The Servite Path to Holiness
The Call: What is a Secular Servite?
A Secular Servite is a lay person (man or woman, married or single) or a diocesan priest who, while living in the world, is formally incorporated into the Servite Family. You are called by the Holy Spirit to live your baptismal consecration through the specific charism of the Order, bringing the "active presence of Mary" into your home, workplace, and parish.
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As a member of the St. Alexius and St. Juliana Community, you embrace a specific lineage of humility and Eucharistic love, witnessing to the Gospel where only the laity can reach.
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Our Spiritual Identity: The Four Cornerstones
The Servite life is built on four pillars that define how we move through the world:
Fraternal Communion: We are a "fraternity of brothers and sisters." We do not walk alone. We meet regularly to pray, study, and support one another, striving to be "one heart and one soul."
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Service: Modeled on the "Handmaid of the Lord," we commit to works of mercy. We seek out the "humble and outcast" and those suffering at the "modern-day crosses" of society.
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Devotion to Mary: Our inspiration is Mary, the Mother and Servant of the Lord. We specifically focus on her Sorrows, standing with her at the foot of the Cross (Stabat) to share in the "merciful participation" of Christ's redemption.
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Conversion (Penance): We seek a "radical interior change" (Metanoia). This involves turning away from worldly vanity toward the simplicity of the Gospel, as demonstrated by the Seven Holy Founders.
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Our Patronal Inspiration
Our community is uniquely guided by two great models of lay Servite holiness:
Saint Alexius Falconieri: The "Humble Founder." He teaches us the grace of hiddenness. He remained a lay brother for over a century, refusing honors to serve in the lowest tasks. From him, we learn to serve without seeking recognition.
Saint Juliana Falconieri: The "Mother of the Mantellate." She is our model of Eucharistic Compassion. She brought the Servite habit into the streets of Florence, serving the sick while maintaining a mystical union with Christ in the Eucharist.
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The Life of a Secular Servite
What does the "Rule of Life" ask of you in your daily existence?
Prayer: To sanctify the day, we are encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours (Morning and Evening Prayer) and traditional Servite devotions, such as the Crown of the Seven Sorrows and the Via Matris.
The Witness of Poverty: We live a life of detachment, using the goods of the world as if "not possessing them," in order to be more available to God and the poor.
The Posture of "Standing": When we encounter suffering whether in our own families or in the world we do not flee. We "stand" in solidarity, offering the silent, healing presence of Mary.
Fraternity Meetings: Regular attendance at community gatherings is essential for formation, governance, and the strengthening of our fraternal bond.
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The Journey of Formation
Becoming a Secular Servite is a journey of discernment and growth:
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1. Inquiry: A period of getting to know the community and the charism without formal commitment.
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2. Admission (Novitiate): A formal period of study (usually one year) focusing on the Rule of Life, Servite history, and the spirituality of the Sorrows.
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3. The Promise: A formal, liturgical act where the candidate promises to live the Servite way of life. This is often made for a temporary period (3 years) before being made for life.
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Are You Called?
If you feel a pull toward the "luminous darkness" of the Cross, if you desire a community that values humility over fame, and if you wish to let Mary lead you deeper into the Heart of Jesus, you may have a Servite vocation.
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"Whoever wishes to be the servant of the Virgin must be the servant of the poor."
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As our first fathers and mothers did in 13th-century Florence, we invite you to put aside the "vain splendor" of the world and join us in the black habit of the heart, serving God and man as Mary did.
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