Holy Founders of the Servites’ Order honored

The Catholic Church honors today the memory of the Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of Mary, also known as the Servites’ Order, one of the oldest Roman Catholic congregations dedicated to the propagation of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The seven holy men, six of them were ordained as priests, from Florence, Italy were Buonfiglio Monaldo, Alessio Falconieri, Benedetto dell’ Antella, Bartolomeo Amidei, Ricovero Uguccione, Gerardino Sostegni, and Giovanni Buonagiunta.

They dedicated their lives spreading devotion to the Passion of Our Lord, the Seven Sorrows of Mary, preaching the Gospel, and cultivating the spirit of penance.

The order’s approval by Pope Benedict XI in 1304 was personally witnessed by Bro. Alessio. Pope Leo XIII canonized the Holy Founders and introduced their feast in 1888. (Christina I. Hermoso)