Mar 11, 2025 Written by 

Welcomed Clare

Today's Gospel tells of the announcement made by the angel to Joseph, inviting him to take Mary with him, since the child begotten in her was the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Joseph's marvellous obedience recalls that before the Crucifix at San Damiano by Francis, and invites the latter to accept a new call.

Consulting the Franciscan Sources we read:

"As he was passing near the church of San Damiano, he was inspired to enter it. He went there, and began to pray fervently before the image of the Crucifix, who spoke to him with moving goodness:

"Francis, do you not see that my house is falling down? Go, then, and restore it". Trembling and astonished, the young man replied:

"I will do it gladly, Lord".

But he had misunderstood: he thought it was about that church which, because of its antiquity, threatened imminent ruin. At those words of Christ he became immensely happy and radiant; he felt in his soul that it was really the Crucified One who had given him the message.

As he came out of the church, he found the priest sitting there beside him, and putting his hand in his purse, he offered him money, saying:

"Sir, I beg you to buy oil to make a lamp burn before that Crucifix.

When this money is finished, I will bring you more, according to need'" (FF1411).

"Following this vision, his heart yearned, as if wounded, at the memory of the passion of the Lord [...]" (FF1412).

Aware of his calling, Francis awoke from the vision he had and, shortly after his conversion, welcomed Clare of Assisi, his seedling and faithful disciple, to the Portiuncula:

"Abandoning, therefore, home, city and relatives, he hastened to St Mary of the Portiuncula, where the friars, who were keeping vigil in prayer at the little altar of God, welcomed the virgin Clare with lighted torches.

There at once, having renounced the filth of Babylon, she delivered to the world the libel of repudiation; there, letting her hair fall by the hand of the friars, she laid aside for ever the variegated ornaments" (FF 3170).

Joseph, through his special calling, adhered to God's will and Francis, through the call of the Crucified One, understood what the Lord destined him for. Joseph welcomed Mary, the Mother of Jesus and

the new man of the plain of Assisi welcomed Clare, who became the Mother of the Second (Clarian) Franciscan Order. For this gift the Spirit of God used both of them, to bring it to light. Clare generated many virgins to Christ in San Damiano.

The Legend informs us:

"This is the famous church for the restoration of which Francis laboured with admirable zeal [...]" (FF 3175).

In this tiny place Clare shut herself away and:

"Placing her nest, like a silvery dove, in the hollow of this cliff, she generated a host of virgins of Christ, founded a holy monastery and began the Order of Poor Ladies" (FF 3176).

 

«Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, with you. For that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit» (Mt 1:20)

 

 

[St Joseph (Mt 1:16.18-21.24a)]

160 Last modified on Tuesday, 11 March 2025 04:46
Teresa Girolami

Teresa Girolami è laureata in Materie letterarie e Teologia. Ha pubblicato vari testi, fra cui: "Pellegrinaggio del cuore" (Ed. Piemme); "I Fiammiferi di Maria - La Madre di Dio in prosa e poesia"; "Tenerezza Scalza - Natura di donna"; co-autrice di "Dialogo e Solstizio".

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Knowing God, knowing Christ, always means loving him, becoming, in a sense, one with him by virtue of that knowledge and love. Our life becomes authentic and true life, and thus eternal life, when we know the One who is the source of all being and all life (Pope Benedict)
Conoscere Dio, conoscere Cristo significa sempre anche amarLo, diventare in qualche modo una cosa sola con Lui in virtù del conoscere e dell’amare. La nostra vita diventa quindi una vita autentica, vera e così anche eterna, se conosciamo Colui che è la fonte di ogni essere e di ogni vita (Papa Benedetto)
Christians are a priestly people for the world. Christians should make the living God visible to the world, they should bear witness to him and lead people towards him. When we speak of this task in which we share by virtue of our baptism, it is no reason to boast (Pope Benedict)
I cristiani sono popolo sacerdotale per il mondo. I cristiani dovrebbero rendere visibile al mondo il Dio vivente, testimoniarLo e condurre a Lui. Quando parliamo di questo nostro comune incarico, in quanto siamo battezzati, ciò non è una ragione per farne un vanto (Papa Benedetto)
Because of this unique understanding, Jesus can present himself as the One who reveals the Father with a knowledge that is the fruit of an intimate and mysterious reciprocity (John Paul II)
In forza di questa singolare intesa, Gesù può presentarsi come il rivelatore del Padre, con una conoscenza che è frutto di un'intima e misteriosa reciprocità (Giovanni Paolo II)
Yes, all the "miracles, wonders and signs" of Christ are in function of the revelation of him as Messiah, of him as the Son of God: of him who alone has the power to free man from sin and death. Of him who is truly the Savior of the world (John Paul II)
Sì, tutti i “miracoli, prodigi e segni” di Cristo sono in funzione della rivelazione di lui come Messia, di lui come Figlio di Dio: di lui che, solo, ha il potere di liberare l’uomo dal peccato e dalla morte. Di lui che veramente è il Salvatore del mondo (Giovanni Paolo II)
It is known that faith is man's response to the word of divine revelation. The miracle takes place in organic connection with this revealing word of God. It is a "sign" of his presence and of his work, a particularly intense sign (John Paul II)
È noto che la fede è una risposta dell’uomo alla parola della rivelazione divina. Il miracolo avviene in legame organico con questa parola di Dio rivelante. È un “segno” della sua presenza e del suo operare, un segno, si può dire, particolarmente intenso (Giovanni Paolo II)
That was not the only time the father ran. His joy would not be complete without the presence of his other son. He then sets out to find him and invites him to join in the festivities (cf. v. 28). But the older son appeared upset by the homecoming celebration. He found his father’s joy hard to take; he did not acknowledge the return of his brother: “that son of yours”, he calls him (v. 30). For him, his brother was still lost, because he had already lost him in his heart (Pope Francis)
Ma quello non è stato l’unico momento in cui il Padre si è messo a correre. La sua gioia sarebbe incompleta senza la presenza dell’altro figlio. Per questo esce anche incontro a lui per invitarlo a partecipare alla festa (cfr v. 28). Però, sembra proprio che al figlio maggiore non piacessero le feste di benvenuto; non riesce a sopportare la gioia del padre e non riconosce il ritorno di suo fratello: «quel tuo figlio», dice (v. 30). Per lui suo fratello continua ad essere perduto, perché lo aveva ormai perduto nel suo cuore (Papa Francesco)

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