On this Ash Wednesday, the liturgy brings to our reflection three cornerstones of the Lenten season that is beginning.
The focus is on discreet charity, on prayer in hiddenness, on fasting from sin combined with bodily fasting, attested by a joyful countenance.
The Poor Man of Assisi, after his initial conversion, never ceased meditating on Jesus' forty days in the desert, before his public life, and constantly thought of the Passover of the Lamb sacrificed for our redemption.
Francis lived his entire existence according to a penitential style, never allowing form to dominate over substance; implementing the Word in a wise human and spiritual balance, synonymous with inner stature.
He was hard on himself, but tender and compassionate with the brothers who exceeded in debilitating fasts.
In the Sources we read:
"Francis reproached his brothers who were too hard on themselves, and who reached exhaustion by dint of vigils, fasts, prayers and corporal penances.
Some in fact, in order to repress the ardour of their senses, inflicted torments on themselves so cruel that they seemed to be driven by suicide.
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" (FF 1470).
He continually brought Christ's Passion to mind and called for mortification.
"If he was at table with people of the world and they offered him food to his taste, he would barely taste it, making some excuse so that they would not notice that he was depriving himself of it out of penance.
And eating with the brothers, he often put ashes on the food, saying, to disguise his abstinence: 'Sister ashes is chaste!
But also, out of love for the brothers, he knew how to make himself one with their needs and weaknesses.
"Although, then, with all his strength he encouraged the brothers to an austere life, he did not like that intransigent severity that does not cover the heart of piety and is not seasoned with the salt of discretion.
One friar, due to excessive fasting, could not sleep at all one night, tormented as he was by hunger. Realising the pitiful shepherd that his sheep was in danger, he called the friar over, put some bread in front of him and, to prevent him from blushing, he began to eat first, while gently inviting the other to eat" (FF 1095).
So the brother banished his shame and contentedly took food.
Francis' vigilance and condescension had prevented the friar's body from being harmed, giving him cause for great edification.
In the morning, explaining the incident to his sons, he said to them:
"To you brothers, let not food but charity be an example" (FF 1095).
The Minim was animated by a strong contemplative sense.
Celano, in the Second Life, informs us:
"He was not so much a praying man as he himself was transformed into living prayer" (FF 681).
He was always looking for secluded spaces where he could be united with Christ.
"And if he suddenly felt visited by the Lord, so as not to be without a cell, he made himself a small one with his cloak.
And if at times he was without it, he would cover his face with his sleeve, so as not to reveal the hidden manna" (FF 681).
«When you pray, enter into your chamber, and shut your door [Is 26:20; 2 Kings 4:33] pray to your Father, who [is] in secret» (Mt 6:6)
That conversion, which began for the Poverello when he stopped worshipping himself (as the Sources say), lasted for the whole of his life, fading in the three directions described and suggested by the Gospel.
"But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret, and your Father who looks in secret will [render] it to you" (Mt 6:3-4)
Ash Wednesday (Mt 6:1-6.16-18)
