Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Optional Memorial of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, formally the Order of Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Saints-link ūnus, Saints-link duo, & Wikipedia-link O.S.M.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

The Servite Order was found in 1233… when a group of cloth merchants of Florence, Italy, left their city, families, & professions to retire to Monte Senario, a mountain outside the city, for a life of poverty & penance. These men are known as the Seven Holy Founders. The order's purposes are the sanctification of its members, preaching the Gospel, & the propagation of devotion to the Mother of God, with special reference to her sorrows.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

In 1240 seven noblemen of Florence mutually decided to withdraw from the city to a solitary place for prayer & direct service to God. Their initial difficulty was providing for their dependents, since two were still married & two were widowers. Their aim was to lead a life of penance & prayer, but they soon found themselves disturbed by constant visitors from Florence. They next withdrew to the deserted slopes of Monte Senario. In 1244, under the direction of St. Peter of Verona, O.P. (6 April), this small group adopted a religious habit similar to the Dominican habit, choosing to live under the Rule of St. Augustine & adopting the name of the servants of Mary. The new Order took a form more like that of the mendicant friars than that of the older monastic orders.

'Tis also the feast of Saint Evermode of Ratzeburg, Bishop, O.Praem. (circa 1100-1178): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the feast of Blessed Luke Belludi, Religious, O.F.M. (circa 1200-1285): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duae, & Wikipedia-link (list).

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
Weekday
The Book of Genesis, chapter eleven, verses one thru nine;
Psalm Thirty-three, verses ten thru fifteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verse thirty-four thru chapter nine, verse one;

or, for the Seven Holy Founders:
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses twenty-six thru thirty;
Psalm Thirty-four, verse two;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses twenty-seven, twenty-eight, & twenty-nine.