February 17th - Seven Founders of the Order of Servites
Waldtraud
13th century; canonized in 1887 by Pope Leo XIII.
In 1233 seven wealthy councilors of the city of Florence, who had previously
joined the Laudesi (Praisers), gave up the pleasures of this world in order
to devote themselves to God through particular devotion to the Blessed
Virgin Mary. Their previous lives had been by no means lax or undisciplined,
even though Florence was then a city filled with factions and immorality,
and infected by the Cathar heresy (the belief that the body was evil and we
are the souls of angels inserted by Satan into human bodies). Under the
direction of James of Poggibonsi, who was the chaplain of the Laudesi and a
man of great holiness and spiritual insight, they came to recognize the call
to renunciation. On the Feast of the Assumption, 1233, the seven had a
single inspiration or vision to withdraw from the world to form a new
society within the Church devoted to prayer and solitude.
Of course, there were difficulties: Four of the men had been married,
although two were widowers and the other three celibate. Each of them made
provision for their dependents, and with the approval of their bishop
withdrew from the world 23 days after the Assumption. At first they lived
just outside the city gates at La Camarzia, humbly obeying the dictates of
the bishop of Florence.
As their fame spread the seven moved further away to the wilder hills around
Monte Sennario, where they built a church and a hermitage. For seven years
they lived there, eating little, fasting and praying and allowing no new
recruits to their company. But in 1240 Bishop Ardingo of Florence and
Cardinal Castiglione visited them after hearing about the sanctity of the
seven. The cardinal was suitably impressed but had one criticism, "You treat
yourselves in a manner bordering on barbarity: and you seem more desirous of
dying to time than of living for eternity. Take heed: the enemy of souls
often hides himself under the appearance of an angel of light. . . . Hearken
to the counsels of your superiors."
Bishop Ardingo went on to explain a vision that they had had of a vine that
blossomed with green leaves and fruit in the middle of a cold March day. He
told them that this was God's way of leading them to branch out into the
world. The prelates insisted that the seven must welcome others who wished
to follow so rigorous a life, and gave them rules for their order based on
Saint Augustine and the Dominican Constitutions. They were to adopt the
black habit of Augustinian monks and to live as mendicant friars.
As always, the hermits prayed for light, and again Our Lady appeared to
them. On Good Friday, April 13, 1240, their mission was further defined in
what they believed to be a vision of the Blessed Virgin, who they understood
to say, "You will found a new order and you will be my witnesses throughout
the world. This is your name: Servants of Mary. This is your rule: that of
Saint Augustine. And here is your distinctive sign: The Black scapular, in
memory of my sufferings." She held in her hand the black habit, while an
angel bore a scroll inscribed with the title "Servants of Mary."
From that time they became known as Servites (or 'the Servants of Mary')
because they meditated especially on the sorrows in the life of the mother
of God. They were clothed in the habit by their bishop, took new names in
religion, and all except Saint Alexis, who in his humility begged to be
excused, were ordained as priests. So many joined the Servites that new
groups were set up in neighboring Tuscan cities, such as Siena, Pistoia,
Arezzo, Carfaggio, and Lucca. In 1250, to commemorate the appearance of the
Angel Gabriel to Mary, the seven founders built the superb church of
Santissima Annunziata in Florence, which is still served by their order.
The Servites were recognized in 1259 by the papal legate Raniero Cardinal
Capocci and solemnly approved by Blessed Benedict XI in 1304. It has since
spread into many parts of the world and continues to attract men and women,
devoted to the Blessed Virgin. Many of their houses are dedicated to the
education of children and the care of the poor and sick. The Servites
fostered the devotion known as the Seven Sorrows of Mary, a development of
the late medieval devotion to Our Lady of Pity, which offers a counterpart
to the older one of the Seven Joys of Mary.
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Short biographies of the seven founders
Alexis (Alessio) Falconieri (Born c. 1200; died at Monte Sennario on
February 17, 1310). Son of Bernard Falconieri, a wealthy Florentine merchant
and a Guelph, joined the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin in Florence
about 1225. They were all ordained except Alexis, who felt he was not worthy
enough to be a priest and devoted himself to the material needs of the
community and helped build the Servite church at Cafaggio. He was the only
one of the seven still alive when the order was approved by Pope Benedict
XI.
Bartholomew (Bartholomes, Amadeus) degli Amidei. Amadeus governed the
important convent of Carfaggio, but returned to Monte Sennario to die.
Benedict (Manettus, Manetius, Manetto) dell'Antella (Died August 20, 1268.)
In 1246, he attended the Council of Lyons. When the order was divided into
two provinces in 1260, Manettus governed Tuscany. He later introduced the
order into France at the invitation of King Saint Louis. When Manettus
became the fourth prior general, he sent missionaries to Asia. He retired in
deference to Saint Philip Benizi, on whose breast he died.
Buonfiglio (Bonfilio) Monaldi (Monaldo) (Died January 1, 1261.) Bonfilio,
the eldest of the seven, was the first superior of the Servites, serving
until 1256
Gherardino (Gerardino, Sostenes) Sostegni (Sostegno). While Manettus
governed the Tuscan province after 1260, Sostenes ruled that of Umbria. He
later carried the order into Germany.
John Buonagiunta (Bonaiuncta). The youngest of the seven, Buonagiunta was
elected in 1256 as the second prior general of the Servites. Soon after his
election he died in the chapel while listening to the Gospel account of the
Passion.
Ricovero (Hugh) dei Lippi-Ugoccioni (Uguccione) (Died at Monte Sennario,
Italy, May 3, 1282). Hugh accompanied Saint Philip Benizi to France and
Germany and was vicar-general of the order in the latter for eight years.
Hugh and Sosthenes were recalled from foreign lands (France and Germany) in
1276, and died of illness on the same night (Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney,
Encyclopedia, Farmer, Walsh).
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Martyrology
At Paris, Blessed Reginald, confessor. He was dean of the Church of St.
Aignan in Orleans. While at Rome, he received from the hands of our holy
Father Dominic, the Dominican habit which the glorious Virgin Mary had shown
him a short time before when he was dangerously ill. A semi-duplex feast.
At Florence, the birthday of St. Alexius Falconieri, confessor, one of the
seven founders of the Order of Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the
110th year of his life, he died in blessedness, comforted by the presence of
Christ Jesus and of the angels. His feast, with that of his companions, is
kept on February 12.
At Rome, the suffering of St. Faustinus, whom forty-four others followed to
the crown.
In Persia, the birthday of Blessed Polychronius, Bishop of Babylon. In the
persecution of Decius, his face was beaten with rocks. He died with hands
extended and his eyes raised to heaven.
At Concordia near Venice, the holy martyrs Donatus, Secundian, and Romulus,
with eighty-six others, sharers in the same crown (of victory).
At Caesarea in Palestine, St. Theodulus, an old man, who was of the
household of Firmilian the governor. Roused by the example of the martyrs,
he confessed firmly Christ, was nailed to a cross, and by his noble triumph
merited the martyr's palm (of glory).
Likewise St. Julian the Cappadocian. He was denounced as a Christian because
he had kissed the remains of the martyrs. Being taken before the governor,
he was ordered to be burned to death over a slow fire.
In the district of Terouanne in Gaul, St. Silvinus, Bishop of Toulouse.
In the monastery of Cluaincdhech in Ireland, St. Fintan, priest and abbot.
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Consecration of humanity to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
O most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the Human race; behold us prostrate most
humbly before Thine altar (in Thy presence). To Thee we belong; Thine we
wish to be; and that we may be united to Thee more closely, we dedicate
ourselves each one of us today to Thy most Sacred Heart.
Many have never known Thee; many, despising Thy commands, have rejected
Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy
sacred Heart. Be Thee King, O Lord, not only over the faithful who never
have gone away from Thee, but also over the prodigal children who have
forsaken Thee; and make them return quickly to their Father's house, lest
they perish of misery and hunger. Be Thou King of those who have been misled
by error, or separated by schism; and call them back to the haven of truth
and the unity of faith, so that there may soon be one fold and one Shepherd.
Grant to Thy Church, O Lord, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm;
give peace and order to all nations, and grant that, over the whole earth,
from pole to pole, may resound the words:
Praise to the Divine Heart, through which was brought to us salvation; glory
and honor be to It forever. Amen...
O Heart of love. I put all my trust in You; for I fear all things from my
own weakness, but I hope for all things from Your goodness.
Most sweet Heart of Jesus, grant that peace, the fruit of justice and
charity, may reign throughout the world.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, protect our families.