In the Gospel of Luke, the Beatitudes are contrasted with the "Woe" that the Lord pronounces towards the full of this world.

We dwell on the Beatitudes.

Jesus proclaims in them the love of God for every man, especially for the poor, the object of his predilection.

Francis looked upon the Beatitudes as a portrait of Christ and followed them because he was in love with Him.

He had great veneration not only for the Virgin Mary but also for all the saints.

Indeed, among his writings is an antiphon recited every hour:

"Holy Virgin Mary, there is none like thee, born in the world, among women, daughter and handmaid of the Most High and Supreme King the heavenly Father, mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ, spouse of the Holy Spirit; pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel and with all the powers of heaven and with all the saints, to thy most holy beloved Son, Lord and Master. Glory be to the Father. As it was." (FF 281).

The Sources underline that "the saints and their memory were for him like burning coals of fire, which revived in him the deifying fire" (FF 1167).

In the Admonitions of Francis we read:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

There are many who persistently apply themselves to prayers and occupations, do many abstinences and corporal mortifications, but for a single word that seems an insult to their person, or for something that is taken away from them, scandalised, they quickly become irritated.

These are not poor in spirit, for he who is truly poor in spirit hates himself and loves those who strike them in the cheek" (FF 163).

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God".

"True peacemakers are those who in all the anxieties they endure in this world, for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, keep peace in soul and body" (FF 164).

But in the same Canticle of Brother Sun, when he was very ill, he added the famous verse of forgiveness:

"Be praised, my Lord/ for those who, out of love for you, forgive/ and sustain infirmity and tribulation./

Blessed are those who will stand in peace,/ and by you, Most High, be crowned" (FF 1593).

Nevertheless, Clare of Assisi, in her wonderful Blessing to the sisters, turns her gaze to the whole assembly of saints in heaven and on earth:

"I pray to our Lord Jesus Christ through his mercy and through the Intercession of his most holy Mother Mary, of the blessed Archangel Michael and all the holy Angels of God, [of our blessed Father Francis] and of all the saints and holy women of God, that the same heavenly Father may bestow upon you and confirm this most holy blessing in heaven and on earth: on earth, multiplying you, by his Grace and virtues, among his servants in his Church militant; in heaven, exalting and glorifying you in his Church triumphant among his saints and holy ones" (FF 2855).

Clear beauty of a communion lived in the round with the Blessed who still walk the earth and with those who wave their palms before the throne of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem.

"Blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Lk 6:20b).

Wednesday of the 23rd wk. in O.T. (Lk 6:20-26)

In this Gospel of Luke, Jesus spends the night in prayer, choosing, then, the Twelve - and healing the sick who flocked to Him.

Francis of Assisi, after his conversion, was no longer a man who prayed, but a creature made prayer.

By night and by day he always dialogued with God, entrusting the most important choices to his relationship with the Father. The Sources bear witness to his continuous praying:

"The devout man of God, according to his habit, spent the night praying to God, in a hovel situated in the garden of the canons, far away, with his body, from his children" (FF 1070).

In the footsteps of Christ he sought intimacy with the Father:

"And in complete annihilation of self, he dwelt for a long time as if hidden in the wounds of the Saviour.

That is why he sought solitary places in order to be able to throw his soul completely into God; however, when there was a need, he did not hesitate for a moment to take action to benefit souls and the lives of his brethren.

His safe haven was prayer, not a few minutes, or empty, or pretentious, but deeply devout, humble and prolonged as much as possible.

If he started it in the evening, he could hardly tear himself away from it in the morning.

He was always intent on prayer, when he walked and when he sat, when he ate and when he drank.

At night he went, alone, to the deserted and lost churches to pray; thus, by the grace of the Lord, he was able to triumph over many fears and spiritual anxieties" (FF 445).

"He went out to the mountain to pray and spent the night in prayer to God" (Lk 6:12).

Tuesday of the 23rd wk. in O.T. (Lk 6,12-19)

Today's Gospel highlights the hardness of heart of the Pharisees who were ready to accuse Jesus for healing a paralysed hand.

For them, observance comes before the person. And that is terrifying!

Francis, on the other hand, in the footsteps of Christ, put human health, both physical and inner, at the centre.

After his conversion, the Little One of Assisi lived always doing good, without letting himself be conditioned by the current mentality; and he taught his brothers to do the same, in the freedom of the sons of God.

In the Sources - specifically in the Regola non bollata (1221) - we find what he recommended to his brothers:

"And even if they are branded as hypocrites, nevertheless let them not cease to do good" (FF 8).

And again:

"Let us bear fruits worthy of penance. And let us love our neighbour as ourselves" (FF 189).

So Francis does not miss an opportunity to do good, he who, invested by Grace, was filled with gifts in the service of others.

In fact, the Lord, through the Poverello, worked many healings at all times:

"In Gubbio, a paralytic woman repeated the name of blessed Francis three times, and was immediately healed.

A certain Boniface, struck in the hands and feet by excruciating pains, cannot move or walk, and loses all sleep and appetite. One day a woman comes to him and advises and exhorts him to vow himself to the blessed Francis if he wants to be set free immediately.

The man, at first almost maddened by the spasms, refused, saying: 'I do not believe him to be a saint'.

Then yielding to the woman's insistence, he made a vow like this: 'I entrust myself to the intercession of Francis and I consider him a saint if, within three days, he will deliver me from my illness'. And he is immediately fulfilled, recovering the ability to walk, appetite and sleep and giving glory to Almighty God' (FF 559).

But the Saint, as mentioned above, was struck by the hardness of heart shown by some Romans when faced with the preaching of the Word.

In the Testimonies following the death of Francis we read:

"But the Roman people [...] covered him with contempt, to such an extent that they not only did not want to listen to him, but also deserted his sermons. And for many days they continued to mock his preaching. Then Francis rebuked them for the hardness of their hearts, saying:

"I greatly pity you for your misery, because not only do you hold me, the Lord's servant, in contempt, but in me you bring shame on that Redeemer whose good news I proclaim to you [...].

I will go and proclaim Christ to the brute animals and to the birds of the air; they will hear these words of salvation and obey God with all their hearts" (FF 2288).

"I ask you whether it is lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to cause it to perish?" (Lk 6:6-11).

* It was a fairly widespread devotional form in the Middle Ages, that of offering, as an ex-voto, to extract a grace, figures of wax, bread, metal, of the same weight or size as the supplicant.

Monday of the 23rd wk. in O.T. (Lk 6,6-11)

The evangelist Mark recounts the healing of a stuttering deaf man: Jesus calls him aside, puts his fingers in his ears and touches his tongue with saliva.

The witnesses of the Word of God, those who resemble Christ in life, are made capable of healing the sick of all kinds by Him. Francis had this charisma from God.

We read, in fact, in the Franciscan Sources:

In Città della Pieve there was a young beggar, deaf and mute from birth. His tongue was so short and thin that it seemed to be cut off at the root [...].

A certain Mark gave him hospitality for the love of God, and the young man, feeling that he loved him, made a habit of staying with him.

One evening during dinner, Mark said to his wife in the presence of the boy: 'If blessed Francis would restore this boy's hearing and speech, that would be a great miracle! Then he added: 'I vow to God that if Francis deigns to perform this miracle, I will keep this boy at my own expense all his life'.

A truly marvellous thing: at that very instant the boy's tongue swelled and he began to speak, saying: 'Glory to God and to St Francis, who have given me hearing and speech' (FS 1307).

The Lord does all things well!

He gives his prophets what they sensitively testify with their lives, turning them into splinters of Light for the path of multitudes of souls.

The Lord also makes use of his Friends for those who do not want to hear and obey the Word, bringing them back to listening and to works of humanisation.

In the Sources we find a significant episode, taken from the Second Life of Celano.

"Another friar did not want to obey the vicar of the Saint, but followed a confrere as his superior.

The Saint, who was present, admonished him by means of a third person, and he threw himself at the feet of the vicar and, leaving the master he had chosen, promised obedience to the one whom the Saint assigned to him as his superior.

Francis heaved a deep sigh, and turned to his companion, whom he had sent to warn him:

"I saw, brother," he said to him, "on the back of the disobedient friar a devil clasped around his neck.

Subdued and held in bridle by such a knight, after having shaken the bite of obedience, he let himself be led by his will and whim.

But when I prayed to the Lord for him, immediately the demon turned away in confusion'.

So penetrating was this man's gaze, that although he had weak eyes for material things, he had discerning ones for the spirit [...].

There is, I say, no other choice: either to carry a light burden, by which rather you yourself will be carried, or to be a slave to iniquity" (FS 620).

But Francis' charism exalted divine mercy by what he did in his unmistakable holiness.

In the Major Legend:

"In Maremma, in Latium, a woman who had been insane for five years had also become blind and deaf.

She tore her clothes with her teeth and threw herself into fire and water. At the height of all misfortunes, she also contracted the horrible malcaduco.

But God in his mercy disposed to come to his rescue.

One night, illuminated by God with the splendour of that saving light, she saw the blessed Francis, seated on a lofty throne.

She prostrated herself before him, humbly begging him to heal her; but he did not immediately comply with her prayers.

The woman then made a vow never to deny alms to anyone who asked her for love of God and the Saint as long as she had them.

Immediately the Saint accepted the pact: he, who had once made a similar one with the Lord and, blessing her with the sign of the cross, restored her perfect health. 

From the same infirmity Francis, the saint of God, freed through his goodness a young girl from Norcia, the son of a nobleman, and some others, as it appears from reliable sources" (FS 1310).

In Luke's Gospel, in c.6 Jesus introduces the discussion on the Sabbath of which He is Lord, at the service of life, more important than rules - and which in any case must not enslave the person, always at the centre of the work of salvation.

Francis of Assisi, the one who called himself simple and idiotic, had received authentic evangelical wisdom from on high.

He was not bound by commonplaces, he was a new man, free from tinsel and pre-established schemes, living only by the Word - declaring Jesus Lord.

In the Sources there is an episode that highlights this well:

"When Francis began to have brothers, he stayed with them at Rivotorto*.

Once, at midnight, while they were all resting [...] a friar suddenly cried out: I die! I die! All the others woke up stupefied and terrified.

Francis got up and said: "Arise, brothers, and light a lamp". Having lighted the lamp, the saint questioned:

"Who cried out: I die?" He answered: "It is I". Francis resumed:

"What is the matter with you brother? What are you dying of?" And he: "I am dying of hunger".

Francis, being a man full of goodness and kindness, immediately had the table prepared.

And so that the brother would not be ashamed to eat alone, they all sat down to eat with him [...].

After the meal Francis spoke:

'Just as we must refrain from excessive eating, harmful to body and soul, so, and even more, from excessive abstinence, since the Lord prefers mercy to sacrifice'" (FF 1545).

The Lord of the soul rules over all things!

And the Poverello understood this well.

"The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (Lk 6:5)

*Rivotorto: locality in the plain of Assisi, about three kilometres from the Portiuncula.

Saturday of the 22nd wk. in O.T. (Lk 6,1-5)

The text of Luke presents Jesus responding to the scribes and Pharisees about fasting. Now the Bridegroom is with them and they will not fast, when he is taken from them they will fast.

Logic that breaks down the legalistic mentality.

In the Sources we have various passages that highlight the Poor Man of Assisi's way of acting on this subject.

The Minim forbade excesses.

Francis knew well how to discern between the importance of fasting and exaggeration in practising it.

In his life, never did form take the place of substance. The Franciscan Sources illustrate the point:

"Francis reproached his brothers who were too hard on themselves and who were exhausted by vigils, fasts, prayers and corporal penances [...].

The man of God forbade such excesses, admonishing those brothers lovingly and calling them to common sense, healing their wounds with the medicine of wise instructions [...].

He spoke with them, identifying himself with their situation, not as a judge then, but as an understanding father with his children and as a compassionate doctor with his own sick.

He knew how to be sick with the sick, afflicted with the afflicted" (FF 1470).

All this while being "a new man, [who] with new virtues renewed the way of perfection that had disappeared from the world" (FF 3162).

As a mature and profoundly human person, he knew how to help his brothers, evaluating the different situations he had before him.

In the Legend of the Three Companions: "Nevertheless, when it was appropriate, he chastised those who committed offences" (FF 1470).

Francis had received, by Grace, the immeasurable gift of true discernment.

The Little One did not betray substance for form: he kept both in a sensible human and spiritual balance.

"But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast in those days" (Lk 5:35).

Friday of the 22nd wk. in O.T. (Lk 5:33-39)

After fishing all night without catching any fish, Peter threw himself at the knees of Jesus who made an incredibly fruitful catch, entrusting him and the other disciples with the mission of becoming fishers of souls for God.

In the Sources, Francis often exhorts his disciples not to be afraid of being considered unbalanced in order to proclaim the Gospel.

The Poverello, a man of God and rich in faith in the Lord, became by grace a 'fisher of men'. Indeed, many flocked to follow and listen to him.

The Franciscan documentation instructs:

"Francis, full of the grace of the Holy Spirit, to the six brothers [...] summoning them to himself from the forest that stretched near the Portiuncula, into which they often entered to pray [...].

He said:

"Beloved brothers, considering our vocation, God, in his mercy, has called us not only for our salvation, but also for that of many others.

Let us go therefore through the world, exhorting everyone, by example rather than by words, to do penance for their sins and to remember God's commandments'.

He continued:

"Do not be afraid of being thought insignificant or deranged, but proclaim penance with courage and simplicity.

Trust in the Lord, who has overcome the world! He speaks by His Spirit in you and through you, admonishing men and women to be converted to Him and to observe His precepts.

You will meet some faithful, meek and benevolent ones, who will receive you and your words with joy.

Many more, however, will be the unbelieving, proud, blasphemers, who will insult you and resist you and your proclamation.

Propose to yourselves [...] to bear everything with patience and humility" " (FF 1440).

"Do not be afraid; from now on you will be a 'fisher' of men" (Lk 5:10).

Thursday of the 22nd wk. in O.T. (Lk 5,1-11)

In today's passage, Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law and, at sunset, many sick and possessed people, continuing his journey to announce the Good News of the Kingdom.

The Poverello of Assisi, among the many gifts received from on high, had that of preferring the proclamation of the Gospel, so that all might enjoy the encounter with Christ the Saviour.

In fact we read in the Sources, in the Vita Prima of Celano:

"In the midst of the despondency into which the doctrine of the Gospel had fallen, not in particular but in general, the Providence of God sent this man into the world, so that, like the apostles, he might be a witness to the truth before all men.

And truly he showed clearly, by word and example, how foolish earthly wisdom was, and in short, under the guidance of Christ, he led men, through the foolishness of preaching, to authentic divine Wisdom.

Thanks to this close union with Christ, he performed many healings of those who had recourse to him.

In fact: "A woman, infirm for many years and completely immobilised in her bed, as soon as she had made a vow to God and to blessed Francis, rose again healed and able to attend to all her occupations.

In the city of Narni there lived a woman who for eight years had had a withered hand that was completely useless. One day the blessed Father appeared to her and, touching her ailing hand, made it fit for work like the other" (FF 558).

Thus the Lord worked wonders of all kinds through his servant Francis.

"To the other cities also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, for I was sent for this" (Lk 4:43).

Wednesday of the 22nd wk. in O.T. (Lk 4:38-44)

In today's Gospel Jesus arouses amazement in people by his authoritative word, healing in the synagogue a possessed man who was trying to "exorcise" the presence of the Lord.

In the Franciscan Sources we find that assiduous contemplation and purity of life had made Francis powerful over evil by grace, making him a credible witness to the Lord through numerous healings.

The Sources eloquently illuminate in this regard:

"People of all ages [...] ran to see and hear that new man.

He pilgrimaged through the various regions, fervently proclaiming the Gospel; and the Lord cooperated, confirming the Word with the miracles that accompanied it.

Indeed, in the name of the Lord, Francis, preacher of the truth, cast out demons, healed the sick" (FF 1212).

Once "I do not know how to qualify the horrible illness from which a brother suffered, some attributed it to the presence of an evil devil. The poor man would often throw himself to the ground and, squinting his eyes in a horrible way, he would foam all over his mouth; his limbs now contracted, now stretched out, now rigid, now bent and twisted [...] Saint Francis had immense compassion for him, went to him, blessed him, humbly praying to God, and the sick man obtained prompt and complete health and never suffered such an evil again" (FF 440).

"In Città di Castello, a woman was possessed by an evil and furious spirit: as soon as the Saint [...] had obediently ordered [him to come out of her], the demon fled full of indignation, leaving the poor obsessed woman free in body and soul" (FF 1219)

Francis had married the Light that gave no more room to evil.

"They were amazed at his teaching because his Word was with authority" (Lk 4:32).

Tuesday of the 22nd wk. in O.T. (Lk 4:31-37)