On the feast of St Bridget, patron saint of Europe, the liturgy offers us a passage from the Johannine Gospel.
In it Jesus reminds us that He is the true vine and His Father the farmer. Only those who remain united to Jesus will bear much fruit.
Francis, ever since he had met the Lord, had been convinced that only by abiding in his love would he go far, together with his own.
In the Sources there is a passage that illustrates this.
"Francis, shepherd of the little flock, inspired by divine Grace, led his twelve friars to St Mary of the Portiuncula, because he wanted the Order of Minors to grow and develop, under the protection of the Mother of God, there where, by her merits, it had begun.
There, moreover, he became a herald of the Gospel. He began to travel through towns and villages and to proclaim the kingdom of God there, not relying on persuasive speeches of human wisdom, but on the demonstration of spirit and power.
To those who saw him, he looked like a man from another world: one who, his mind and face always turned to heaven, strove to draw all upwards.
From then on, the vineyard of Christ began to produce fragrant shoots of the good odour of the Lord, and abundant fruit with sweet flowers of grace and holiness" (FF 1072).
Francis strove to ensure that his fraternity would remain well united with Jesus, the true Vine, so that in Saint Mary of the Portiuncula the sap of the Spirit would permanently echo and the Trinity would dwell in them and among them.
She knew well that without God's help it would not be possible to do anything, not even to persevere in the call-mission she had received.
Throughout her life, she strove to ensure that the extended vineyard of the Friars Minor would bear fruitful fruit for God and never stray from the Gospel, Divine Custody.
Clare also was a prudent Mother, consummate so that her daughters and sisters would commit themselves to remain in the Word of God and in communion.
The austerity of life embraced was tempered by the deep love with which they were both tenaciously attached to the Vine of Christ.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).
St Bridget of Sweden (Jn 15:1-8)
