Jan 31, 2026 Written by 

Light that makes us see. Salt that gives flavour.

Jesus calls us to bear essential witness, to give our whole lives, to be salt and light for everyone.

Francis, in his journey of faith, sought to please God with a flavourful existence and a luminous life, irrigated by Grace.

Chiara herself, always united with her Spouse Jesus, was prophetically chosen to be what her name meant: light, brightness for the world.

Their witness shines forth in the Sources.

In Brother Elia's Letter, written immediately after Francis' death, the experience of the friars alongside their father and the fragrance of life they breathed is evident.

"Truly, the presence of our brother and father Francis was the true light, not only for us who were his companions in the same profession of life, but also for those who were far away.

He was, in fact, a light raised up by the true light, the one that illuminates those who were in darkness and sat in the shadow of death, to direct their steps on the path of peace.

This he did, like the true meridian light.

The light that came from above illuminated his heart and warmed his will with the fire of his love" (FF 307).

This is the experience of those who knew him closely.

But Clare herself, in the correspondence compiled for the wonderful dialogue with Agnes of Bohemia, offers passages that are the measure of her heart and her luminous life.

In the fourth letter we read:

«And since this vision of him is the splendour of eternal glory, the brightness of everlasting light and a spotless mirror, every day bring your soul, O Queen, bride of Jesus Christ, to this mirror and gaze continually at your face in it, so that you may adorn yourself entirely, inside and out, clothed and surrounded by variety, and be equally adorned with the flowers and garments of all virtues, as befits you, beloved daughter and bride of the supreme King» (FF 2902).

In Francis and Clare, purity had reached such levels that the whole machinery of the world, as St Bonaventure says, was placed at the service of the sanctified senses of these two splendid figures.

In their poor and simple existence, everything became a clear and profound testimony to the praise of God.

Clare of Assisi was, like her master and father, the incarnate splendour of the Holy Word. With her endless clarity, she was an echo of the Risen One, Light from Light.

Francis was salt that made the daily life of the poor and the rich savoury; salt that revolutionised his era and that still today, eight hundred years after his death, gives meaning to the life of every person, questioning them about what they seek and follow.

His madness - as it was considered in his day - proved to be evangelical wisdom.

His salt still attests to the validity of the path embraced in unity with Christ; his choice is the flavour of salt in a sometimes insipid world.

 

«Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven» (Mt 5:16)

 

 

5th Sunday in O.T.  A  (Mt 5:13-16)

366 Last modified on Saturday, 31 January 2026 05:11
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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Because of this unique understanding, Jesus can present himself as the One who revealsr 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)
In the rite of Baptism, the presentation of the candle lit from the large Paschal candle, a symbol of the Risen Christ, is a sign that helps us to understand what happens in the Sacrament. When our lives are enlightened by the mystery of Christ, we experience the joy of being liberated from all that threatens the full realization (Pope Benedict)
Nel rito del Battesimo, la consegna della candela, accesa al grande cero pasquale simbolo di Cristo Risorto, è un segno che aiuta a cogliere ciò che avviene nel Sacramento. Quando la nostra vita si lascia illuminare dal mistero di Cristo, sperimenta la gioia di essere liberata da tutto ciò che ne minaccia la piena realizzazione (Papa Benedetto)
Doing a good deed almost instinctively gives rise to the desire to be esteemed and admired for the good action, in other words to gain a reward. And on the one hand this closes us in on ourselves and on the other, it brings us out of ourselves because we live oriented to what others think of us or admire in us (Pope Benedict)
Quando si compie qualcosa di buono, quasi istintivamente nasce il desiderio di essere stimati e ammirati per la buona azione, di avere cioè una soddisfazione. E questo, da una parte rinchiude in se stessi, dall’altra porta fuori da se stessi, perché si vive proiettati verso quello che gli altri pensano di noi e ammirano in noi (Papa Benedetto)
Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble. Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation. A word of recognition and of gratitude is due to them all [Patris Corde, intr.]
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)

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