Jesus emphasised not to be afraid of martyrdom, of those who kill the body but do not have the power to kill the soul (Mt 10:28), because the disciple is not greater than the Master.
Ignited by the charity that drives away all fear, Francis wished to offer himself to the Lord in the fire of martyrdom to reciprocate the Christ who dies for us, and to provoke the brothers to the love of God.
In the "Sacrum Commercium" [document contained in the Franciscan Sources] we read:
"But the perfection of all virtues, that is, Our Lady Persecution, to whom, as to me, God has entrusted the kingdom of heaven, was with me in every circumstance, faithful helper, strong co-operator, wise counsellor, and if at times she saw someone grow tepid in charity, forget even for a little while heavenly things, become attached in any way to earthly goods, she would immediately raise her voice, shake the army, cover the faces of my children with shame so that they would seek the name of the Lord" (FF 1994).
Clare of Assisi herself, meditating on the penury and danger of the Holy Family of Nazareth, shed hot tears in continuous prayer.
In the Rule, addressed to her daughters, she says:
"Have the Spirit of the Lord and his Holy operation [...] and love those who persecute us [...] for the Lord says: Blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those who persevere to the end will be saved' (FF 2811).
And Francis, in his Testament, writes to his brothers thus:
"Wherever they are not accepted, let them flee to another land to do penance with the blessing of God" (FF 123).
Francis himself, who went to the Sultan of Egypt Melek-el-Kamel to bring the proclamation of Christ, was persecuted:
"Before he reached the Sultan, his assassins seized him, insulted him, lashed him, and he feared nothing: neither threats, nor torture, nor death; and although invested with the brutal hatred of many, he was received by the Sultan with great honour!" (FF 422).
And to his brothers he taught that boldness in faith that makes one intrepid in adverse situations, because Providence accompanies the innocent who are beaten for Christ, for his Gospel.
The teachings of the Poverello were kept in mind by his own.
In fact, in the second Life, Celano tells of a young friar who had assimilated well his father's teaching on fidelity to the Rule.
"A lay brother, who in our opinion is to be venerated in the number of martyrs, remembered this teaching and achieved the palm of a glorious victory.
While he was being dragged to martyrdom by the Saracens, he knelt down and, holding the Rule with the extremity of his hands, said to his companion:
"Dearest brother, I accuse myself before the Divine Majesty and before you of all the faults I have committed against this holy Rule".
After the brief confession, he held the sword and thus ended his life with martyrdom. Later he made himself famous with miracles and wonders.
He had entered the Order so young that he could hardly bear the fasting prescribed by the Rule. Yet so young he wore the cilice on his bare flesh!
Happy young man, who began in a holy way, to end his life even more happily!" (FF 798).
Saturday of the 14th wk. in O.T. (Mt 10,24-33)
