The Lucan passage considered in this feria of Advent is the announcement of the angel Gabriel to the priest Zechariah who was officiating in the temple: despite the advanced age of both spouses, they were to have a son named John.

But his lack of faith rendered him mute until the day of the fulfilment of that event, which also redeemed his wife Elizabeth from the infamy of the time for her barrenness.

As a new John, Francis was given to the world to announce salvation, to bring glad tidings to all.

His mother, Mona Pica, of marked interiority and openness to the new, immediately sensed that her son would be great before the Lord.

In the Franciscan Sources, his birth is presented as a new beginning of Christlikeness, spread through the folds of life.

In them we read: "The servant and friend of the Most High, Francis, was given this name by divine Providence, so that by his originality and novelty the fame of his mission might spread more easily throughout the world. His mother had called him John, when he was reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, and from a son of wrath had become a son of grace*.

A mirror of righteousness, that woman presented in her conduct, as it were, a visible sign of his virtue. In fact, she was made to share, as a privilege, a certain resemblance to the ancient Saint Elizabeth, both by the name she bestowed on her son and also by her prophetic spirit.

When neighbours expressed their admiration for Francis' generosity of spirit and moral integrity, she would repeat, almost divinely inspired:

«What do you think he will become, this son of mine? Know that by his merits he will become a son of God».

[...] Therefore, the name of John is appropriate to the mission he then carried out, that of Francis to his fame, which soon spread everywhere after his full conversion to God.

Above the feast of any other saint, he held that of John the Baptist to be most solemn, whose distinguished name had imprinted in his soul a sign of arcane power.

Among those born of women there arose none greater than this, and none more perfect than this among the founders of religious orders" (FF 583).

Francis put all his enthusiasm into understanding and realising the suggestions of the new Grace: to announce the perfection of the Gospel, preaching penance to all, with simplicity.

And since for the Poverello the voice of the smallest had the same weight as the voice of the great, indeed it is privileged, in the Spirit, because of that priority given to the smallest by the Gospel, the Lord took him at his word for his making himself the least in everything and among everyone.

"Often the Lord manifests what is best to the least" (Reg. c. IV. 18).

«And many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord» (Lk 1:14b-15a)

* Francis was baptised in the church of Santa Maria del Vescovado. The baptistery was later moved to the cathedral of San Rufino, where it still stands today.

Feria proper on December 19  (Lk 1:5-25)

The birth of Jesus narrated in Matthew's Gospel highlights not only Isaiah's prophecy but also Joseph's obedience to God's plan.

«Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife with you [...]» (Mt 1:20).

As the little work in the Sources tells us: "Sacrum Commercium", Francis, a righteous and fearful man, married Our Lady Poverty, with a mutual exchange of gifts and promises, with a commitment of love and fidelity summed up by one word: "Covenant".

We read:

"Thus enamoured of your beauty, the Son of the Most High Father to you alone was closely united in the world and knew you for proof most faithful in all things.

Even before He came to earth from the splendour of His homeland, Thou didst prepare for Him a worthy habitation, a throne on which to sit, and a throne in which to rest, namely, the most poor Virgin, from whom He was born to shine upon this world.

To him as soon as he was born with solicitude you ran to meet him, so that he might find in you, and not in softness, a place that would be pleasing to him.

He was laid, says the evangelist, in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inn.

In the same way, never parting from him, you always accompanied him, so that throughout his life, when he appeared on earth and lived among men, while the foxes had their dens and the birds of heaven their nests, he had nowhere to lay his head.

And later when he, who had once opened the mouth of the prophets, opened his mouth to teach, he first wanted to praise you, he first exalted you with the words: blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (FF 1977).

This is echoed by Clare of Assisi, who in one of her letters to her spiritual daughter, writes:

"If, therefore, such and so great a Lord, coming down in the Virgin's womb, wanted to appear in the world as a despicable, needy and poor man, so that men - who were very poor and destitute, hungry because of the excessive scarcity of heavenly nourishment - might become rich in Him by possessing the heavenly realms, exult and enjoy greatly, filled with enormous joy and spiritual gladness" (FF 2865).

Weekday Liturgy, 18 December  (Mt 1:18-24)

In its universal dimension, Francis never even mentally created categories of people who were deserving or not deserving of salvation - for which Christ gave Himself on behalf of all.

Even unworthy names appear in the genealogy of Jesus, from a human point of view, attesting to the intermingling of Christ with our history, who came to redeem the 'deserving' and the undeserving, to become One with us, except for sin.

Francis, who thought it worthy to leave the habit who stripped his brother of his good name, actually strips himself of everything, of his own noble origin (the son of a rich merchant without too many scruples, and of Madonna Pica, a Frenchwoman from beyond the Alps, with a noble heart).

He reinserts himself into common history, breaking out of the enclosures in which people wanted to enclose him, and calling 'Father' He who is in heaven.

He makes all human history his own, and puts himself back, in poverty, in the following of Christ.

Francis departing from the social and commercial greed of his natural father, helped by the rectitude of his mother, Monna Pica, becomes an instrument of God, 

He is the son of a genealogy without beginning or end, no longer limited to those social strata animated by profit, to which the carnal bond wanted to bind him.

And in his spiritual family tree we will find people of all ranks who, converted to Christ, will make Francis' descendants more numerous than the stars or the sands of the sea.

From his mother he had inherited a tender and far-sighted heart, sensitive to the divine. 

"A mirror of righteousness, that woman presented in her conduct, so to speak, a visible sign of her virtue [...].

She bore, as a privilege, a certain resemblance to the ancient Elizabeth, both in the name she bestowed on her son and also in her prophetic spirit.

When neighbours expressed their admiration for Francis' generosity of spirit and moral integrity, she would repeat, almost divinely inspired:

«What do you think he will become, this son of mine? Know, that by his merits he will become a son of God» (FF 583).

And the Sources continue:

"Therefore the name of John is appropriate to the mission he carried out, that of Francis to his fame [...].

Among those born of women there arose none greater than this, and none more perfect than this among the founders of religious orders" (FF 583).

Weekday Liturgy, 17 December  (Mt 1,1-17)

Francis, a man of God deeply rooted in humility and wholly devoted to proclaiming the Good News, asked God every day in prayer, «Who are you, Lord, and who am I?»

Jesus answered him through the healings He performed, even through His servant.

In fact, the Sources inform us:

"A woman from Coccorano, who was unable to use any of her limbs except her tongue, was carried on a mat stretcher to the saint's tomb. After a brief pause, she rose up completely healed.

Another citizen of Gubbio also brought his young son in a basket to the tomb of the Saint. 

He was so deformed that his tibias were completely atrophied and folded over his femurs. 

He was completely healed" (FF 551).

And again: "A certain Albertino of Narni had completely lost his sight and his eyelids drooped down to his cheekbones. As soon as he made a vow to Blessed Francis, he was promptly healed" (FF 553).

Jesus lets the world know that he continues to heal through his faithful servants, because «you will do greater things than these», he reminds us.

To those who ask him if he is the One awaited by the people, he responds with the eloquence of events and, over time, says to anyone who asks questions:

«Go and report [...] the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed» (Lk 7:22).

And Francis, who once (before his conversion) believed in words but now that he has encountered the Living One, believes more in deeds and the concreteness of life, continues the work of the Master by announcing:

«Go and tell that...»

The Good News of the Kingdom makes its way, and through the prophets of all times, it never fails to instruct and convince.

The deeds are a «go and tell» so that all may have life and have it in abundance, beginning in Bethlehem.

Wednesday, 3rd wk. in Advent  (Lk 7:19-23)

Today's Gospel emphasises the authoritativeness of Jesus in responding to the arrogant pretension of the Pharisees who asked with what authority he did the works he performed, astounding them.

In Francis, this eloquent trait stems from his genuine holiness, rooted in humility and silencing all insubordination among the brothers and the common people.

The humility of the Minim in the Assisian community made one reflect and silence any hidden or overt pretensions.

In the Sources there are interesting passages in this regard:

"Since his conversion, Francis, with the help of the Lord, founded himself and his house, that is, the Order, as a wise architect, on solid rock, that is, on the highest humility and poverty of the Son of God, and called it the Order of Friars Minor. Above the highest humility. For this reason, in the early days, when the brothers began to multiply, he wanted them to live in lazarettos to serve lepers [...]" (FF 1658).

And again: "In order to preserve a greater humility, a few years after his conversion, in a Chapter celebrated at the Portiuncula, he resigned the office of prelate, saying in the presence of all the brothers present:

"From now on I am dead for you. But here is brother Pietro Cattanio, whom I and all of you will obey'" (FF 1661).

He once said to the Minister General:

"I want you to entrust the care of me to one of my companions. I will obey him as I obey you: for by the good example and virtue of obedience I want you to remain with me always, in life and in death".

And in the Rule of St Clare (1253):

"And just as at the beginning of her conversion, together with her sisters, she promised obedience to blessed Francis, so she promises to keep it inviolably to her successors" (Bull of Pope Innocent IV, 2752).

With what authority did Francis, in the footsteps of his Master, do these things!

«By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority?» (Mt 21:23)

Monday 3rd wk. in Advent  (Mt 21:23-27)

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells those present who John the Baptist is and how, in the Kingdom of God, the least is greater than him.

Sacred Scripture then reveals how Wisdom from above forms friends of God and prophets.

Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi, transformed by the power of the Spirit after his conversion, received the gift of prophecy and became, by Grace, «a prophet [...] and much more than a prophet» (Lk 7:26).

Perfect unity with God had transferred to him the characteristics of a true messenger, like John the Baptist.

Like the Precursor, in the period in which he lived and beyond, he prepared the way for the Lord, becoming the forerunner of a new and authentic way of living the Word, proclaimed with simplicity and boldness.

What Jesus said of John also applies to Francis:

«What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? [...] A man dressed in soft [garments]?» (Mt 11:7-8).

Francis, in the desert of this world, was not a creature in luxurious clothes, but the Herald of the Great King who cried out at the top of his voice against the clerical and civil squalor of his time.

His Abruzzese biographer, Celano, says:

"No one should be surprised if this prophet of our time was distinguished by such privileges: his intellect, free from the dense fog of earthly things and no longer subject to the temptations of the flesh, rose lightly to heavenly heights and immersed itself purely in the light.

Radiating in this way with the splendour of eternal light, he drew from the uncreated Word what echoed in words.

Oh, how different we are today, we who, enveloped in darkness, are ignorant even of the necessary things!” (FF 640).

And the Sources continue:

“No one was as greedy for gold as he was for poverty, nor was anyone more concerned with guarding a treasure than he was with the gem of the Gospel.

He felt particularly offended if he saw anything contrary to poverty in the friars, either at home or outside.

And in fact, from the beginning of his religious life until his death, his only possessions were a single habit, a cincture and trousers: he had nothing else.

His poor appearance clearly indicated where he accumulated his riches.

For this reason, happy, confident, agile in running, he enjoyed having exchanged it for a good that was worth a hundred times the riches destined to perish" (FF 641).

The Saint had made his home in God, living with his brotherhood in a poor church, later restored by the friars: St. Mary of the Porziuncola.

And Clare of Assisi, in her Testament, recalls:

"Our most blessed father Francis, following in his footsteps, chose for himself and his friars this holy poverty of the Son of God, and never, as long as he lived, did he stray from it in any way, either in word or in life" (FF 2837).

Third Advent Sunday (year A)  (Mt 11:2-11)

The few lines of today's Gospel are dedicated to the new work of the unrecognised like Jesus, who prepare the ways of the Lord.

Undoubtedly Francis of Assisi, at that time, extendable to our days, brought a remarkable breath of evangelical novelty.

Jesus himself had asked him: Renew my Church which is in ruins!

With his simplicity and humility, united with Lady Poverty, he had revolutionised civil and religious life with the parameters of the Gospel, like Elijah redivivus.

We read in the Sources passages that emphasise this physiognomy and development:

"Like the morning star, appearing in the midst of the clouds, with the brightest rays of his life and doctrine he drew to the light those who lay in the shadow of death.

As a rainbow shining among the bright clouds, bearing within himself the sign of the covenant with the Lord, he proclaimed to men the Gospel of Peace and salvation.

An Angel of true Peace, he too, in imitation of the Precursor, was predestined by God to prepare the way in the desert of the highest poverty and to preach penance by example and word.

Precipitated at first by the gifts of heavenly Grace [...] he rose, then, by the merits of an ever victorious virtue; he was also filled with a prophetic spirit [...].

He was filled with the ardent love of the seraphim, until, having become similar to the angelic hierarchies, he was taken up to heaven by a chariot of fire.

It is thus rationally demonstrated that he was sent among us with the spirit and power of Elijah [...]" (FF 1021 - Major Legend).

«Certainly, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I say to you, Elijah has already come and they have not recognised him» (Mt 17:11-12)

Saturday 2nd wk. in Advent  (Mt 17:10-13)