Before the disciples arguing about who was the greatest among them, Jesus educates them by placing a child before their eyes. This is the measure of their greatness.
So: acceptance and littleness are the credentials for the Kingdom.
Small in stature, but truly endowed with that littleness that makes one a child at heart.
Francis was always concerned not to scandalise the little ones that Jesus speaks of in the Gospel.
The authority of the Sources informs us:
"Often thinking of the scandal given to the little ones, he felt an immense sadness, to the point of believing that he would have died of grief, if the divine goodness had not sustained him with its comfort" (FF 1139).
Francis himself described himself as "I, small and simple, inexperienced in speaking, have received the grace of prayer more than that of preaching [...].
In prayer we speak to God, we listen to him, and we remain in the midst of the angels" (FF 1204).
Again: "Nothing else did he possess, the Poor Man of Christ, but two pennies that he could bestow with liberal charity: his body and soul" (FF 1167).
And to his brothers he taught and recommended littleness in every happy or sad affair:
"Scarcity itself was for them abundance and superabundance, while, according to the advice of the Wise One, they took pleasure not in greatness, but in the smallest things" (FF 1075).
Oh what great love he had for the Angels!
The Franciscan Sources tell us that "to the angelic spirits, who burn with a marvellous fire, which inflames the souls of the elect and makes them penetrate into God, he was united by an unbreakable bond of love [...].
For blessed Michael the Archangel, since he has the task of presenting souls to God, he nurtured special devotion and love, dictated by his fervent zeal for the salvation of souls" (FF 1166).
«Beware of despising a single one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven ceaselessly see the face of the Father in heaven» (Mt 18:10)
Holy Guardian Angels, 2 October
