I. Historical Setting
In the early thirteenth century, Florence was a city torn by factional strife, political ambition, and moral decline. Yet in the midst of its commerce and rivalry, divine grace stirred the hearts of seven noble Florentine merchants. Prosperous in worldly affairs, they felt a profound interior call to renunciation and penance, desiring to serve Our Lord more perfectly under the patronage of His Most Holy Mother.
These men were:
- Saint Bonfilius Monaldi
- Saint Bonajuncta Manetti
- Saint Manettus dell’Antella
- Saint Amadeus of Siena
- Saint Hugh of Florence
- Saint Sosteneus of Florence
- Saint Alexis Falconieri
All were members of a confraternity dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, known as the Laudesi. Their devotion to Our Lady—especially under the title of the Sorrowful Mother—was the seed from which their vocation blossomed.
II. The Divine Call
On the Feast of the Assumption (traditionally dated 1233), while engaged in prayer, these seven received a shared and extraordinary inspiration to abandon the world entirely. According to ancient tradition, the Blessed Virgin herself appeared to them, clothed in mourning, exhorting them to dedicate their lives to meditation on her Seven Sorrows and to form a new religious family devoted to penance and Marian service.
Obedient to this heavenly prompting, they distributed their wealth to the poor, reconciled their affairs, and withdrew to Monte Senario, a solitary mountain near Florence.
There they embraced:
- Poverty
- Silence
- Fasting
- Continual prayer
- Meditation on the Passion of Christ and the Sorrows of Mary
Their life was austere and eremitical at first, resembling that of the ancient Desert Fathers.
III. Foundation of the Servite Order
The fervor and holiness of the seven soon attracted disciples. Their devotion to the Sorrows of Mary became the distinguishing mark of their spirituality. They wore a black habit, symbolizing mourning for the Passion of Christ and compassion with Our Lady’s grief.
In time, under ecclesiastical guidance, they adopted the Rule of Saint Augustine, thus forming the Order of the Servants of Mary (Servites).
The Order was officially approved by Pope Alexander IV in 1259, though full papal confirmation came later under Pope Benedict XI (1304). Their mission expanded to preaching, especially fostering devotion to:
- The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin
- The Passion of Christ
- The Rosary and Marian piety
IV. Their Humility and Hiddenness
Remarkably, none of the seven sought priestly ordination except Saint Bonfilius and Saint Bonajuncta. The others remained humble lay brothers, content in obscurity. They governed the Order collectively, embodying fraternal charity and mutual obedience.
The most long-lived among them was Saint Alexis Falconieri, who survived until 1310 and saw the Order firmly established. His longevity allowed him to witness the fruit of their Marian devotion spreading through Christendom.
V. Spiritual Characteristics
Their sanctity was marked by:
- Deep contemplation of the Passion
- Tender filial devotion to Our Lady
- Love of poverty and penitential discipline
- Fraternal unity and humility
- Zeal for reconciliation in a divided society
Their Marian spirituality was not sentimental but cruciform—centered on sharing in the sorrows of the Mother at the foot of the Cross.
They taught that true devotion to Mary leads inevitably to deeper union with Christ Crucified.
VI. Canonization
Although venerated locally for centuries, the Seven Founders were canonized together by Pope Leo XIII in 1888, highlighting the unity of their vocation and mission.
The Church honors them collectively, a rare and beautiful testimony to shared holiness.
Spiritual Reflection
The Seven Holy Founders teach us:
- That worldly success does not satisfy the soul.
- That devotion to Our Lady is a powerful path to sanctity.
- That communal holiness—sanctity lived in fraternity—is a profound witness.
- That meditation on the Sorrows of Mary deepens our participation in the Passion of Christ.
Meditation for Prayer
Consider Our Lady at Calvary.
Stand spiritually beside Saint Alexis and his companions at the foot of the Cross.