Jesus emphasises the importance of being faithful in small things, as a precursor to being faithful in important things.

For Francis of Assisi, faithfulness to his promises and to the Gospel of Christ was the meaning and reason for his life. He knew well that what men exalt is often not praised by the Most High.

After his conversion, the Poor Man of Assisi understood that Christ, out of loyalty to the Father's Plan, had given his life and that he too was called to do so together with his brothers.

In the Sources, a treasure trove of unique experiences, we find significant passages:

"He often repeated to the friars:

'No one should flatter themselves with unjust pride for those actions that even a sinner could perform. The sinner,' he explained, 'can fast, pray, weep, and mortify his body.

But there is one thing he cannot do: remain faithful to his Lord. This is precisely what we must glory in, if we give God the glory that is his due, if as faithful servants we attribute to him all the good he gives us.

Man's worst enemy is his flesh: it is completely incapable of reflecting on the past in order to repent, it knows nothing of how to protect itself. Its only concern is to take advantage of the present moment without scruples.

And what is worse, he added, it usurps and attributes to its own glory what has not been given to it, but to the soul. The flesh reaps praise from virtues, and applause from vigils and prayers, from the people. It leaves nothing to the soul and even seeks profit from tears" (FF 718).

And in her letters, Clare of Assisi, writing to her spiritual daughter, Ermentrude of Bruges:

"Faithfully return to God what you have promised with a vow, and He will give you your reward.

Lift up your eyes to heaven, O dearest, for it is an invitation to us, and take up the cross and follow Christ who goes before us" (FF 2195).

"Bring to completion the good you have begun and fulfil the mystery you have embraced in holy poverty and sincere humility" (FF 2916).

«Whoever [is] faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and [whoever] is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much» (Lk 16:10)

Saturday 31st wk. in Ordinary Time  (Lk 16:9-15)

In today's Gospel Jesus speaks to His own with the parable of the dishonest steward who shrewdly secures friends with the wealth of others in order to be welcomed by them into his uncertain future.

Francis of Assisi, in reality, is the one who was able to make friends in Heaven with dishonest wealth.

He did not love it, in fact he returned everything to his father, marrying Lady Poverty.

But his merit was that he knew how to make use of earthly goods in a wise, evangelical way.

The Franciscan Sources, a place of spiritual wealth, highlight this:

"Even on major feasts, when there was an opportunity, he used to go for alms. Because, he said, in the poor of God the word of the prophet is fulfilled: man has eaten the bread of Angels. The bread of the Angels is that which holy poverty gathers from door to door and which, asked for the love of God, for the love of God is given out, at the suggestion of the holy Angels" (FF 1129).

And in Clare's Rule we see how she speaks of poverty addressed to her sisters:

"Let this be your portion of inheritance, which introduces you into the land of the living. Adhering totally to it, never, beloved sisters, have anything else under heaven, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and his most holy Mother" (FF 2795).

They knew, in fact, that goods given to those in need constitute the cornerstone of following Jesus and his Holy Word.

«The sons of this age are more astute than the sons of light towards their own kind» (Lk 16:8b)

Friday, 31st wk. in O.T.  (Lk 16:1-8)

To those who murmured to Him, Jesus responds with the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin.

There are many passages in the Franciscan Sources that highlight Francis' compassion and joy for others.

In this Franciscan treasure chest, we read that "God, in fact, had infused in the soul of the young Francis a feeling of generous compassion, which, growing with him [...] had filled his heart with goodness; so much so that even then, not deaf to the Gospel, he proposed to give to anyone who asked him, especially if he asked for the love of God" (FF 1028).

(FF 1028) Again: "And because fear makes one understand the lesson, the hand of the Lord came upon him [...] struck his body with a long infirmity [...]".

When he had regained his physical strength, he procured, as was his custom, decent clothes.

Once he met a knight, noble but poor and badly dressed, and, pitying his misery with affectionate pity, he immediately undressed and made the other put on his clothes.

Thus, with a single gesture, he performed a twofold act of pity, for he hid the shame of a noble knight and relieved the misery of a poor man" (FF 1030).

«What man among you having a hundred sheep and having lost one of them does not abandon the ninety-nine in the wilderness and set out for the lost one until he has found it?» (Lk 15:4)

Thursday of the 31st wk. in O.T.  (Lk 15:1-10)

Jesus speaks in the Gospel of renouncing all possessions in order to become a true disciple of Him.

Francis, in order to follow in Christ's footsteps, renounced his wealthy position, all possessions, because he had found so much more: Christ, for Whom he espoused Lady Poverty, embraced by the very Son of God.

We find special references in the Sources.

"On the advice of the bishop of the city, a very pious man, who did not think it right to use ill-gotten money for sacred purposes, the man of God returned to his father the sum, which he wanted to spend on the restoration of the church.

And in front of many who had gathered there and were listening:

«From now on - he exclaimed - I will be able to say freely: Our Father, who art in heaven, not Father Peter Bernardone. Behold, I will not only give him back his money, but I will also give him back all his clothes. Thus, I will go naked to meet the Lord».

O noble soul of a man, to whom Christ alone suffices!

They then realised that the man of God, under his robes, wore the cilizium, joyful not so much to appear as to be virtuous" (FF 597).

Moreover, "he taught, having learned it by revelation, that the first step in holy religion is to realise that word of the Gospel: 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor'.

Therefore he only admitted to the Order those who had renounced property and kept absolutely nothing for themselves.

This is what she did, in homage to the Word of the Gospel; but also to avoid the scandal of private purses" (FF 1121).

Clare herself, of noble origins, had renounced all possessions and relatives in order to follow Christ in the footsteps of Francis.

Indeed, in her Testament she says:

"After the Most High Heavenly Father had deigned, by his mercy and grace, to enlighten my heart so that I might begin to do penance, following the example and teaching of our most blessed Father Francis, a short time after his conversion, I, together with the few sisters whom the Lord had given me a short time after my conversion, freely promised him obedience, in conformity with the inspiration that the Lord had communicated to us through his praiseworthy life and teaching" (FF 2831).

They considered everything rubbish before the sublime knowledge of Christ.

Wednesday 31st wk. in O.T.  (Lk 14:25-33)

Luke tells the parable of the great banquet, of those who, having been invited to a wedding, do not prove worthy of the opportunity they have received.

Hence the host's choice to welcome to dinner the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame found at the crossroads.

Significantly, we find in the Sources that Francis, in love with Our Lady Poverty, insistently invited her to take food with the brothers [cf. Sacrum Commercium Beati Francisci cum Domina Paupertate].

The Saint had well understood that the Queen of the table was the one who shone in a special way in the derelict, in those who were forced to the margins of society, but sensitive to the invitation.

We read in fact:

"Then they led her to the place where the table was prepared. As she arrived, she looked around and, seeing nothing but three or four loaves of barley bread and bran placed on the grass, she was seized with great admiration" (FF 2020).

Then "he commanded them all to be together and spoke words of life to them, saying:

"Be blessed, my children, by the Lord God who created the heavens and the earth, for you have welcomed me into your home with such fullness of charity, that today, being with you, it seemed to me that I was in the paradise of the Lord [...].

Here is what I have sought so much, now I contemplate it [...] because on earth I have united myself with men who are for me the faithful image of Him who is my spouse in heaven.

May the Lord bless your courage and praise the work of your hands" (FF 2024).

Called and elected [in the company of Our Lady Poverty] to follow in the footsteps of the Son of God.

Clare herself, in her Spiritual Testament, a true Franciscan pearl, addresses her present and future daughters, inviting them to guard the priceless treasure of election.

We read:

"Among the other benefits we have received and daily receive from our Donor, the Father of Mercies, for which we are greatly obliged to render to Him glorious living acts of grace, great is that of our vocation. And the greater and more perfect it is, the more we are obliged to him.

Therefore the Apostle admonishes: 'Know your vocation well'" (FF 2823).

Again:

"The Son of God became our Way; and this by word and example our blessed father Francis, a true lover and imitator of Him, showed and taught us" (FF 2824).

At this point Clare recalls when the Saint, under divine inspiration, prophesied about them. 

"Having climbed over the wall of the said church [...] he addressed some poor people who were standing nearby:

"Come and help me in this work of the monastery of St Damian, for soon women will come to inhabit it, and by the fame of the holiness of their lives glory will be rendered to our heavenly Father throughout his holy Church".

We can, therefore, admire in this fact the great goodness of God towards us: he has deigned, in his superabundant mercy and charity, to inspire such words to his Saint concerning our vocation and election" (FF 2827-2828).

«Go out early into the squares and alleys of the city and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame» (Lk 14:21b)

Tuesday 31st wk. in O.T.  (Lk 14:15-24)

esus exhorts the onlookers not to invite relatives and friends to lunch or dinner, but those who cannot reciprocate: the poor!

This is true beatitude!

The Poverello of Assisi insistently invited Our Lady Poverty to take food with the brothers [cf. Sacrum Commercium Beati Francisci cum Domina Paupertate]:

"Then they led her to the place where the table was prepared. As she arrived she looked around and, seeing nothing but three or four loaves of barley bread and bran placed on the grass, was seized with great admiration" (FF 2020).

Then "he commanded them all to be together and spoke words of life to them, saying:

"Be blessed, my sons, by the Lord God who created the heavens and the earth, because you have welcomed me into your home with such fullness of charity, that today, being with you, it seemed to me as if I were in the paradise of the Lord [...] This is what I have sought so much, now I contemplate it [...] because on earth I am united with men who are for me the faithful image of Him who is my spouse in heaven. May the Lord bless your courage and praise the work of your hands" (FF 2024).

Called and elected in the company of Our Lady Poverty to follow in the footsteps of the Son of God.

Clare herself, in her Spiritual Testament, a true Franciscan pearl, addresses her present and future daughters, inviting them to guard the priceless treasure of election. We read in it:

"Among the other benefits that we have received and every day receive from our Donor, the Father of Mercies, for which we are greatly obliged to render to Him glorious living deeds of grace, great is that of our vocation. And the greater and more perfect it is, the more we are obliged to him. Therefore the Apostle admonishes: 'Know your vocation well'" (FF 2823).

And again:

"The Son of God became our Way; and this by word and example our blessed father Francis, a true lover and imitator of Him, showed and taught us" (FF 2824).

At this point Clare recalls when the Saint, under divine inspiration, prophesied about them.

"Having climbed over the wall of the said church [...] and addressed some poor people who were standing near it: "Come and help me in this work of the monastery of San Damiano, because soon some women will come to live there, and by the fame of the holiness of their lives, glory will be rendered to our heavenly Father in all his holy Church".

We can, therefore, admire in this fact the great goodness of God towards us: he has deigned, in his superabundant mercy and charity, to inspire such words to his Saint concerning our vocation and election" (FF 2827-2828).

«But when you make a banquet, invite poor cripples who are lame and blind, and you will be blessed because they have nothing to spare» (Lk 14:13-14)

Monday 31st wk. in O.T.  (Lk 14,12-14)

Francis always had at heart the salvation of souls and what Jesus had done to give eternal life to all.

In the Sources we find what he says to his brothers:

"The Only-Begotten of God, Infinite Wisdom, for the salvation of souls came down from the bosom of the Father, renewed the world by his example, speaking to men the Word of salvation, and gave his blood as a price to redeem them, a washing to purify them, a drink to fortify them, absolutely nothing reserving for himself, but everything generously dispensing for our salvation" (FF 1204).

And Francis was used by the Lord to bring the dead back to life several times:

"In the village of Monte Marano, near Benevento, a woman particularly devoted to St Francis had died.

In the evening the clerics came for the funeral [...] when suddenly, in the sight of everyone, the woman got up on her bed and called one of the priests present [...] and said to him:

'Father, I want to confess: listen to my sin. When I died, I was to be thrown into a horrible prison because I had not confessed the sin I am about to tell you. But St Francis prayed for me, whom during my life I always served with devotion, and so I was granted to return now to the body, to confess that sin and merit eternal life. After I have confessed it I will hasten to the promised peace'.

Trembling, he confessed to the priest [...] and, having received absolution, he lay down in peace on his bed and fell asleep happily in the Lord' (FF 1263).

In the Fioretti, then, it is told of a friar, Giovanni della Verna, who celebrating Mass on the Day of the Dead saw many liberated souls ascend to heaven:

"In that Mass, divinely raising the body of Christ and offering it to God the Father and begging him that for love of his blessed Son Jesus Christ, who was hanging on the cross to buy back souls, it would please him to free [...] the souls of the dead created and bought back by him; immediately he saw almost infinite souls [...] ascending into heaven through the merits of Christ's passion, which is offered every day for the living and the dead in that most sacred host" (FF 1892).

«Now this is the will of Him who sent me: that whatever He has given me, I should not lose of it, but raise it up at the last day» (Jn 6:39)

Comm. of all the Faithful Departed  (Jn 6:37-40)

In the Beatitudes Jesus proclaims God's love for every man, especially for the poor, the object of his predilection.

Francis looked upon the Beatitudes as the portrait of Christ who lived them to the full and followed them as a lover of Him.

He had great veneration not only for the Virgin Mary, but also for all the saints.

In fact, among his writings there is an antiphon recited every hour:

"Holy Virgin Mary, there is none like thee, born in the world, among women, daughter and handmaid of the Most High and Supreme King the heavenly Father, mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ, spouse of the Holy Spirit; pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel and with all the powers of heaven and with all the saints, to thy most holy beloved Son, Lord and Master. Glory be to the Father. As it was." (FF 281).

The Sources underline that "the saints and their memory were for him like burning coals of fire, which revived in him the deifying fire" (FF 1167).

In the Admonitions of Francis:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

There are many who persistently apply themselves to prayers and occupations, do many abstinences and corporal mortifications, but for a single word that seems an insult to their person, or for something that is taken away from them, scandalised, they quickly become irritated.

These are not poor in spirit, for he who is truly poor in spirit hates himself and loves those who strike them in the cheek" (FF 163).

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

"True peacemakers are those who in all the hardships they endure in this world, for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, keep peace in soul and body" (FF 164).

And in the same Canticle of Brother Sun, when he was now very ill, he added the famous verse of forgiveness

"Be praised, my Lord/ for those who forgive for love of you/ and endure infirmity and tribulation./

Blessed are those who are in peace,/ for by you, Most High, they shall be crowned" (FF 1593).

Nevertheless, Clare of Assisi, in her wonderful Blessing to the sisters, turns her gaze to the whole assembly of saints in heaven and on earth:

"I pray to our Lord Jesus Christ through his mercy and through the Intercession of his most holy Mother Mary, of the blessed Archangel Michael and all the holy Angels of God, [of our blessed Father Francis] and of all the saints and holy women of God, that the same heavenly Father may bestow upon you and confirm this most holy blessing in heaven and on earth: on earth, multiplying you, by his Grace and virtues, among his servants in his Church militant; in heaven, exalting and glorifying you in his Church triumphant among his saints and holy ones" (FF 2855).

Clear beauty of a communion lived in the round with the saints who still walk on earth and with those who wave their palms before the throne of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem.

«Blessed are the poor [because of Love], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven» (Mt 5:3)

All the Saints  (Mt 5:1-12a)

Francis had his gaze fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of the law. His true joy was to live as Christ lived.

Therefore, he had no problem helping and healing those who were sick, regardless of what the world of right-thinking people considered right or wrong.

For the Little One of Assisi, night or day, at any time, the charity of healing had absolute priority. Imagine if he was intimidated by human rules!

Healing is always permissible, even on feast days.

Francis was truly free from oppressive laws that nailed the poor down.

As evidence of this, the Sources reveal the many healings that took place through God, through the charisms of his humble and simple servant.

"A young man from the same city (Narni), who had been ill for ten years, had become so swollen that any medicine was now useless. His mother made a vow to Blessed Francis, and he immediately regained full health.

Similarly, a dropsical man from Fano, whose body was terribly swollen, was completely healed through the merits of the glorious servant of God" (FF 558).

For Francis, the verbs 'to save' and 'to heal' were the essence of his actions, always.

Chiara, too, unbound by useless customs, performed healings through the sign of the cross by the grace of the Father of Mercy, as she often called him.

The Legend tells us:

"There were a large number of sisters in the monastery who were ill with various ailments. Chiara went to them, as she usually did, with her usual medicine and, having made the sign of the cross five times, instantly healed five sisters of their ailments.

From these facts, it is clear that the tree of the cross was planted in the Virgin's chest, which, while its fruit renews the soul internally, its leaves offer external medicine" (FF 3226).

«Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?»  (Lk 14:3)

Friday 30th wk. in Ordinary Time  (Lk 14:1-6)