In the 13th century, seven Florentine laymen retired to Mount Senario, headed to a contemplative life. They later founded the Order of the Servants of Mary. Today, they are known as the Seven founding Saints of the Servite Order.
Newsroom (17/02/2025 16:11, Gaudium Press) On August 15, 1233, in the Italian city of Florence, some devotees of Our Lady gathered, as usual, at the Compagnia dei Laudesi, a confraternity dedicated to singing the praises of the Blessed Virgin.
After the Eucharistic celebration, a pious confrere by the name of Bonfilho Monaldi was overcome with ecstasy: he saw the Mother of God surrounded by splendor, seated on a magnificent throne and surrounded by angels, radiant with unimaginable beauty, who said to him: “Leave everything, my children, leave relatives, family, possessions, be ready to follow me and do my will in everything”.
Once the vision was over, he noticed that the church was emptying, while six other confreres – all of them prosperous businessmen, like Bonfilho – remained kneeling and bathed in tears. They were: Bonajunta Manettti, Maneto Dell’Antella, Amadeu Amidei, Hugo Uguccioni, Sóstenes Sostegni and Aleixo Falconieri. When they told the young noblemen what had happened, each of them confirmed that they had seen the same vision and heard the same call from the Blessed Virgin.
The seven decided to heed the splendorous Lady’s call. They informed the pious chaplain of the Laudesi, who took them to the Bishop of Florence, Monsignor Ardengo Trotti, who in turn recognized the supernatural origin of the communication.
“Behold the servants of Mary!”
After great struggles, they found a solitary house surrounded by large grounds, called Villa Camarzia, in a suburb of Florence. On September 8th, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, they established their first hermitage there.
Everything was poor and humble; silence reigned, only interrupted by prayers to the Blessed Virgin. Bonfilho was chosen as superior.
Florence was moved by the sight of those gentle men of yesteryear begging in the streets. Villa Camarzia and another house they occupied in Cafaggio, on the outskirts of the city, soon became a focus of spirituality, and devout or curious people flocked there in search of the new religious, to ask them for advice and prayers.
After a few months of community life, a unique event occurred. Hugo and Sosthenes were in Florence begging. At one point, some children began to acclaim them with clear and distinct voices: “Here are the Servants of Mary! Give alms to the Servants of Mary!”
This gave them the title that has lasted to this day: Servants of Mary or Servites.
Gathered on the holy mountain
Little by little, the small convent became a busy pilgrimage center, where there was no shortage of esteem and veneration from visitors… And the humble hermits gathered there felt the need to escape this praise.
One night, the seven of them dreamt of an illuminated mountain, and recognized that it was Mount Senario. They consulted Bishop Ardengo, who confirmed the heavenly message and donated the land, as it was the property of the bishopric.
On June 1, 1234, the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, they set off for the place that would become known as the birthplace of the Servite Order. The location was ideal. There they built some cells in the Camaldolese manner and began to live solely for God and his Blessed Mother.
Around this time, the confessor of the Laudesi, Fr. James of Poggibonsi, also felt the divine call and, edified by his leaders, accompanied them in this holy life.
The arrival of a priest in that remote place was providential. Fr. James celebrated Mass daily in a small oratory. Afterwards, the hermits dedicated themselves to manual labor, reading Sacred Scripture and studying. They did harsh penances, ate little, spoke only what was necessary and in a low voice, and sought every means of praising and serving the Blessed Virgin.
The mystical vineyard
The days went by in this routine full of blessings. The seven only wished to continue in their austere life, pervaded by piety and recollection, with no intention of taking on more companions. However, Don Ardengo was not satisfied with this resolution and advised them to accept novices.
A miracle confirmed the prelate’s opinion: in the winter of 1240, the snow was spreading over the region like a blanket, when one of the vineyards planted on the hillside dawned all green, covered in leaves and bowed down by the weight of the ripe fruit.
Heaven’s message was clear: like a flourishing tree, which spreads its roots in the darkness of the ground while its branches grow in the light of day, they had to expand that initial nucleus and dedicate themselves to the apostolate without leaving their hermit life.
Seven Founding Saints receive the habit
After seven years of silence on that blessed hill, another event completed the elements for the nascent religious family to blossom.
It was Good Friday in 1240 and the seven experienced a mystical rapture: they saw Our Lady, resplendent with incomparable beauty, but with great sadness on her countenance. She seemed to be coming from the tomb of Our Lord, bathed in tears, and she was wearing a religious habit the color of mourning, black. Surrounding the Virgin were many angels, some of whom bore emblems of the Passion, another bore the words Servants of Mary in gold letters, and a third sported a beautiful palm.
Ecstatic, they heard Our Lady say: “I am the Mother of God. I have heard the prayer you have addressed to me so many times. I have chosen you as my servants because under this name you will cultivate my Son’s vineyard. Look at the habit you are to wear from now on. Its black color indicates the pain I have experienced, especially on this day, for the Death of my only Divine Son. Follow the rule of St. Augustine so that, adorned with the glorious title of my servants, you may secure as your prize the palm of eternal life.” After these words, the Blessed Virgin disappeared.
The Order’s mission was thus defined, confirming the interpretation given to the prodigious event of the vineyard. In a simple ceremony, Bishop Ardengo blessed the new habits and clothed the first Servants of Mary with the sacred mantle of the Virgin of Sorrows. He also thought it appropriate to confer on them the honor of the priesthood so that they could exercise a more effective apostolate. Only Alexius, out of humility, preferred to remain a layman, even though he was very learned.
The Order spreads
At that time, Italy was in a deplorable moral and religious situation, and many people, disillusioned with the world, sought refuge in monastic life.
Bonfilho understood that care had to be taken when choosing candidates to join the Order. He demanded a great deal of piety and good formation before donning the holy habit, treating them like a plant which, in order to bear good fruit, first needs to be pruned well.
The work branched out and the foundations followed one another: the city of Siena warmly welcomed the Servants of Mary in 1243, Pistoia welcomed them in February 1244, and shortly afterwards it was Arezzo’s turn.
Rome’s seal of approval for the new Order
The Servites had already spread to several cities, but they lacked Rome’s approval.
At the time, Pope Innocent IV was thinking of reducing the number of religious orders, as he thought there were too many. Inspired by the Lateran Council, he wanted institutes with the same rule or similar aims to merge. His successor, Alexander IV, became even more demanding in this regard.
In this context, Fr. Bonfilho presented the cause of the Servants of Mary to a Cardinal who was passing through Tuscany. He took the Order under his protection and approved everything the Bishop of Florence had done.
In the end, the definitive approval came in an apostolic letter in June 1256.
Bonfilho gathered the chapter together to announce the grace he had received. And, taking advantage of the occasion, he resigned as Superior General. He felt he was running out of strength and wanted to better prepare himself for death in silence and prayer. He appointed Bonajunta Manetti as his successor.
Saint Bonajunta Manetti
After the chapter, Bonajunta sacrificially visited the houses of the Order on foot. Less than a year later, he became seriously ill.
On August 31, 1257, as he himself had prophesied, the hour of his death arrived. He gathered the Servites together and, after the Eucharistic Celebration, had the Gospel of the Passion read. Upon hearing the passage “Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit”, the last words spoken by Jesus, the saint gently expired. He was buried with great veneration next to the altar.
After these events, the chapter chose Fr. James of Poggibonsi, the former spiritual director of the Laudesi, as the new General.
Saint Bonfilho Monaldi
After his resignation, Saint Bonfilho lived in seclusion on Mount Senario for five years. On January 1, 1262, the religious, having sung Matins, heard a voice say: “Come, Bonfilho, come, good and faithful servant, receive the reward that awaits you, and enter into the joy of your Lord!”
At that very moment, he gave his soul to God. His face glowed and a soft perfume spread through the convent. The signs of bliss were so noticeable that no one had the courage to sing the Requiem, because they were sure he was already in glory.
St. Manetho Dell’Antella
A few years after Saint Bonfilho’s departure, in June 1265, Father James resigned as superior and appointed Saint Manetho as fourth general. He governed the Order for two years: he enlarged the provinces, worked various wonders, cured the sick and cast out many demons.
On July 5, 1267, he also handed over the post of Superior General. He suggested Friar Philip Benizi as his successor, who was confirmed by the chapter.
On August 20 of the same year, feeling that the time had come for him to leave for Heaven, Saint Manetho sang hymns to Mary Most Holy with tender devotion and expired softly in Saint Philip’s arms.
Saint Amadeus Amidei
Saint Amadeus was called the doctor of the poor for his miracles and cures. It is said that he once revived an eight-year-old boy who had drowned in a well.
Death found him in an ecstasy of love on April 18, 1266. On that occasion, a singular event occurred: as soon as he expired, huge flames of fire surrounded Mount Senario. It looked like a devouring fire that would consume everything, but the phenomenon only lasted a few moments. It was certainly an image of the flames of love that burned in the Saint’s heart.
He rested on Mount Senario with his companions.
Saint Hugo and Saint Sosthenes
Hugo and Sosthenes were great friends, both from illustrious and noble Florentine families. They had to separate when St. Philip sent them abroad to preach the Gospel and devotion to the Virgin of Sorrows in other lands.
Appointed Vicar General in France, Sosthenes edified the people with his virtues and preaching.
Hugo was sent to Germany, where he converted many sinners and founded several convents, leaving a reputation of great holiness everywhere.
After years of apostolate, in 1282 they were both called to Florence. Exhausted after so many struggles, they wanted a period of silence and prayer on the much missed Monte Senario.
As they climbed the mountain, an inner inspiration told them that they would die on the same occasion and that the time was very near.
On May 3, 1282, while they were praying to the Blessed Virgin, death came for them. Together they had fought and served the Mother of God, and together they were united with her in heaven.
Saint Alexius Falconieri
After this double death, there was only St. Alexius left in the world. He was a nobleman and a man of eminent culture. He converted many sinners in Florence, had a great love for the virtue of purity and always punished his body with harsh penances. He lived more in heaven than on earth.
During seventy-seven years of religious life, he was a model of observance and fidelity to the rule. He reached the age of one hundred and ten and still worked and did penance. He became the living chronicle of the Order: God preserved him so that he could pass on the beautiful traditions of the foundation to later generations.
On his deathbed, Jesus appeared to him in the form of a child.
United in time and eternity
In the years that followed, the Order flourished admirably and produced countless fruits of holiness.
The beatification and canonization processes of the founders, which were initially carried out separately, were united during the pontificate of Leo XIII as a result of a miracle that occurred when the seven were invoked together. Thus, the virtues of all of them were studied simultaneously and in a single cause until, on January 15, 1888, the Pope inscribed them in the catalog of the Saints of the Church. Such was the union they maintained in this life that the Holy Church kept them united in their canonization and liturgical celebration.
Text taken, with adaptations, from the Heralds of the Gospel Magazine, no. 278, February 2025. By Fernando Joaquim Costa Mesquita
Compiled by Teresa Joseph
