Seven affluent men, gathered together, left their homes and professions, and went into solitude for a life directly given to God.

In 1240, seven wealthy, well-known cloth merchants lived in Florence, Italy in the mid-thirteenth century: Alexis Falconieri, Benedict dell' Antella, Bartholomew Amidei, Buonfiglio Monaldo, Ricovero Uguccione, Gerardino Sostegni, and John Buonagiunta. The eldest Buonfiglio Monaldo, became their leader. They had as their spiritual director James of Poggibonsi, who was chaplain of the Laudesi, a man of great holiness and spiritual insight.

They found themselves in a society in which many people ignored God’s law. Riches and the easy life meant more to these people than the love of the poor and service to the needy. These seven men decided to withdraw from the city and to lead lives of prayer and penance. They chose to turn their lived over to God and give witness to all that is good and true.

Their initial difficulty was providing for their dependents, since two were still married and two were widowers. Suitable provision for their dependents was arranged, and with the approval of the bishop they withdrew from the world and betook themselves to a house called La Carmarzia, outside the gates of Florence, twenty-three days after they had received their call.

Their aim was to lead a life of penance and prayer, but they soon found themselves disturbed by constant visitors from Florence. They next withdrew to the deserted slopes of Monte Senario.

In 1244, under the direction of Saint Peter of Verona, O.P., this small group adopted a religious habit similar to the Dominican habit, choosing to live under the Rule of St. Augustine and adopting the name of the Servants of Mary. The new Order took a form more like that of the mendicant friars than that of the older monastic Orders.

Eventually all the founders but Alexis were ordained. When their order was finally approved, Alexis was the only founder still living.

Members of the community came to the United States from Austria in 1852 and settled in New York and later in Philadelphia. The two American provinces developed from the foundation made by Father Austin Morini in 1870 in Wisconsin.

Community members combined monastic life and active ministry. In the monastery, they led a life of prayer, work and silence while in the active apostolate they engaged in parochial work, teaching, preaching, and other ministerial activities.

The Order of Servites is sometimes known by the names Confraternity of Our Lady, Order of Servants of Mary, Servant Friars, The Seven Holy Founders
-FranciscanMedia,LoyolaPress,EWTN

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Silvinus of Auchy
2. Saint Fintán of Clonenagh
3. Saint Flavian of Constantinople
4. Saint Mesrop the Teacher
5. Saint Finan of Iona

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