Francis had understood that the words of the Crucifix of San Damiano did not refer to the rebuilding of the small temple, but to the renewal of the Church in its members.
He had laid down the cloths of penance to assume the 'minoritic' garb, girding his hips with a rough rope and covering his head with the hood in use by the peasants of the time, walking barefoot.
He had begun his apostolic mission by marrying Our Lady Poverty to become, as Jesus suggested, a fisher of men, in faith.
The Sources, across the board, provide significant pictures of this becoming a 'fisherman' in the proclamation of the Word of salvation.
We read, in fact, in his address to the brothers:
"Dearest brothers, let us consider our vocation. God, in his mercy, has called us not only for our salvation, but also for that of many others.
Let us therefore go throughout 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. Have confidence in the Lord, who has overcome the world!
Francis had cast his nets into the sea of the society of the time to bring souls to God and this he taught his brothers to do.
They "walked all joyful, speaking among themselves the words of the Lord, saying nothing that did not serve the praise and glory of God and the profit of the soul.
They frequently abandoned themselves to prayer. The Lord took charge of preparing hospitality for them and saw to it that they were served what was necessary" (FF 1455).
Astonishment accompanied them, in their purity of spirit, for the souls they were leading to God - happy that the unloved Love, as Francis said, through the proclamation became better known.
The disciples who believed immediately experienced the fruitfulness of gestures made in unity with Christ.
With introspective capacity combined with Grace, Francis became a fruitful missionary, working wonders with the strength of the Risen One, casting the net on the right side.
The Sources narrate a significant episode that occurred at a hermitage near Rieti (Fonte Colombo).
Visited by the doctor for the cure of his eyes, Francis asked his companions to welcome him to lunch, preparing something good for him.
"Father," replied the guardian, "we tell you with blushes, we are ashamed to invite you, so poor are we at this time.
"Perhaps you want me to repeat it to you?" insisted the saint.
The doctor was present and intervened: "I, dearest brothers, will esteem your penury a delight".
The brothers hurriedly placed what was in the pantry on the table: a little bread, not much wine, and to make the meal more sumptuous, the kitchen sent some pulses.
But the table of the Lord meanwhile moves to take pity on the servants' table.
There is a knock at the door and they rush to open it: there is a woman carrying a basket full of beautiful bread, fish and shrimp pies, and on top plenty of honey and grapes.
At such a sight the poor diners sparkled with joy, and putting aside that misery for the next day, they ate of the delicious food.
The moved doctor exclaimed:
"Neither we seculars nor you friars really know the holiness of this man".
And they would certainly have been fully fed, but more than the food the miracle had satiated them.
Thus the loving eye of the Father never despises his own, rather he assists those most in need with more generous providence.
The poor man feeds at a richer table than that of the king, how much God surpasses man in generosity" (FF 629).
«Indeed amazement had seized him and all those with him in the catch of fish that they had caught» (Lk 5:9)
5th Sunday in O.T. (year C) (Lk 5,1-11)
