<p>St. Alexis was the son of Bernard Falconieri, a merchant prince of Florence.&nbsp; His father was one of the leaders of the Republic.&nbsp; His family belonged to the Guelph party, and opposed the Imperialists whenever they could consistently with their political principals. &nbsp;</p> <p>Alexis grew up in the practice of profound humility.&nbsp; He joined the Laudesi, a pious confraternity of the Blessed Virgin.&nbsp; It was here that he met the six future companions of his life of sanctity. &nbsp;</p> <p>He received an apparition of the Mother of God on August 15, 1233, as well as his companions.&nbsp; The seven soon afterwards founded the Order of the Servites.&nbsp; St. Alexis abandoned all else, and retired to La Camarzia, a house on the outskirts of the town, and then the following year to Mt. Senario.&nbsp; Once as a prominent citizen walking down the streets, he now walked those streets with humility begging alms for his brethren.&nbsp; His humility was so great, that he refused to enter the Priesthood, because he deemed himself unworthy.&nbsp; He lived to the great age of one hundred and ten, serving his brother Servites. &nbsp;</p> <p>His work was confined to the material needs of the various communities in which he lived.&nbsp; In 1252 a new Church at Cafaggio, on the edge of Florence was completed under his care.&nbsp; He received financial assistance from Chiarissimo Falconieri, and St. Juliana Falconieri, his niece, was trained in sanctity under his personal direction.&nbsp; To show the hard work and fruits of his labor, in a few years, tens of thousands of people had enrolled themselves under the banner of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Servite Order. &nbsp;</p> <p>He died on February 17, 1310 at the age of 110.&nbsp; His body rests near the Church of the Annunciation, in Florence.&nbsp; Pope Clement XI declared Alexis worthy of veneration on December 1, 1717, along with his six companions.&nbsp; Pope Leo XIII canonized them all on January 15, 1725. &nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Practical Take Away</strong></span></p> <p>St. Alexis Falconieri was born in Florence and was a holy man who was raised in the profound practice of humility.&nbsp; At an early age, he was honored with an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.&nbsp; He and six of his companions started the Servite Order, and they were dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.&nbsp; He served the Order by getting alms and meeting their physical needs, never deeming himself worthy to become a Priest.&nbsp; He enrolled tens of thousands of people under the banner of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Servite Order.&nbsp; He died at the age of 110. &nbsp;</p>