Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of Mary

On 17 February, the Church commemorates the Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of Mary, who renounced everything to consecrate their lives to the Virgin and to charity.

The Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of Mary were seven Florentine gentlemen, wealthy merchants, who chose to abandon a life of comfort and riches in order to devote themselves entirely to penance, contemplation, and devotion to the Virgin Mary. A decision made even more courageous and extraordinary by the time in which these men lived, at the beginning of the thirteenth century, when the Florentine Republic was shaken by fratricidal wars and the pursuit of profit, even at the expense of oppressing the weak, seemed to be the only law for many. It is likely that these seven men were influenced by the great mendicant orders, such as the Franciscans and the Dominicans, but also by the Benedictine monks of Camaldoli, the Abbey of Vallombrosa, and Cluny. Moreover, the Seven Holy Founders were already members of a lay company of laudesi devoted to the Blessed Virgin, the Company of the Servants of Saint Mary, one of the confraternities present in Florence at that time, dedicated to works of charity and penance. Indeed, their first act as a new order was to leave their homes and possessions and give all their goods to the poor.

Documents from the time show that in 1233, the Seven Holy Founders decided to abandon their activities in order to embrace communal life and dedicate themselves to Mary Most Holy, Mother of God. Initially, they chose as their place of retreat Cafaggio, a rural area where there stood a small oratory in which the seven men would stop to pray together after their almsgathering. Soon they began to repair the adjoining hospice, so as to be able to welcome new brothers. Later, on the ruins of this oratory, the Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation would arise. In 1234, Bishop Ardingo Foraboschi wished to offer the confraternity a piece of land on Monte Senario. Here they began to build huts on the ruins of an ancient castle, which became their cells, and a small church dedicated to Our Lady.

In 1239, Cardinal Goffredo Castiglioni, who would become Pope under the name Celestine IV, assigned to them the Rule of Saint Augustine, a point of reference in monastic life for countless communities from the fifth century onwards. Initially, the name chosen for the community was Company of Our Lady of Sorrows, but one day, while two of them were returning to Monte Senario from Florence, a child saw them and said that they looked like two servants of Mary. From this came the new name.

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Soon the fame of the order spread beyond Tuscany, into Umbria, Emilia, and even Germany, and many other men joined the Holy Founders, creating communities similar to that of Monte Senario. However, in 1274, the Second Council of Lyon issued a decree announcing the suppression of all religious orders founded after the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215, unless they had obtained papal confirmation, and the natural extinction of those which, although having received it, did not show a clear usefulness for the universal Church. Philip Benizi, a young man of twenty-one who would become the future Prior General, worked tirelessly and succeeded in obtaining papal recognition, thus saving the Order.

In 1304, Pope Benedict XI officially approved the Rule and the Constitutions of the Servants of Mary.

The Order experienced alternating fortunes due to the Protestant Reformation, also taking part in the Council of Trent. New convents were opened in Germany and Spain. In 1652, Pope Innocent X imposed a forced reform on all religious orders, and several convents of the Servants of Mary were closed.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Order reached its greatest development, both in the number of convents and of brothers, but by the end of the same century many places of worship were closed and the brothers were dispersed. Only in the twentieth century was there a new expansion of the Servants of Mary, now spread throughout the world.

On 30 July 1725, Pope Benedict XIII confirmed the cult of some of the Seven Holy Founders, but only on 15 January 1888 were they all canonised by Pope Leo XIII, and their common feast fixed for 17 February.

The Seven Founders were canonised simply with their names: Bonfiglio, Bonagiunta, Manetto, Uguccione, Amadio, Sostegno, and Alessio. Their remains lie all together in a tomb on Monte Senario.

Who were the Seven Holy Founders

But who were the Seven Holy Founders? In reality, there are very few documents concerning the life and work of these men.

Bonfiglio Monaldi was the founder and leader of the lay group, and later the first Prior of the Order of the Servants of Mary. His recurring iconography shows him accompanied by a dove resting on his shoulder, symbol of the Holy Spirit. In him, more than in his brothers, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit were greatly manifested. He was also endowed with great charisma, which made him a natural leader and contributed to the fame of the community and the ever-increasing influx of new penitents. He died on 1 January 1262.

Bonagiunta Manetti distinguished himself by his austerity and rigour. Severe and uncompromising towards himself, he at the same time showed gentleness, kindness, and understanding towards others. He held the prestigious office of Prior General of the Servants of Mary in the brief period between 1256 and 1257. Because of his tireless defence of truth and justice, he was the target of an attempted poisoning, but divine providence saved him from this danger. His earthly life came to an end on 31 August 1267.

Manetto dell’Antella was also Prior General of the Order of the Servants of Mary. A man endowed with remarkable organisational and leadership abilities, he brought the Order into France. It is believed that Manetto dell’Antella died on 20 August 1268.

Among the group of the Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of Mary, Saint Amadio was the richest in charity and love. His very name suggested it: Ama-Dio (Love God). That love warmed all who were close to him, first and foremost his fellow brothers. Saint Amadio passed away on 18 April 1266.

Saint Sostegno Sostegni was bound by a deep friendship with Saint Uguccione. Not by chance are the two always depicted together, and they have become a symbol of fraternity and friendship inspired by God. They also died on the same day, 3 May 1282.

Belonging to the Falconieri family and uncle of Saint Juliana, Saint Alessio distinguished himself as a shining example of humility. Pure and devout, his very existence was a praise to God. He devoted himself enthusiastically to almsgiving, collecting money to support his brothers sent to study at the Sorbonne in Paris. His life came to an end at the age of 110, on 17 February 1310.

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Prayer to the Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, who in the perpetual remembrance of the sorrows of your most holy Mother, through the seven holy Fathers, enriched your Church with the new family of the Servants of Mary; grant to us, your servants, who dwell in this valley of tears, to be united to the sufferings of your most sorrowful Mother, so that we may merit to become partakers of everlasting consolation in heaven.

You who live and reign for ever and ever.

Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.