Your Faith Journey with EWTN
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
1200s
St. Alexis Falconieri: Patron Saint of the sick and poor; lost items; Brindisi, Italy; Venice, Italy
The Seven Founders of the Order of the Servants of Mary—also known as the Servite Order—were members of a lay confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They were a group of devout Florentine men of the 13th century who left a legacy of prayer, penance, and service to Our Lady. Their names are Bonfilius, Alexis Falconieri, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostene, Manettus, and Buonagiunta.
Moved by a profound vision of Mary, which they simultaneously experienced in separate locations, the seven companions withdrew from their prosperous mercantile lives around 1233. They first lived in prayer and simplicity outside the city. They later established themselves on Monte Senario, north of Florence. One member, St. Alexis Falconieri, renounced his wealth and founded a hermitage for their order, which would become one of twelve mendicant orders in the Catholic Church.
Their life of penance, fraternity, and Marian devotion soon attracted others. Over time, their small band grew into the Order of the Servants of Mary, also called the Servites. Honoring Our Lady as the sorrowful mother standing at the foot of the Cross, their mission centered on imitating Our Lady by serving Christ through compassion, sacrifice, and solidarity with those who suffer.
Among the founders, St. Alexis Falconieri lived to a great age. He died in 1310 at age 110, the last of the original seven. He was never ordained as a priest, preferring to remain a lay brother.
The Church canonized the Seven Holy Founders together in 1887.
In 1233, the Virgin Mary appeared to seven men, members of a confraternity. Each man saw the same vision individually and simultaneously. Mary told these Florentine merchants to renounce their worldly life in favor of a more perfect one. Later, Mary appeared to them again, instructing them to establish the “Servants of Mary,” adopt the Rule of St. Augustine, wear a black habit, and adopt a life of poverty and service. The seven received a special charism and a unique role as the Blessed Virgin’s servants and witnesses to her sorrows. The devotion to the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary became central to the order. Calling them the “seven stars,” the Virgin Mary bestowed upon them the “seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
The Servites are a mendicant order. Members take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They practice asceticism and rely on alms to survive. They expend their time and energy on preaching and serving society. There are twelve mendicant orders in the Catholic Church, including the Franciscans, Dominicans, and Carmelites. The Servites strive to be servants of Mary, dedicating themselves to her and finding sanctity through her example, especially in her desolation during the Passion.
Their spirituality is modeled after the Seven Holy Founders who sought God through prayer, compassion for the suffering, and living the Gospel in the world.
Devotions practiced by the Servites center on Mary’s suffering. They include the Seven Sorrows of Mary, which is a Rosary prayer with seven decades, and the Via Matris (Way of the Cross for Mary), which meditates on her sorrows during Christ’s Passion to find compassion and holiness. Other devotions include the black scapular of the Sorrows of Mary and the Saturday Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also emphasize service, penance, and a deep connection to the suffering Christ.
The Holy Rosary is an amazing prayer, encouraged by popes, loved by saints, and prayed by the faithful. At its heart, the Rosary is a meditation on Sacred Scripture, on the lives of Jesus and Mary.
Through this Scriptural Rosary, we hope that you will be able to better meditate on each Hail Mary and deepen your understanding of Sacred Scripture. Use the form below to get your free copy of The Scriptural Rosary.
Be inspired to follow in the footsteps of the saints. Subscribe to receive the Daily Saint, featuring a brief biography delivered to your inbox each day.
Start now and let the intercession and witness of the saints draw you closer to God.
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
STEP 1
We’re here to serve you. Let us help you complete your gift with confidence.
Send a message to Mission Advancement.
Guidance for DAFs, stock, IRA, and more.
Manage your gifts and preferences.
