (active sisters); canonized 1737; feast June 19

Saint Peregrine Laziosi (1260-1345): "Cancer Saint"; healed of cancer through Mary's intervention; patron of cancer patients; canonized 1726; feast May 1

Saint Anthony Maria Pucci (1819-1892): Parish priest of Viareggio; humble pastor; canonized 1962; feast January 12

The Seven Holy Founders: Collectively canonized 1888; feast February 17

Recent Beatifications

Blessed Ferdinand Maria Baccilieri (1821-1893): Secular Servite; founded Sisters Servants of Mary of Galeazza; beatified 1999

Blessed Cecilia Eusepi (1910-1928): Secular Servite; young laywoman; beatified 2012

Many Other Blesseds

Including:

Blessed Joachim Piccolomini (c. 1258-1305): Tertiary; beatified 1609
Blessed James Villa "the Almsgiver" (c. 1260/70-1312): Martyr; beatified 1806
Blessed Ubaldo Adimari (c. 1245-1315): Professed religious; beatified 1821
Blessed Benincasa da Montepulciano (c. 1375-1426): Professed religious; beatified 1829
Blessed Jerome Ranuzzi (c. 1410-c. 1468): Priest; beatified 1775
Blessed Elizabeth Picenardi (c. 1428-1468): Tertiary; beatified 1804
Blessed Andrew Bertoni (c. 1454-1483): Priest; beatified 1761
Blessed Bonaventure Tornielli (c. 1411-1491): Priest; beatified 1911
Blessed John Angelo Porro (c. 1451-1505): Hermit; beatified 1737

PART XIV: BEATIFICATION AND CANONIZATION OF THE SEVEN

Centuries of Popular Veneration

From their deaths onward, the Seven Founders were venerated as saints by the people of Florence, by Servites, and by Marian devotees—though without formal papal recognition.

Their shared tomb at Monte Senario became a pilgrimage site where miracles were reported and graces received.

First Steps: 17th-18th Centuries

December 1, 1717: Pope Clement XI declared Alexis Falconieri "worthy of veneration by the faithful"—effectively beatifying him.

July 3, 1725: Pope Clement XI extended the same honor to the other six companions—beatifying all seven (though individually, not as a group).

This allowed liturgical veneration within the Servite Order and in Florence/Tuscany.

Cause for Group Canonization: 19th Century

In the 19th century, the Servites petitioned for formal canonization of all seven together as a group—unprecedented in Church history.

The argument:

Their holiness was collective and united
They founded the order together
They shared one vision, one mission, one charism
They deserved group recognition as they had lived in fraternal communion

Approval and Canonization

After thorough investigation of:

Their individual lives and virtues
Documented miracles attributed to their intercession
The authenticity and fruitfulness of the Servite charism
The collective nature of their sanctity

Pope Leo XIII approved the cause and declared the canonization would proceed.

On January 15, 1888, in a solemn ceremony at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, Pope Leo XIII canonized all seven founders together as a group—the only such group canonization in Church history.

Feast Day Evolution

Original date: February 11 (anniversary of 1304 papal approval)

1907: Moved to February 12 (when February 11 became the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes after the 1858 apparitions)

1969 Calendar Reform: Changed to February 17 (anniversary of Saint Alexis Falconieri's death in 1310)—honoring the last survivor and longest-lived founder

Legacy of Group Canonization

This unique corporate canonization recognizes profound theological truth:

Sanctity can be communal: Not only individuals but communities can achieve holiness together

Friendship aids salvation: Their spiritual friendship was itself a path to holiness

Unity in diversity: Seven different men, one shared mission

Collegiality: They governed and lived collegially, not hierarchically

PART XV: LESSONS FROM THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS

1. True Friendship Leads to Holiness

The Seven Founders demonstrate that authentic Christian friendship—rooted in shared love for God—spurs mutual sanctification.

They encouraged each other toward:

Greater virtue
Deeper prayer
More radical sacrifice
Perseverance in trials

Application: Seek friends who challenge you spiritually, pray with you, and help you become holy.

2. Worldly Success Isn't Fulfillment

Despite wealth, status, and prosperity, the Seven felt spiritual emptiness that only God could fill.

Their renunciation of material success to seek God shows that:

Money doesn't satisfy the soul
Status doesn't bring lasting joy
Power doesn't answer life's deepest questions
Only God fulfills the human heart

Application: Examine whether worldly achievements have become idols replacing God.

3. Mary Leads to Jesus

Their intense devotion to Mary didn't distract from Christ but deepened their relationship with Him.

Through Mary's Sorrows, they understood:

The cost of redemption
The depth of Christ's love
The meaning of the Cross
How to unite suffering to Christ's Passion

Application: Don't fear that Marian devotion will diminish Christ; rightly understood, it leads more perfectly to Him.

4. Obedience to Grace Transforms Lives

When Mary called, they obeyed immediately and completely—abandoning everything, trusting God for the future.

Their example shows:

God's grace requires human cooperation
Delayed obedience is disobedience
Radical trust yields radical fruit
"Yes" to God opens unforeseen blessings

Application: When God calls (to prayer, to service, to sacrifice), respond immediately and generously.

5. Contemplation Empowers Action

They balanced contemplative prayer with active ministry—neither neglecting souls for silence nor abandoning prayer for busyness.

Their lives demonstrate:

Contemplation without action is sterile
Action without contemplation is exhausting
Both are necessary for fruitful apostolate
Prayer sustains ministry; ministry expresses prayer

Application: Whatever your state in life, cultivate both prayer and service.

6. Perseverance Through Uncertainty

Six of the seven died before seeing final papal approval—yet they persevered for decades without certainty of success.

Their patience teaches:

God's timing isn't ours
Results aren't always visible in our lifetime
Faithfulness matters more than apparent success
Trust God's plan even when unclear

Application: Continue faithful service even when you can't see results.

7. Embrace the Cross with Mary

By contemplating Mary's Sorrows, they learned to embrace their own crosses with faith, hope, and love.

Suffering became:

Participation in Christ's Passion
Reparation for sin
Source of spiritual fruitfulness
Path to resurrection

Application: When trials come, unite them to Christ's Cross through Mary's Sorrowful Heart.

CONCLUSION: THE ENDURING LEGACY

Nearly 800 years after seven wealthy merchants abandoned everything to follow Mary's call, their legacy endures:

The Servite Order continues worldwide, serving the Church through:

Contemplative prayer
Preaching and teaching
Parish ministry
Social justice work
Healthcare and education
Spreading devotion to Mary's Sorrows

Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows flourishes through:

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows
The Black Scapular
Confraternities and sodalities
September 15 feast celebration
Artistic representations (Pietà sculptures, Mater Dolorosa images)

Monte Senario remains a pilgrimage site where thousands annually visit the founders' hermitage and tomb.

Their witness inspires:

Vocations to religious life
Lay people seeking holiness in the world
Those discerning radical surrender to God
Communities of spiritual friendship
All who meditate on Christ's Passion through Mary's eyes

The Seven Holy Founders prove that ordinary people—merchants, business people, laymen—can become extraordinary saints when they respond generously to God's grace, support each other in spiritual friendship, and embrace the Cross with Mary.

PRAYER TO THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS

O God, who through Your servant, the Virgin Mary, called seven holy men to leave the world and to found the Order of Her Servants, grant us, through their intercession, the grace to seek You above all earthly goods, to embrace the Cross with Mary's compassionate love, and to persevere faithfully in the vocation You have given us.

May we, like the Seven Holy Founders, cultivate spiritual friendships that lead to holiness, contemplate the Sorrows of Mary to understand Christ's Passion, and spend our lives in prayer and service.

Through the intercession of: Bonfilius, Alexis, Manettus, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostene, and Buonagiunta, grant us the grace we seek [mention request], if it be according to Your will and for our salvation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

May the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order intercede for all who seek to serve Mary by contemplating Her Sorrows and embracing the Cross with compassionate love!

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Feb 17, 2025

⛪ The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order