The Seven Holy Founders were the founders of the Servants of Mary, commonly known as the Servite Order. The seven were members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Florence, who were appalled at the excessive humanism, immorality, and materialism of the city. After receiving a vision of the Blessed Virgin, who told them to withdraw from the world, they departed the community and retreated to Mount Senario, where they established the origins of the Servite Order.
The Virgin instructed them to adopt a black habit and to follow the Augustinian rule, with vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Pope St. Benedict XI gave formal papal approval in 1304, and the Seven Holy Founders were canonized in 1887. The Seven founders were:
