The Servite Tradition

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Who are the Servites?

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The Servites, officially known as the Order of the Servants of Mary (OSM), are a Roman Catholic religious family founded in 1233 in Florence, Italy by the Seven Holy Founders.

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Originally laymen devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Seven Holy Founders left behind wealth and worldly life to live in prayer, penance, and community, eventually forming a religious order recognized by the Church.

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Their spirituality centers on Our Lady of Sorrows and standing with her at the foot of the Cross. Through the Secular Order and Confraternity, lay people are invited to share in this mission—bringing healing, hope, and the love of Christ to a suffering world.

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From their earliest identity, Servites have understood themselves simply as: 

“Servants of the glorious Virgin”

 

Today, the Servite Family includes:

• Friars (religious priests and brothers)

• Sisters and nuns

• Secular Servites (lay members)

• Confraternities and associated faithful

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Together, they share one mission: 

To live the Gospel in communion, under the inspiration of Mary, in service to God and all people.

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What is Servite Spirituality?

 

Servite spirituality is a Marian and Christ-centered way of life rooted in: 

 

Mary as Mother, Model, and Guide

Servites look to Mary as:

• The one who said “fiat” to God

• The faithful disciple of Christ

• The Mother who leads all people to her Son

 

She is not only honored but also imitated in daily life.

 

The Cross and the Sorrowful Mother

At the heart of Servite spirituality is: 

Mary at the foot of the Cross

 

Servites contemplate her suffering united to Christ and are called to:

• Share spiritually in that suffering

• Bring comfort to those who suffer

 

This is why the Order has a special devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows.

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Prayer and Liturgy

From the beginning, Servites were known for:

• Deep participation in divine worship

• A life centered on the liturgy and prayer

 

Conversion and Penance

Servite spirituality includes:

• A continual call to conversion of heart

• A simple and penitential life

• Growth in holiness through the Gospel

 

Compassionate Presence

Ultimately, Servite spirituality forms a person who:
Stands with Mary at the crosses of the world to bring Christ’s love and healing.

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What is the Servite Charism?

 

The Servite charism is the unique spiritual gift of the Order, expressed in four essential elements:

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1. Marian Devotion

A total dedication to Mary as:

• Mother

• Servant of the Lord

• Companion in salvation

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2. Service

The Servite vocation is rooted in:

• Christ, who came “to serve”

• Mary, the “handmaid of the Lord”

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This service is directed toward:

• The Church

• The poor, sick, and suffering

• All humanity

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3. Fraternal Communion

Servites live and witness:

• Unity

• Brotherhood and sisterhood

• Shared mission and prayer

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Their life reflects the early Christian community.

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4. Compassion and Mercy

Inspired by Mary at the Cross, Servites are called to:

• Be present where there is suffering

• Offer healing, hope, and consolation

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The Servite charism can be summarized as:
To live in communion, serve in love, and stand with Mary at the foot of the Cross for the salvation of the world.

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The Black Habit: A Gift from Mary

 

According to the Legenda de Origine (the primary historical account of the Order's founding), the habit was not chosen by the Seven Holy Founders based on personal preference, but was seen as a direct request from the Blessed Mother.

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The Vision:

The documents describe a vision in which Mary appeared to the Founders, showing them a black habit carried by angels.

 

The Command:

She instructed them to wear this specific garment as a sign of the sorrows she endured during the passion and death of her Son. As the Legenda (LO 8) states:

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"If you ask our condition, we are called the Servants of the glorious Virgin, whose habit of widowhood we wear."

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The most distinct aspect of the Servite habit is its designation as the "Habit of Widowhood." This carries deep spiritual weight.

 

Participation in Mary’s Grief:

The black color symbolizes the "sorrowful and humble" state of Mary after the Crucifixion. By wearing it, the Servite physically enters into the mourning of the Mother of God.

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A Sign of Death to the World:

Just as a widow in the 13th century wore black to show she was no longer "of the world" but dedicated to the memory of her husband, the Servite wears black to signal a "death" to worldly ambition and a total consecration to Christ and His Mother.

 

The "Habit of Sorrows":

The History of the Seven Holy Founders (p. 307) notes that the habit serves as a constant meditation on the Seven Sorrows. It is a "silent sermon" to everyone who sees it, reminding them of the cost of redemption.

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The black habit is meant to be a bridge. By wearing the color of mourning, the Servite signals to the "sorrowful" of the world that they have an ally.

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"The habit reminds the brother or sister that they must always be ready to stand at the foot of the many crosses where the Son of God is still being crucified in his brothers and sisters." (cf. Proposta, 6).

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In summary, the Black Habit is the "Livery of Mary." It serves as a constant reminder to the wearer and the observer that the path to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ inevitably passes through the compassionate suffering the "Black Saturday" of His Mother.

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