FEBRUARY 17TH 2003 Seven Founders of the Order of Servites Also known as Servites; Servant Friars; Confraternity of Our Lady Profile Seven wealthy councilors in Florence, members of the laymen Laudesi (Praisers). They individually and collectively felt a call to a deeper religious life, and on the Feast of the Assumption, 1233, they decided to form a new society devoted to prayer and solitude. This was not an easy move - two were married and two were widowers, so several of them had dependants for whom to provide. However, they each made provision for their families, and with the approval of their bishop, they withdrew from the world 23 days later.
At first they lived just outside the gates of La Camarzia under obedience to the bishop of Florence. As word of their holiness spread, they attracted would-be followers, and withdrew to the hills around Monte Sennario where they built a church and hermitage. They lived in for seven years, spending their time in prayer and meditation, and turning away all potential followers. In 1240 Cardinal Castiglione visited; he praised their holiness and devotion, but warned them that their severe austerities was more life-denying and spiritual. Bishop Ardingo explained a vision he had had of a vine that blossomed on a cold March day. The cardinal, bishop and the seven men took this as a sign that they should "branch out", and allow others into their life. On Good Friday, 13 April 1240, the hermits received a vision of Our Lady. She held in her hand the black habit, and a nearby angel bore a scroll reading Servants of Mary Mary told them, You will found a new order, and you will be my witnesses throughout the world. This is your name: Servants of Mary. This is your rule: that of Saint Augustine. And here is your distinctive sign: the black scapular, in memory of my sufferings. They accepted the wisdom of Our Lady, wrote a Rule based on Saint Augustine and the Dominican Constitutions, adopted the black habit of an Augustinian monk, and lived as mendicant friars. The men became known as the Servites, and were known for meditating on the sorrows of Mary; they fostered the devotion known as the Seven Sorrows of Mary, a counterpart to the older devotion known as the Seven Joys of Mary. Six of them were ordained and took new names, they took Saint Peter of Verona as their spiritual director, and they all went to work with new member! s. The congregation grew quickly, and soon had groups in Siena, Pistoia, Arezzo, Carfaggio, and Lucca. They built the church of Santissima Annunziata in Florence in 1250, and their Order is still there today. The Servites were solemnly approved by Blessed Pope Benedict XI in 1304, and have since spread around the world. The seven founders were: Alexis Falconieri Bartholomew degli Amidei Benedict dell'Antella Buonfiglio Monaldi Gherardino Sostegni Hugh dei Lippi-Uguccioni John Buonagiunta Monetti Canonized 1887 by Pope Leo XIII REFLECTION: ****EACH OF OUR DAYS IS MARKED WITH THE PROTECTION OF MARY, WHO IS EXCEEDINGLY ANXIOUS TO BE OUR MOTHER, WHEN WE DESIRE TO BE HER CHILDREN..****..(St.Vincent de Paul) Oh! sweet Eucharist ! & beloved Mother keep me as thy own..... S.THOMAS NOTTINGHAM ENGLAND --------------------------------- With Yahoo! Mail you can get a bigger mailbox -- choose a size that fits your needs =============================================================================== This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. For more info on the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet To unsubscribe from the list send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet/join In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ===============================================================================
