Nov 12, 2025 Written by 

Copious Tears

Jesus shed tears over Jerusalem for its ungrateful choice of power.

Francis too, a disciple of the Lord, in the footsteps of the Word made flesh, as soon as he had finished his errands (indeed he would cut them off in a flash, so as not to be distracted by the things of God!) would retire, like Jesus, all alone, to pray, even at night.

Thomas of Celano, one of his most eloquent biographers, in the Sources, speaks thus about Francis' relationship with Christ.

This intimate union strengthened his faith, making him capable of going to God even on the great waters of life, amidst the storms of the world.

"He spent all his time in holy recollection, in order to imprint wisdom in his heart; he feared to turn back if he did not always make progress.

And if at times there were urgent visits from seculars or other matters, he would cut them off rather than finish them, to take refuge again in contemplation" (FF 681).

"When, on the other hand, she prayed in the woods and in solitary places, she filled the woods with groans, bathed the earth with tears, beat her breast with her hand; and there, almost as if taking advantage of a more intimate and reserved place, she often dialogued aloud with her Lord" (FF 682).

But Clare too, a seedling of the Seraphic Father Francis, was nourished by assiduous prayer and solitary contemplation to understand God's will and abandon herself to a solid faith.

Witness what he wrote in his third letter to his spiritual daughter, Agnes of Bohemia. Words charged with authentic 'Christian relationship'.

"Place your eyes before the mirror of eternity, place your soul in the splendour of glory, place your heart in Him who is the figure of the divine substance, and be transformed entirely, through contemplation, into the image of the divinity of Him" (FF 2888).

The Poor of Assisi have made "being with God" the condition for not fearing the adversities encountered on their journey; walking, by Grace, on the "great waters".

Thus, thanks to their eloquent example, many souls abandoned the spirit of confrontation and overpowering, turning to a life of conciliation and fraternal Peace.

 

«Hadst thou known in this day also that which is for peace! But now it has been hidden from your eyes» (Lk 19:42)

 

 

Thursday, 33rd wk. in O.T.  (Lk 19:41-44)

43 Last modified on Wednesday, 12 November 2025 04:18
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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Jesus makes memory and remembers the whole history of the people, of his people. And he recalls the rejection of his people to the love of the Father (Pope Francis)
Gesù fa memoria e ricorda tutta la storia del popolo, del suo popolo. E ricorda il rifiuto del suo popolo all’amore del Padre (Papa Francesco)
Ecclesial life is made up of exclusive inclinations, and of tasks that may seem exceptional - or less relevant. What matters is not to be embittered by the titles of others, therefore not to play to the downside, nor to fear the more of the Love that risks (for afraid of making mistakes)
La vita ecclesiale è fatta di inclinazioni esclusive, e di incarichi che possono sembrare eccezionali - o meno rilevanti. Ciò che conta è non amareggiarsi dei titoli altrui, quindi non giocare al ribasso, né temere il di più dell’Amore che rischia (per paura di sbagliare).
Zacchaeus wishes to see Jesus, that is, understand if God is sensitive to his anxieties - but because of shame he hides (in the dense foliage). He wants to see, without being seen by those who judge him. Instead the Lord looks at him from below upwards; Not vice versa
Zaccheo desidera vedere Gesù, ossia capire se Dio è sensibile alle sue ansie - ma per vergogna si nasconde nel fitto fogliame. Vuole vedere, senza essere visto da chi lo giudica. Invece il Signore lo guarda dal basso in alto; non viceversa
The story of the healed blind man wants to help us look up, first planted on the ground due to a life of habit. Prodigy of the priesthood of Jesus
La vicenda del cieco risanato vuole aiutarci a sollevare lo sguardo, prima piantato a terra a causa di una vita abitudinaria. Prodigio del sacerdozio di Gesù.
Firstly, not to let oneself be fooled by false prophets nor to be paralyzed by fear. Secondly, to live this time of expectation as a time of witness and perseverance (Pope Francis)
Primo: non lasciarsi ingannare dai falsi messia e non lasciarsi paralizzare dalla paura. Secondo: vivere il tempo dell’attesa come tempo della testimonianza e della perseveranza (Papa Francesco)
O Signore, fa’ che la mia fede sia piena, senza riserve, e che essa penetri nel mio pensiero, nel mio modo di giudicare le cose divine e le cose umane (Papa Paolo VI)
O Lord, let my faith be full, without reservations, and let penetrate into my thought, in my way of judging divine things and human things (Pope Paul VI)
«Whoever tries to preserve his life will lose it; but he who loses will keep it alive» (Lk 17:33)
«Chi cercherà di conservare la sua vita, la perderà; ma chi perderà, la manterrà vivente» (Lc 17,33)
«And therefore, it is rightly stated that he [st Francis of Assisi] is symbolized in the figure of the angel who rises from the east and bears within him the seal of the living God» (FS 1022)
«E perciò, si afferma, a buon diritto, che egli [s. Francesco d’Assisi] viene simboleggiato nella figura dell’angelo che sale dall’oriente e porta in sé il sigillo del Dio vivo» (FF 1022)
This is where the challenge for your life lies! It is here that you can manifest your faith, your hope and your love! [John Paul II at the Tala Leprosarium, Manila]
È qui la sfida per la vostra vita! È qui che potete manifestare la vostra fede, la vostra speranza e il vostro amore! [Giovanni Paolo II al Lebbrosario di Tala, Manilla]
The more we do for others, the more we understand and can appropriate the words of Christ: “We are useless servants” (Lk 17:10). We recognize that we are not acting on the basis of any superiority or greater personal efficiency, but because the Lord has graciously enabled us to do so [Pope Benedict, Deus Caritas est n.35]

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