SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 17TH

MEMORIAL OF THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS OF THE SERVITE ORDER (SERVANTS OF MARY) ~ FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 17TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order: Saints  Bonfilius, Bonajuncta, Manettus, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostene, and Alexis (Invoked to aid in the imitation of the charity and patience of Our Lady of Sorrows). Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the renewal of our spirit and a burning desire to serve God all the days of our lives.

The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order: Saints  Bonfilius, Bonajuncta, Manettus, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostene, and Alexis ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

MEMORIAL OF THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS OF THE SERVITE ORDER (SERVANTS OF MARY): The Seven Holy Founders of the Order of Servites are known as the Servants of Mary. The Seven Holy Founders are Saints Bonfilius, Alexis Falconieri, John Bonagiunta, Benedict dell’Antella, Bartholomew Amidei, Gerard Sostegni, and Ricoverus Uguccione. These seven men were born in Florence, Italy and during the thirteenth century, God called these seven men from the nobility of Florence and they led lives as hermits on Monte Senario. The seven Italian saints founded the Servite order in 1233 when our Lady appeared to the seven men on the feast of the Assumption in 1233, asking them to live a life of seclusion and prayer. They obeyed and lived an austere life for many years. They met and prayed together most fervently. The Blessed Mother appeared to each of them individually and urged them to begin a more perfect life. Disregarding birth and wealth, in sackcloth under shabby and well-worn clothing, they were begging alms from door to door in the streets of Florence, they suddenly heard children’s voices calling to them, “Servants of holy Mary.” Among these children was St. Philip Benizi, then just five months old. Hereafter they were known by this name, first heard from the lips of children. They soon withdrew to a small building in the country so that they might begin to live a more holy life. They had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Servite Order, a community instituted for the special purpose of cultivating the spirit of penance and contemplating the passion of Christ and Mary’s Seven Sorrows. Due to the spirit of humility cherished by the members of the Order, their accomplishments are not too widely known. But in the field of home missions great things are to their credit, and certainly they have benefited millions by arousing devotion to the Mother of Sorrows.

According to 15th–16th-century legends, on April 13, 1240, the hermits received a second vision of Our Mother Mary, she disclosed her wishes that they serve her, wear a black habit, and adopt the Rule of St. Augustine of Hippo; thenceforward they were known as the Servants of St. Mary (or Servites). She held in her hand a black habit, and a nearby angel bore a scroll reading “Servants of Mary.” The Blessed Virgin Mary told them: “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. They accepted the wisdom of Our Lady, wrote a Rule based on Saint Augustine and the Dominican Constitutions, adopted the black habit of an Augustinian monk, and lived as mendicant friars. They returned to Florence, where they built a church called St. Mary of Cafaggio (later, Santissima Annunziata). Bonfilius was chosen superior, and Ardingus approved their community. This order was approved by the Holy See in 1304. The Servites became one of the five original mendicant religious orders. Their special charism is devotion to the Passion of Jesus and the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Only one of the seven founders lived to see the order formally approved by Rome in 1304. It has since spread throughout the world and remains active to this day. One of the seven, Alexis Falconieri, died on this date in 1310. They are venerated on February 17th because it is said to be the day on which Saint Alexis Falconieri died. All seven were beatified December 1, 1717 by Pope Clement XI  and canonized in 1887 by Pope Leo XIII.

PRAYER: On your feast day, our thoughts and prayers turn to you, the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. Help us to find mutual support and assistance in loving God and Mary through a holy alliance with like-minded Christians. Through your intercession and example of group love of God, may our love for Him burn hotter and longer than a single flame”….Amen

Lord, infuse in us the piety of these holy brothers by which they devoutly venerated the Mother of God and led Your people toward You. Amen🙏