The Seven Holy Founders are Italian saints who established the Servite Order in 1233. They are St. Bonfilius, St. Alexis Falconieri, St. John Bonagiunta, St. Benedict dell’Antella, St. Bartholomew Amidei, St. Gerard Sostegni, and St. Ricoverus Uguccione. These seven cloth merchants from Florence were devoted to the Blessed Mother. In 1233, each experienced an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, calling them to abandon their worldly lives and dedicate themselves to God. On September 8, the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, they forsook their careers and moved to a rundown house outside Florence, embracing a life of begging, poverty, and prayer. Their wisdom and virtue attracted many seeking spiritual counsel. However, they soon realized that their true calling was a life of prayer. Seeking solitude, they relocated to a dwelling eleven miles from the city on Monte Senario.
Around 1240, the seven received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who presented them with a black habit while an angel held a scroll inscribed with "Servants of Mary." She called them to be her servants, wear the black habit, and follow the Rule of St. Augustine. From then on, they were known as the Servants of Mary, or Servites. Their mission focused on spreading devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. They are venerated on February 17 because it is said to be the day on which St. Alexis Falconieri, one of the seven, died in 1310. All seven were beatified in 1717 by Pope Clement XI and canonized in 1887 by Pope Leo XIII.
Impart to us, O Lord, in kindness the filial devotion with which the holy brothers venerated so devoutly the Mother of God and led Your people to Yourself.
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love
(Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love
(Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)
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