Today, the Gospel of Matthew tells us about Jesus' family tree and how he was conceived: Mary, his mother, found herself pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

The announcement to Joseph, Mary's husband, stands out:

«Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife» (Mt 1:20).

Looking through the Franciscan Sources, we see how Francis of Assisi always nurtured an indescribable love for the Mother of Jesus and followed her example in every situation where her virtues shone forth.

The Sources inform us in this regard:

"He surrounded the Mother of Jesus with unspeakable love, because she had made the Lord of Majesty our brother.

In her honour, he sang special praises, raised prayers, and offered so much affection that human language cannot express" (FF 786).

In his letter to the faithful, he writes:

"The Most High Heavenly Father, through the holy Angel Gabriel, announced this Word of the Father, so worthy, so Holy and glorious, in the womb of the holy and glorious Virgin Mary, and from her womb he received the true flesh of our humanity and frailty" (FF 181).

But, in my opinion, Francis' sublime prayer to Mary [which sums up well what she was to him] is the famous "Salutation to the Blessed Virgin Mary".

It reads as follows:

«Hail Holy Lady, Holy Queen,

Holy Mother of God, Mary,

who art a virgin made Church

and chosen by the most holy Heavenly Father,

who consecrated you

together with his most holy beloved Son

and with the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete;

you in whom was and is all fullness of grace and every good thing.

Hail, his palace,

Hail, his tabernacle,

Hail, his handmaid,

Hail, his Mother» (FF 259).

In addition, we note that Francis saw in Clare ‘the imprint of the Mother of God’ and loved her for this reason.

In fact, he saw the constant presence of Mary in her life.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary  (Mt 1:1-16, 18-23)

The Liturgy focuses on the passage from Luke in which Jesus sets out the conditions for following Him in His call to mission for the Gospel.

«Anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple» (Lk 14:33).

Likewise, whoever does not take up his cross cannot be a disciple of Christ.

The Poor Man of Assisi gives us a wonderful example of this.

After knowing the will of the Lord through divine inspiration, Francis the Minor devoted himself body and soul to fulfilling the mission entrusted to him by God.

His task: to proclaim the Kingdom, to make the Good News known to the people - and in poverty, renouncing everything that was not indispensable.

The Sources are extraordinarily rich in this regard.

'One day, while listening to Mass, he heard the instructions given by Christ when he sent his disciples to preach [...] He understood these instructions better afterwards, when he asked the priest to explain the passage to him.

Then, radiant with joy, he exclaimed:

'This is exactly what I long to achieve with all my strength!'.

And fixing those directives in his memory, he committed himself to carrying them out joyfully [...]

He got rid of everything he owned that was superfluous...

He made himself a poor, coarse tunic and, instead of a leather belt, he tied his waist with a rope.

Inspired by God, he began to proclaim the perfection of the Gospel, preaching penance to all with simplicity.

His words were not frivolous [...] but filled with the virtue of the Holy Spirit, they penetrated the depths of people's consciences, touching his listeners deeply" (FF 1427).

"The man of God, Francis, animated by the Spirit of the prophets and following their language, as if echoing his precursor, proclaimed peace and preached salvation" (FF 1428).

“A growing number of people were attracted by the sincerity and truthfulness of Francis’ teaching and life.

Two years after his conversion, some men were inspired by his example to do penance and join him, renouncing everything, wearing the same habit and leading the same life" (FF 1429).

The first woman to follow Francis was Clare, who left her father's house and began to follow him in order to live the Gospel.

"Noble by birth, more noble by grace... named Clare, more clear in life, most clear in virtue" (FF 351).

Sunday 23rd in O.T. year C   (Lk 14:25-33)

In Luke's Gospel, in c.6 Jesus introduces the discussion on the Sabbath of which He is Lord, at the service of life, more important than rules - and which in any case must not enslave the person, always at the centre of the work of salvation.

Francis of Assisi, the one who called himself simple and idiotic, had received authentic evangelical wisdom from on high.

He was not bound by commonplaces, he was a new man, free from tinsel and pre-established schemes, living only by the Word - declaring Jesus Lord.

In the Sources there is an episode that highlights this well:

"When Francis began to have brothers, he stayed with them at Rivotorto*.

Once, at midnight, while they were all resting [...] a friar suddenly cried out: I die! I die! All the others woke up stupefied and terrified.

Francis got up and said: "Arise, brothers, and light a lamp". Having lighted the lamp, the saint questioned:

"Who cried out: I die?" He answered: "It is I". Francis resumed:

"What is the matter with you brother? What are you dying of?" And he: "I am dying of hunger".

Francis, being a man full of goodness and kindness, immediately had the table prepared.

And so that the brother would not be ashamed to eat alone, they all sat down to eat with him [...].

After the meal Francis spoke:

'Just as we must refrain from excessive eating, harmful to body and soul, so, and even more, from excessive abstinence, since the Lord prefers mercy to sacrifice'" (FF 1545).

The Lord of the soul rules over all things!

And the Poor Man understood this well.

«The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath» (Lk 6:5)

*Rivotorto: locality in the plain of Assisi, about three kilometres from the Portiuncula.

Saturday of the 22nd wk. in O.T.  (Lk 6,1-5)

The text of Luke presents Jesus responding to the scribes and Pharisees about fasting. Now the Bridegroom is with them and they will not fast, when he is taken from them they will fast.

Logic that breaks down the legalistic mentality.

In the Sources we have various passages that highlight the Poor Man of Assisi's way of acting on this subject.

The Minim forbade excesses.

Francis knew well how to discern between the importance of fasting and exaggeration in practising it.

In his life, never did form take the place of substance. The Franciscan Sources illustrate the point:

"Francis reproached his brothers who were too hard on themselves and who were exhausted by vigils, fasts, prayers and corporal penances [...].

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 [...].

He spoke with them, identifying himself with their situation, not as a judge then, but as an understanding father with his children and as a compassionate doctor with his own sick.

He knew how to be sick with the sick, afflicted with the afflicted" (FF 1470).

All this while being "a new man, [who] with new virtues renewed the way of perfection that had disappeared from the world" (FF 3162).

As a mature and profoundly human person, he knew how to help his brothers, evaluating the different situations he had before him.

In the Legend of the Three Companions: "Nevertheless, when it was appropriate, he chastised those who committed offences" (FF 1470).

Francis had received, by Grace, the immeasurable gift of true discernment.

The Little One did not betray substance for form: he kept both in a sensible human and spiritual balance.

«But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast in those days» (Lk 5:35)

Friday of the 22nd wk. in O.T.  (Lk 5:33-39)

After fishing all night without catching any fish, Peter threw himself at the knees of Jesus who made an incredibly fruitful catch, entrusting him and the other disciples with the mission of becoming fishers of souls for God.

In the Sources, Francis often exhorts his disciples not to be afraid of being considered unbalanced in order to proclaim the Gospel.

The Poverello, a man of God and rich in faith in the Lord, became by grace a 'fisher of men'. Indeed, many flocked to follow and listen to him.

The Franciscan documentation instructs:

"Francis, full of the grace of the Holy Spirit, to the six brothers [...] summoning them to himself from the forest that stretched near the Portiuncula, into which they often entered to pray [...].

He said:

"Beloved brothers, considering our vocation, God, in his mercy, has called us not only for our salvation, but also for that of many others.

Let us go therefore through 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.

Trust in the Lord, who has overcome the world! He speaks by His Spirit in you and through you, admonishing men and women to be converted to Him and to observe His precepts.

You will meet some faithful, meek and benevolent ones, who will receive you and your words with joy.

Many more, however, will be the unbelieving, proud, blasphemers, who will insult you and resist you and your proclamation.

Propose to yourselves [...] to bear everything with patience and humility" " (FF 1440).

«Do not be afraid; from now on you will be a 'fisher' of men» (Lk 5:10)

Thursday of the 22nd wk. in O.T.  (Lk 5,1-11)

In today's passage, Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law and, at sunset, many sick and possessed people, continuing his journey to announce the Good News of the Kingdom.

The Poverello of Assisi, among the many gifts received from on high, had that of preferring the proclamation of the Gospel, so that all might enjoy the encounter with Christ the Saviour.

In fact we read in the Sources, in the Vita Prima of Celano:

"In the midst of the despondency into which the doctrine of the Gospel had fallen, not in particular but in general, the Providence of God sent this man into the world, so that, like the apostles, he might be a witness to the truth before all men.

And truly he showed clearly, by word and example, how foolish earthly wisdom was, and in short, under the guidance of Christ, he led men, through the foolishness of preaching, to authentic divine Wisdom.

Thanks to this close union with Christ, he performed many healings of those who had recourse to him.

In fact: "A woman, infirm for many years and completely immobilised in her bed, as soon as she had made a vow to God and to blessed Francis, rose again healed and able to attend to all her occupations.

In the city of Narni there lived a woman who for eight years had had a withered hand that was completely useless. One day the blessed Father appeared to her and, touching her ailing hand, made it fit for work like the other" (FF 558).

Thus the Lord worked wonders of all kinds through his servant Francis.

«To the other cities also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, for I was sent for this»  (Lk 4:43)

Wednesday of the 22nd wk. in O.T.  (Lk 4:38-44)

In today's Gospel Jesus arouses amazement in people by his authoritative word, healing in the synagogue a possessed man who was trying to "exorcise" the presence of the Lord.

In the Franciscan Sources we find that assiduous contemplation and purity of life had made Francis powerful over evil by grace, making him a credible witness to the Lord through numerous healings.

The Sources eloquently illuminate in this regard:

"People of all ages [...] ran to see and hear that new man.

He pilgrimaged through the various regions, fervently proclaiming the Gospel; and the Lord cooperated, confirming the Word with the miracles that accompanied it.

Indeed, in the name of the Lord, Francis, preacher of the truth, cast out demons, healed the sick" (FF 1212).

Once "I do not know how to qualify the horrible illness from which a brother suffered, some attributed it to the presence of an evil devil. The poor man would often throw himself to the ground and, squinting his eyes in a horrible way, he would foam all over his mouth; his limbs now contracted, now stretched out, now rigid, now bent and twisted [...] Saint Francis had immense compassion for him, went to him, blessed him, humbly praying to God, and the sick man obtained prompt and complete health and never suffered such an evil again" (FF 440).

"In Città di Castello, a woman was possessed by an evil and furious spirit: as soon as the Saint [...] had obediently ordered [him to come out of her], the demon fled full of indignation, leaving the poor obsessed woman free in body and soul" (FF 1219)

Francis had married the Light that gave no more room to evil.

«They were amazed at his teaching because his Word was with authority» (Lk 4:32)

Tuesday of the 22nd wk. in O.T.  (Lk 4:31-37)

Jesus is in the synagogue in Nazareth. He proclaims from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah:

«The Spirit of the Lord upon me; therefore he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor [...]» (Lk 4:18).

After rewinding it, he affirms that, in that Today, the Scripture heard by the bystanders was fulfilled.

Francis, in the footsteps of Christ, invested by the power of the Spirit of God, followed the call that had been addressed to him by the Lord with courage, despite adversity.

In the Sources it is attested that "Francis, who never trusting in himself, in every decision sought inspiration from God in prayer, chose to live not for himself alone, but for Him who died for all, well aware that he had been sent by God to conquer souls" (FF 381).

Aware of his mandate to the poor, of having been called to proclaim the Good News, "he became a herald of the Gospel. He began, in fact, to travel through towns and villages and to proclaim the Kingdom of God there, relying not on persuasive speeches of human wisdom, but on the demonstration of spirit and power' (FF 1072).

He took care not to be disturbed, in his proclamation of the Gospel, by those who despised him:

"I will not be able to consider myself a true friar minor if I do not remain equally serene when they vilify me and ignominiously drive me away" (FF 1639).

The prophetic gaze bestowed on him from on high led him to look beyond appearances for the liberation of the oppressed.

Monday 22nd wk. in O.T.  (Lk 4,16-30)

In this Sunday's Gospel according to Luke, Jesus emphasises the wisdom of those who choose the last place and the relative dishonour, in perfect gratuitousness.

The sources clearly show the Poverello's aversion to appearing and choosing conditions of prominence.

Francis loved God's poverty and humility and sought to follow them in every way in his life.

He hated the pomp of the front seats and wanted to feed on humiliation, following in the footsteps of the Son of God, who taught this in his Gospel.

Just read what Francis says to his brothers in his Letter to the Entire Order to be amazed at how much he loved humility.

"Look, brothers, at the humility of God, and open your hearts to him; humble yourselves also, so that you may be exalted by him.

Hold nothing back, therefore, so that he who offers himself totally to you may receive you totally" (FF 221).

And again, in the Leggenda maggiore by St. Bonaventure:

"Francis, both in himself and in others, preferred humility to all honours, and therefore God, who loves the humble, judged him worthy of the highest glory, as was shown by the vision of a very virtuous and devout friar.

This friar, a travelling companion of the man of God, was praying with him one day in an abandoned church when he was raptured into ecstasy.

He saw many seats in heaven, and among them one more splendid and glorious than all the others, studded with precious stones.

Admiring the splendour of that eminent throne, he began to wonder anxiously who was destined to occupy it [...]

He heard a voice saying to him:

"This seat belonged to one of the rebellious angels and is now reserved for the humble Francis."

Returning to himself [...] the friar followed the Saint as he was leaving the church.

They resumed their walk, talking to each other about God [...] and then that friar [...] skilfully seized the opportunity to ask Francis what he thought of himself.

And the humble servant of Christ said to him:

'I feel I am the greatest sinner'.

'If Christ had treated the most wicked of men with the same mercy and goodness with which he treated me, I am sure that he would be much more grateful to God than I am'.

The friar had confirmation that his vision was true, knowing well that, according to the testimony of the Holy Gospel, the truly humble will be raised to that exalted glory from which the proud are rejected" (FF 1111).

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C  (Lk 14:1,7-14)