The task of telling the story of a founder is akin to the work of a botanist trying to describe the origin of a centuries-old tree. He can easily observe the flavour of the fruit, the splendour of the leaves, the strength of the branches, but… how can he penetrate to the roots? It is true that when a storm breaks out, many leaves fall, the harvest is jeopardized, the branches shake; however, if the roots are deep, the tree endures. The vitality of the entire tree depends on them.
So let us consider a lush tree whose roots are peculiar in that they are divided into seven branches. Yes, this is an Order with seven founders, who were so united in life that the Church also united them in a single liturgical celebration.
The great vision
It all began on August 15, 1233, in the Italian city of Florence, where 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 Bonfilius Monaldi was rapt in ecstasy: he saw the Mother of God surrounded by splendour, seated on a magnificent throne and surrounded by Angels, radiant with unimaginable beauty. She said to him: “Leave everything, my sons; leave relatives, family, possessions, be ready to follow me and do my will in everything.”1
Once the vision was over, he realized that the church was emptying, while six other confreres – all prosperous businessmen, like Bonfilius – remained kneeling and bathed in tears. They were: Buonagiunta Manetti, Manettus dell’Antella, Amadeus Amidei, Hugh Uguccioni, Sostene Sostegni and Alexis Falconieri. When he 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 call of the splendid Lady. They informed the pious chaplain of the Laudesi, who took them to the Bishop of Florence, Most Rev. 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 spacious grounds, called Villa Camarzia, in a suburb of Florence. On September 8, 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. Bonfilius was chosen as superior.
Florence was moved by the sight of those former gentlemen begging in the streets: “The mockery was followed by the praise and edification of the people. […] If some ridiculed the unique life of the seven noblemen, most bowed in reverence and were edified by so much virtue in the midst of so much corruption and scandal in that sinful and proud Florence.”2
Villa Camarzia and another house they occupied in Cafaggio, on the outskirts of the city, soon became centres of spirituality, and devout or curious people flocked there in search of the new religious to ask for advice and prayers.
After a few months of community life, a remarkable event occurred. Hugh and Sostene were in Florence, begging. At a certain point, some children began to acclaim them with clear and distinct voices: “Behold the Servants of Mary! Give alms to the Servants of Mary!”
This event garnered them the title that has lasted to this day: Servants of Mary, or Servites.
Gathered on the sacred mountain
Little by little, the small monastery became a busy pilgrimage centre, where there were signs of considerable esteem and veneration on the part of visitors… And the humble hermits gathered there felt the need to escape this praise.
One night, the seven dreamt of an illuminated mountain and recognized that it was Monte Senario.3 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 cradle 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 charges, 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 labour, 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 simply wanted to continue in that austere life, pervaded by piety and recollection, with no intention of taking on more companions. However, Bishop Ardengo was not satisfied with this resolution and advised them to accept novices.
A miracle confirmed the prelate’s judgement: in the winter of 1240, the snow was blanketing the region when one of the vineyards planted on the hillside dawned verdant, covered in leaves and weighed down by ripe fruit.
The message from Heaven was clear: like a flourishing tree, which spreads its roots in the darkness of the soil 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 eremitical life.
A habit given by the Blessed Virgin
After seven years of silence on that blessed hill, another event completed the elements for the full blossoming of the nascent religious family.
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 in her countenance. She seemed to be coming from the Sepulchre of Our Lord, bathed in tears, and holding something in her hands.
She was carrying a black religious habit, the colour of mourning. 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 displayed 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. See the habit you are to wear from now on. Its black colour indicates the sorrow that I 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 a prize the palm of eternal life.”4 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 very 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 honour of the priesthood so that they could exercise a more effective apostolate. Only Alexis, out of humility, preferred to remain a layman, even though he was very learned.
The Order spreads
At that time, Italy was in a lamentable moral and religious situation, and many people, disillusioned with the world, sought refuge in the monastic life.
Bonfilius was aware that care had to be taken when choosing candidates to join the Order. He demanded a great deal of piety and good formation before clothing them with the holy habit, treating them like a plant that, in order to bear good fruit, first needs to be well pruned.
The work branched out and new foundations followed: 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. In these places, the clergy and the people were able to see the burning zeal for souls that animated these men.
Rome’s approval of 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. Bonfilius 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.
From left to right: St. Buonagiunta, St. Amadeus, and St. Sostene – Shrine of Holy Mary of Mount Berico, Vicenza (Italy)
Bonfilius gathered the chapter together to announce the grace they had received. 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 Buonagiunta Manetti as his successor.
St. Buonagiunta Manetti
After the chapter, Buonagiunta made the sacrifice of visiting the Order’s houses 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 its new General.
St. Bonfilius Monaldi
After his resignation, St. Bonfilius lived in seclusion on Monte Senario for five years. On January 1, 1262, the religious, having sung Matins, heard a voice say: “Come, Bonfilius, 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 delicate perfume spread through the convent. The signs of eternal beatitude were so evident that no one had the courage to sing the Requiem, because they were sure that he was already in glory.
St. Manettus Dell’Antella
A few years after St. Bonfilius’ departure, in June 1265, Fr. James resigned as superior and appointed St. Manettus 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 relinquished 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, St. Manettus sang hymns to the Blessed Virgin Mary with tender devotion and gently expired in St. Philip’s arms.
St. Amadeus Amidei
St. 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 overtook him in an ecstasy of love on April 18, 1266. On that occasion, a singular event occurred: as soon as he expired, huge flames surrounded Monte 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 were burning in the saint’s heart.
He rested on Monte Senario with his companions.
St. Hugh and St. Sostene
St. Hugo and St. Sostene 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, Sostene so edified the people with his virtues and preaching that King Philip III said of him: “The Vicar General of the Servite Order is a man of unblemished behaviour, a saint.”
Hugh 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 interior 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 for and served the Mother of God, and together they were united with her in Heaven.
St. Alexis Falconieri
After this double death, only St. Alexis remained in the world. He was a nobleman and a man of great culture. He converted many sinners in Florence, had a great love for the virtue of purity and always chastised 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, with the seven founders and many other members in Heaven, 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 catalogue 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.
If a tree can be known by its fruits, it is because these are the most sensible proof of the quality of the sap that came from its roots.
The fact that the fruit becomes more flavourful and the branches more vigorous, despite the storms of the centuries, attests to the fact that, in the beginning, the roots faced the darkness of the soil and the hardness of the stones, thus producing wonders in the garden of the Church. ◊
Notes
1 Cf. BRANDÃO, Ascânio. Os Sete Santos Fundadores da Ordem dos Servos de Maria. São Paulo: Ave-Maria, 1956, p.15.
2 Idem, p.20.
3 Monte Senario, with an altitude of 817 metres, was eighteen kilometres from Florence.
4 Idem, p.32.
