Alexis Falconieri Falconieri was one of the seven founders of the
Servite Order, who are celebrated together on the anniversary of his death. ;Life He was the son of Bernardo Falconieri, a merchant prince of Florence, and one of the leaders of the Republic. His family belonged to the
Guelph party. In keeping with their political principles, they took every opportunity to frustrate a Ghibelline (imperialist cause). In those days the Ghibellines in Florence had become tainted with
Catharism. Notwithstanding prospects as a wealthy nobleman in one of Italy's richest and most cultured cities, Falconieri grew up practising the most profound humility. Falconieri joined the Laudesi, a pious Marian confraternity, where he met the six who were to accompany him on his
consecrated life. Apparently he experienced a Marian apparition on 15 August 1233, as did his six companions. Soon afterwards they founded the
Order of the Servites. Falconieri at once abandoned all worldly things, and retired to La Camarzia, a house on the outskirts of the town. The next year he moved to
Monte Senario, where a hermitage and church were founded. The rule of
Augustine of Hippo and the Dominican Constitutions set the tone. Wearing a black habit and living in towns, they were, in effect, friars. The new order was recognised in 1259, and solemnly approved by
Pope Benedict XI in 1304. It remains one of twelve
Mendicant orders in the
Catholic Church. The discipline of fervently practising humility had drawn Alexis into wandering as a
mendicant. As a pious strategy to combat clerical corruption in those times, becoming a mendicant was a not uncommon spiritual development,
Francis of Assisi and
Saint Dominic having furnished but the most illustrious models only a generation earlier. Alexis sought alms for his brethren through the streets of the city where he had only lately been a prominent citizen. Like
Anthony the Great,
Benedict of Nursia and St Francis, Alexis never entered the priesthood. He died in Germany on 3 May 1282 ==Legacy==