There were seven concilors of Florence who founded the Servants of Mary or Servites in 1233. The best known were Saint Buonfiglio dei Monaldi and Saint Alessio de' Falconieri, who served as a lay brother all his life.The other five were also from influential families in Florence and were all members of the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through this association, they grew spiritually and longed for something more. Thus, under the direction and advice of their bishop, the majority became priests, forming the Servants of Mary or Servites.

&nsp; Can you imagine seven prominent men of any large modern city banding together, leaving their homes and profession, and going into solitude for a life directly given to God? That is what happened in the cultured and prosperous city of Florence in the middle of the 13th century. At this time, the city was torn with political strife as well as by the heresy of the Cathari; morals were low and religion neglected.

&nsp; On the feast of the Assumption in 1233, seven of the members of a Florentine Confraternity devoted to the Holy Mother of God were gathered in prayer under the presidency of Alessio Falconieri. The Blessed Virgin appeared to the young men and exhorted them to devote themselves to her service, in retirement from the world. It was in 1240 that they decided to withdraw together from the city to a solitary place for prayer and the service of God. Their aim was to lead a life of penance and prayer, but they soon found themselves disturbed by increasing numbers of visitors.

They adopted the Rule of Saint Augustine, wore black cassocks and strove to emulate the mendicant friars like the Franciscans and Dominicans. They next retired to the deserted slopes of Monte Senario near Florence, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to them again. There the nucleus of a new Order was formed, called Servants of Mary, or Servites, in recognition of their special manner of venerating the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady.

&nsp; 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 Saint Augustine. The new Order took a form resembling more the mendicant friars than the older monastic Orders. One of the most remarkable features of the new foundation was its wonderful growth. Even in the fourteenth century, the Order had more than one hundred convents in several nations of Europe, as well as in India and on the Island of Crete. The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows is one of their regular devotions, as is also the Via Matris, or Way of the Cross of Mary.

Their Order was officially approved by Pope Innocent IV in 1259; canonically approved by Blessed Pope Benedict XI in 1304. There was also a contemplative order of Servite nuns founded by two penitents of Saint Philip Benezi and a Third Order of nuns dedicating to treating the poor and sick as well as educating children. This was founded by a relative of St. Alessio's, Saint Juliana Falconieri in 1306. The Seven Servite Founders were canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1888, establishing their feast to be celebrated in Church Liturgy on February 12th.

We want to thank the Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for expediting these resources of the Propers. Sources: The Liturgical Year,Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945 and Butler's Lives of the Saints as well as the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1908

Missa "Justi decantaverunt"
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INTROIT: Psalm 44: 8

Justi decantaverunt, Domine, nomen sanctum tuum, et victricem manum tuam laudaverunt partier : quoniam sapientia aperuit os mutum, et linguas inflantiumfecit disertas. (Ps. 8: 2 ) Domine Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra: V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
RepeatJusti decantaverunt...

The just sang to Thy holy name, O Lord, they praised with one accord Thy victorious hand. For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of infants eloquent. (Ps. 8: 2) O Lord our Lord, how admirable is Thy name in the whole earth. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
RepeatThe just sang to ...

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COLLECT

Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus. Domine Jesu Christe, qui ad recolendam memoriam dolorum sanctissimae Genitricis tuae, per septem beatos Patres nova Servorum ejus familia Ecclesiam tuam foecundasti : concede propitus ; ita nos eorum consociari fletibus, ut perfruamur et gaudiis : Qui vivis et regnis Deo Patris in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
R. Amen.

The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ Who, in order to renew the memory of the sorrows of Thy most holy Mother, hast through the seven blessed fathers enriched Thy Church with the new Order of Servites; mercifully grant that we may be so united in their sorrows as to share in their joys. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
Forever and ever.
R.Amen.

EPISTLE: Ecclus. 44. 1-15

Lectio libri Sapientiae Laudemus viros gloriosis, et parentes nostros in generatione sua. Multam gloriam fecit Dominus magnificentis sua a saeculo, Dominantes in potestatibus suis, homines magni virtute, et prudentia sua praediti, nuntiantes in prophetis dignitatem prophetarum, et imperantes in praesenti populo, et virtute prudentiae populis sanctissima verba. In peritia sua requirentes modos musicos, et narrantes carmina scripturarum. Homines divites in virtute, pulchritudinis stadium habentes: pacificantes in domibus suis. Omnes isti in generationibus gentis suae gloriam adepti sunt, et in diebus suis habentur in laudibus. Qui de illis nati sunt, reliquerunt nomen narrandi laudes eorum. Et sunt quorum non est memoria : perierunt quasi qui non fuerint : et nati sunt, quasi non natim, et filii ipsorum cum pisis. Sed illi viri misericordiae sunt, quorum pietates non defuerunt : cum semine eorum permanent bona, hereditas sancta nepotes eorum, et in testamentis stetit semen eorum : et in aeternum manent: : semen eorum et gloria eorum non derelinquetur. Corpora ipsorum in pace sepulta sunt, et nomen eorum vivit in generationem et generationem. Sapientiam ipsorum narrent popli, et laudem eorum nuntiet Ecclesia.
Deo Gratias.

Lesson from the Book of Wisdom. Let us now praise men or renown, and our fathers in their generation. The Lord hath wrought great glory through His magnificence from the beginning. Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great power and endued with their wisdom, showing forth in the prophets the dignity of prophets, and ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words. Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the Scriptures. Rich men in virtues, lovers of beautifulness : living at peace in their houses. All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days. They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related. And there are some of whom there is no memorial ; who are perished, as if they had never been, and are born as if they had never been born, and their children with them. But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed. Good things continue with their seed. Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants. And their children for their sakes remain for ever ; their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken. Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation. Let the people show forth their wisdom, and the Church declare their praise.
Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL: Isaias 65: 23

Electi mei non laborabunt frustra neque germinabunt in contrurbatione : quia semen benedictorum Domini est et nepotes eorum cum eis. V. (Eccles. 44. 14). Corpora ipsorum in pace sepulta sunt, et nomen eorum vivit in generationem et generationem.

My elect shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth in trouble for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their posterity with them. V. (Eccles. 44. 14). Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.

TRACT: Psalm 125: 5-7

Qui seminant in lacrimis, in exsultatione metent. V. Euntes ibant et flebant, mittentes semina sua. V. Venientes autem venient cum exsultatione, portantes manipulos suos.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. V. Going they went and wept, casting their seeds. V. But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.

GOSPEL: Matthew 19. 27-29

Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum.
R.Gloria tibi, Domine

In illo tempore : Dixit Petrus ad Jesum: 'Ecce nos reliquimus omnia, et securi sumus Te: quid ergo erit nobis?' Jesus autem dixit illis : 'Amen dico vobis, quod vos, qui secuti estis Me, in regeneratione, cum sederit Filius hominis in sede majestatis Suae, sedebitis et vos super sedes duodecim, judicantes duodecim tribus Israel. Et omnis, qui reliquerit domum, vel fratres, aut sorores, aut patrem, aut matrem, aut uxorem, aut filios, aut agros, propter nomen Meum, centuplum accipiet, et vitam aeternam possidebit.'
Laus tibi Christe.

The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
R. Glory to Thee, O Lord

At that time, Peter said to Jesus: 'Behold we have left all things and have followed Thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them: 'Amen I say to you, that you, who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of His majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.'
Praise be to Christ

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OFFERTORY: Isaias 56: 7

Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
Adducam eos in montem sanctum meum, et laetificabo eos in domo orationis meae: holocausta eorum, et victimae eorum placebunt mihi super altare meum.

The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
I will bring them into My holy mount, and I will make them joyful in My house of prayer; their holocausts and their victims shall please Me upon My altar.

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SECRET

Accipe, quaesumus, Domine, hostias quas tibi offerimus : et praesta; ut, intercedentibus Sanctis tuis, libera tibi mente serviamus, et perdolentis Virginis Genitricis Filii tui amore inflammemur. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
R. Amen.

Graciously receive, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sacrifice we offer up to Thee, and do Thou grant that, through the prayers of Thy Saints, being inflamed with love for the sorrowing Virgin, Mother of Thy Son, we may serve Thee with a free mind. Through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
Forever and ever.
R.Amen.

PREFACE Common Preface

Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
Sursum corda.
R.Habemus ad Dominum.
Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
R. Dignum et justum est.
Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos Tibi simper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem Tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates, Coeli, Coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim socia exultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti, jubeas, supplici confessione dicentes:
SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS...

The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
R.We have lifted them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R. It is meet and just.
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

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COMMUNION: John 15: 16

Ego vos elegi de mundo, ut eatis, et fructum afferatis : et fructus vester maneat.

I have chosen you from the world that you should go and bring forth fruit, and your fruit should remain.

POSTCOMMUNION

Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
Oremus. Caelestibus Refecti mysteriis te, Domine, deprecaur : ut quorum festa percolimus imitantes exempla; juxta crucem Jesu cum Maria Matre ejus fideliter adstemus, et ejusdem redemptionis fructum percipere, mereamur. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
R. Amen.

The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray. Quickened anew by the heavenly mysteries, we beseech Thee O Lord, that following the example of the saints whose feast we are keeping, we may steadfastly abide at the foot of the cross of Jesus with Mary His mother, and merit to partake in the fruits of His redemption. Through same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
For ever and ever.
R. Amen.

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Feast of the Seven Holy Servite Founders