The Gospel for the Solemnity of Pentecost highlights, through Jesus, the sending of the Holy Spirit: “Having said this, he breathed on them and said to them, «Receive Holy Spirit»” (Jn 20:22).
Francis of Assisi lived and served under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, whom he regarded as the Minister General of the Order.
He was, in fact, frequently visited by Him, who guided him inwardly.
In Celano’s Second Life, we are given a very interesting passage:
“It would be wrong to omit mention of the spiritual edifice, far nobler than the material one, which the Father, after the restoration of the church*, raised up in that place under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to build up the heavenly city.
And one cannot believe that Christ spoke to him from the wood of the Cross in such a marvellous way as to instil fear and sorrow in those who hear of it, merely to repair a crumbling structure destined to perish.
But, as the Holy Spirit had once foretold, an Order of holy virgins was to arise there, destined to be transferred in due course, as a chosen assembly of living stones, to restore the heavenly house.
Truly, after the virgins of Christ began to gather in that place, coming from various parts of the world, and there professed the highest perfection, observing the utmost poverty, in the splendour of every virtue, the Father gradually withdrew his physical presence from them. Yet he intensified his care for them, loving them even more in the Holy Spirit.
Indeed, when the Father, from the numerous proofs of the highest perfection they had given, saw that they were ready to endure for Christ every earthly hardship and every sacrifice […] he firmly promised them and the others […] that he would give his help and counsel, and that of his friars, in perpetuity.
As long as he lived, he always scrupulously kept these promises and, as he neared death, he earnestly commanded that they should always be continued: for, he said, ‘one and the same Spirit has brought the friars and those poor women out of this evil world’ (FF 793).
A continuous Pentecost, an outpouring of the Spirit that went beyond the walls and spread everywhere, always rained down upon the Order, especially throughout the lives of Francis and Clare.
In the ‘Form of Life’ written by Francis for the Damianite sisters (preserved in Clare’s Rule itself) we read:
«Since, by divine inspiration, you have made yourselves daughters and handmaids of the Most High King, the heavenly Father, and have betrothed yourselves to the Holy Spirit, choosing to live according to the perfection of the Holy Gospel, I wish and promise, on my own behalf and on behalf of my brothers, to have special care and concern for you, as for them» (FF 139).
Francis and Clare and their communities lived by contemplating and welcoming the Breath of the Spirit, their Master and Friend.
* This refers to the church of Saint Damian.
Pentecost Sunday A (Jn 20:19–23)
