The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order (Bonfilius, Alexis, Manettus, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostene and Buonagiunta) were seven men of the town of

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

who became bound to each other in a spiritual friendship. They eventually felt called by

Mary, mother of Jesus Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

, towards whom they practised an intense devotion. They reported a vision, apparently shared by all separately at the same moment. None of them was aware that the others also had experienced it. The call was to "leave the world, the better to serve almighty God". Bonfilius was born Bonfilius Monaldi (Buonfiglio dei Monaldi), Alexis was born Alexis Falconieri () (1200 – 17 February 1310), Manettus was born Benedict dell'Antella (Benedetto dell' Antella), Amadeus born Bartholemew Amidei (also Bartolomeo degli Amidei; died 1265), Hugh was born Ricovero Uguccioni (Hugh dei Lippi Uggucioni (Ricovero dei Lippi-Ugguccioni)), Sostene was born Gerardino Sostegni (Gherardino di Sostegno) and Buonagiunta was born John Manetti (Giovanni di Buonagiunta (Bonajuncta)).

The founders

Alexis Falconieri

Falconieri was one of the seven founders of the

Servite Order The Servite Order, officially known as the Order of Servants of Mary (; abbreviation: OSM), is one of the five original mendicant orders in the Roman Catholic Church. It includes several branches of friars (priests and brothers), contemplative nu ...

, who are celebrated together on the anniversary of his death. ;Life He was the son of Bernardo Falconieri, a merchant prince of Florence, and one of the leaders of the Republic. His family belonged to the

Guelph Guelph ( ; 2021 Canadian Census population 143,740) is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as The Royal City, it is roughly east of Kitchener, Ontario, Kitchener and west of Downtown Toronto, at the intersection of Ontario Highway 6, ...

party. In keeping with their political principles, they took every opportunity to frustrate a Ghibelline (imperialist cause). In those days the Ghibellines in Florence had become tainted with

Catharism Catharism ( ; from the , "the pure ones") was a Christian quasi- dualist and pseudo-Gnostic movement which thrived in Southern Europe, particularly in northern Italy and southern France, between the 12th and 14th centuries. Denounced as a he ...

.McGinnis, Charles. "St. Alexis Falconieri." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 20 Aug. 2013
/ref> Notwithstanding prospects as a wealthy nobleman in one of Italy's richest and most cultured cities, Falconieri grew up practising the most profound humility."St. Alexis Falconieri", FaithND
/ref> Falconieri joined the Laudesi, a pious Marian confraternity, where he met the six who were to accompany him on his

consecrated life Consecrated life (also known as religious life) is a state of life in the Catholic Church lived by those faithful who are called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way. It includes those in institutes of consecrated life (religious and sec ...

. Apparently he experienced a Marian apparition on 15 August 1233, as did his six companions. Soon afterwards they founded the Order of the Servites. Falconieri at once abandoned all worldly things, and retired to La Camarzia, a house on the outskirts of the town. The next year he moved to

Monte Senario Monte Senario is a Servite monastery in the comune of Vaglia, near Florence in Tuscany, in central Italy. It stands on the mountain of the same name, on the Drainage divide, watershed between the Valdarno to the south and the Mugello to the nor ...

, where a hermitage and church were founded. Falconieri was bestowed the title of ''Founder and Mystic''. Only after the intervention of the bishop of Florence and Cardinal Castiglione in 1240 were novices accepted into the order. The rule of

Augustine of Hippo Augustine of Hippo ( , ; ; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430) was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings deeply influenced the development of Western philosop ...

and the Dominican Constitutions set the tone. Wearing a black habit and living in towns, they were, in effect, friars. The new order was recognised in 1259, and solemnly approved by

Pope Benedict XI Pope Benedict XI (; 1240 – 7 July 1304), born Nicola Boccasini (Niccolò of Treviso), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 22 October 1303 to his death on 7 July 1304. Boccasini entered the Order of Preachers i ...

in 1304. It remains one of twelve

Mendicant orders Mendicant orders are primarily certain Catholic Church, Catholic religious orders that have vowed for their male members a lifestyle of vow of poverty, poverty, traveling, and living in urban areas for purposes of preacher, preaching, Evangelis ...

in the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. The discipline of fervently practising humility had drawn Alexis into wandering as a

mendicant A mendicant (from , "begging") is one who practices mendicancy, relying chiefly or exclusively on alms to survive. In principle, Mendicant orders, mendicant religious orders own little property, either individually or collectively, and in many i ...

. As a pious strategy to combat clerical corruption in those times, becoming a mendicant was a not uncommon spiritual development,

Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone ( 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italians, Italian Mysticism, mystic, poet and Friar, Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Chris ...

and

Saint Dominic Saint Dominic, (; 8 August 1170 – 6 August 1221), also known as Dominic de Guzmán (), was a Castilians, Castilian Catholic priest and the founder of the Dominican Order. He is the patron saint of astronomers and natural scientists, and he a ...

having furnished but the most illustrious models only a generation earlier. Alexis sought alms for his brethren through the streets of the city where he had only lately been a prominent citizen. Like

Anthony the Great Anthony the Great (; ; ; ; – 17 January 356) was a Christian monk from Egypt, revered since his death as a saint. He is distinguished from other saints named Anthony, such as , by various epithets: , , , , , and . For his importance among t ...

Benedict of Nursia Benedict of Nursia (; ; 2 March 480 – 21 March 547), often known as Saint Benedict, was a Great Church, Christian monk. He is famed in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lutheran Churches, the Anglican Communion, and Old ...

and St Francis, Alexis never entered the priesthood. Beyond preaching and his life of prayer, Alexis' principal endeavour was providing for the various religious communities where he lived. In 1252 a new church at Cafaggio was completed under his direction, with the financial assistance of his relative, Chiarissimo Falconieri. Under his influence, his niece

Juliana Falconieri Juliana Falconieri, O.S.M., (1270 – 19 June 1341) was the Italian people, Italian foundress of the Religious Sisters of the Third Order of Servites (Mantellate Sisters or the Servite Tertiaries). Biography Juliana belonged to the noble Falconie ...

decided at a young age to follow the consecrated life. Within a short time ten thousand people had enrolled in the Servite Order. Some of the first foundations were at

Siena Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...

Pistoia Pistoia (; ) is a city and ''comune'' in the Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of a province of the same name, located about north-west of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno. It is a typic ...

Arezzo Arezzo ( , ; ) is a city and ''comune'' in Italy and the capital of the Province of Arezzo, province of the same name located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about southeast of Florence at an elevation of Above mean sea level, above sea level. As of 2 ...

Cafaggio, Prato Cafaggio is a village in Tuscany, central Italy, administratively a frazione of the comune of Prato, province of Prato The province of Prato () is one of the 80 Provinces of Italy, ordinary provinces in Italy. Situated in the region of Tuscany, ...

(on the outskirts of Florence) and

Lucca Città di Lucca ( ; ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the Serchio River, in a fertile plain near the Ligurian Sea. The city has a population of about 89,000, while its Province of Lucca, province has a population of 383,9 ...

. Many parts of the world saw foundations established over the subsequent years. In the 19th century it reached England and USA (1874, see

Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica is a Catholic basilica on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, which also houses the National Shrine of Saint Peregrine. Located at 3121 West Jackson Boulevard, within the Archdiocese of Chicago, it is, along with S ...

). The order developed the three most common devotions to

Our Lady of Sorrows Our Lady of Sorrows (), Our Lady of Dolours, the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows (), and Our Lady of Piety, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are Titles of Mary, names by which Mary, mother of Jesus, is referr ...

. These are the

Rosary of the Seven Sorrows The Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows, also known as the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows or the Servite Rosary, is a Rosary based prayer that originated with the Servite Order. It is often said in connection with the Seven Dolours of Mary. It is a chap ...

, the Black

Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary The Scapular of the Seven Sorrows of Mary (also called ''Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary'') is a Roman Catholic devotional scapular that dates back to the thirteenth century. It is worn by members of the Confraternity of the Seven Dolours of ...

and the

Novena A novena (from , "nine") is an ancient tradition of devotional praying in Christianity, consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days or weeks. The nine days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost, when the ...

to Our Sorrowful Mother. Alexis died in

at about 110 years of age on 17 February 1310. His entombed body and shrine is near the church of the Santissima Annunziata in Florence, which is served by the order. On 1 December 1717, pope

Clement XI Pope Clement XI (; ; ; 23 July 1649 – 19 March 1721), born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 November 1700 to his death in March 1721. Clement XI was a patron of the arts an ...

declared Falconieri worthy of veneration by the faithful. He extended the same honour to his six companions on 3 July 1725.

Amadeus of the Amidei

One of the seven founders of the Servite Order in 1233, Amadeus of the Amidei (died 1265) was also known as Bartolomeo degli Amidei. He was born into the Amidei family in the

Republic of Florence The Republic of Florence (; Old Italian: ), known officially as the Florentine Republic, was a medieval and early modern state that was centered on the Italian city of Florence in Tuscany, Italy. The republic originated in 1115, when the Flor ...

, and died at Monte Senario in 1265. With the other six, his

feast day The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context does n ...

is on 17 February.

Hugh dei Lippi Ugguccioni

After following

Philip Benizi Philip Benizi (sometimes Saint Philip Benitius, and in Italian Filippo Benizzi) (August 15, 1233 – August 22, 1285) was a general superior of the Order of the Servites, and credited with reviving the order. Biography Philip Benizi was born on ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, another founder, Hugh dei Lippi Ugguccioni remained there to serve as the

vicar general A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop or archbishop of a diocese or an archdiocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vica ...

. He died in Germany on 3 May 1282

Legacy

Pope Leo XIII Pope Leo XIII (; born Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci; 2March 181020July 1903) was head of the Catholic Church from 20 February 1878 until his death in July 1903. He had the fourth-longest reign of any pope, behind those of Peter the Ap ...

canonized them all on 15 January 1888.Bartolomèo
(in Italian). ''Enciclopedie on line''. Rome: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana. Accessed June 2018. Their feast was inserted in the

General Roman Calendar The General Roman Calendar (GRC) is the liturgy, liturgical calendar that indicates the dates of celebrations of saints and Sacred mysteries, mysteries of the Lord (Jesus Christ) in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, wherever this liturgic ...

for celebration on 11 February. This had been the anniversary of the granting of canonical approval to the order in 1304. In 1909, 11 February became the feast of

Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes (; ) is one the Marian devotions, devotional names or titles under which the Catholic Church venerates the Mary, mother of Jesus, Virgin Mary. The name commemorates a series of Lourdes apparitions, 18 apparitions reported by ...

, and so the feast of the seven founders was moved to 12 February. For the 1969 revision of the calendar, 17 February was judged more appropriate as this was the date Alexis Falconieri died.''Calendarium Romanum'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 1969), p. 88

References

Bibliography

* Holweck, F. G., ''A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints''. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co., 1924. *

External links

17 February saints
at St. Patrick Catholic Church {{DEFAULTSORT:Seven Holy Founders Of The Servite Order Servites 14th-century Christian saints Medieval Italian saints 13th-century Christian saints Canonizations by Pope Leo XIII Beatifications by Pope Clement XI