Jesus, in chapter sixteen of John, addressing his own, says to them:
"If you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my Name" (Jn 16:23).
Francis and his community were strongly convinced that prayer educates the soul to encounter God, makes one ask for right things, and enables one to grow in charity.
Asking God for Grace, for help, was for him a source of full joy.
The Sources offer us splendid passages in support of this, starting with the fact that the Poverello recommended prayer to all his brothers, constantly.
"Those brothers to whom the Lord has granted the grace of working, let them work faithfully and devotedly, so that, having banished idleness, the enemy of the soul, they do not extinguish the spirit of holy prayer and devotion, to which all other temporal things must serve" (FF 88-Regola non bollata).
In the same Letter to Brother Anthony, he emphasises that above the study and teaching of theology, the brother must be concerned to cherish the spirit of prayer and devotion, through which alone he can understand that "work" itself is grace.
"To Brother Anthony, my bishop, Brother Francis wishes health.
I am pleased that you teach sacred theology to the brothers, as long as in this occupation, you do not extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion, as it is written in the Rule' " (FF 251-252).
And again in the Major Legend we find:
"And the man of God, remaining all alone and in peace, filled the woods with groans, sprinkled the earth with tears, beat his breast, and, as if he had found a more intimate sanctuary, conversed with his Lord.
There he would respond to the Judge, there he would plead with the Father, there he would dialogue with the Friend.
There, too, by the brothers who piously observed him, he was heard to appeal with cries and groans to the divine Goodness on behalf of sinners; weeping, even aloud, the passion of the Lord, as if he had it before his eyes [...]" (FF 1180).
Again:
"Prayer was also his defence, when he gave himself to action, since, through insistence in prayer, he shunned, in all his actions, trusting in his own abilities, he put all trust in divine goodness, casting his anxiety on the Lord.
Above all else," he asserted firmly, "the religious must desire the grace of prayer, and he urged his brothers in every possible way to practise it zealously, convinced that no one makes progress in the service of God without it" (FF 1176).
The Assisian Minim knew that whoever asks in the Name of Jesus obtains, and lives in joy and love.
Saturday 6th wk. of Easter (Jn 16:23b-28)
