Feb. 17 Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time; Optional Memorial of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, Opt. Mem.

Today the liturgy honors seven noble Florentines who in the thirteenth century, at a time when Florence and all Italy was torn by civil strife, banded together to found, not far from Florence on Monte Senario, the Order of Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially dedicated to penance and meditation on the sorrows of our Lady in the passion of our Savior. This order was approved by the Holy See in 1304. One of the seven, Alexis Falconieri, died on this date in 1310. According to the previous calendar (1962) this feast is celebrated on February 12.