The Poor Man of Assisi, had understood by divine revelation that true wealth is the Poverty embraced by the Son of God, who became Poor for us, so that we might become rich in Him.
Indeed, the Giver of all good wanted Francis to grow in the riches of simplicity through love of the highest poverty.
We find in the Sources:
"The Saint, noticing how poverty, which had been the intimate friend of the Son of God, was now being repudiated by almost the whole world, wanted to make her his bride, loving her with eternal love, and for her he not only left his father and mother but generously distributed all he could have.
No one was so greedy for gold, as Francis was for poverty; no one was more eager for treasures, than Francis was for this gospel pearl.
Nothing offended his eye more than this: to see something in the brothers that was not entirely in harmony with poverty.
As for him, from the beginning of his religious life until his death, he had these riches: a cassock, a cord and pants, and of this he was content" (FF 1117).
"He often recalled to mind, weeping, the poverty of Jesus Christ and of his Mother, and affirmed that this is the queen of virtues, because one sees it shine so brightly, more than all the others, in the King of kings and in the Queen his Mother (FF 1118). "He taught, having learned it by revelation, that the first step in holy religion consists in fulfilling that word of the Gospel: If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give it to the poor" (FF 1121).
«If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me» (Mt 19:21).
Monday, 20th wk. in O.T. (Mt 19:16-22)
