The Gospel of Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration emphasises how Jesus’ face «shone like the sun» whilst he was alone on the mountain, in the presence of Peter, James and John – and the conversation concerning his imminent departure with Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory.
The Poverello, too, experienced his own transfiguration in the course of his life.
Francis had learnt that the presence of the Holy Spirit is granted to those who call upon him with familiarity, all the more so when they find him far from the clamour of worldly people.
The Sources recount that ‘the man of God, remaining there all alone and at peace, filled the woods with groans, sprinkled the earth with tears, beat his breast and, as though he had found a more intimate sanctuary, conversed with his Lord […]
There, too, the friars who devoutly watched him heard him imploring divine goodness on behalf of sinners with cries and groans; they also heard him weeping aloud over the Lord’s Passion, as though he were seeing it before his very eyes.
There, whilst praying at night, he was seen with his hands outstretched in the shape of a cross, his whole body lifted from the ground and surrounded by a luminous cloud: an extraordinary light radiating from his body, which marvellously bore witness to the light shining within his Spirit.
There, moreover, as reliable evidence attests, the hidden mysteries of divine Wisdom were revealed to him; yet he did not disclose them to the outside world, except to the extent that the love of Christ compelled him and the good of his neighbour demanded it […]
When he returned from his prayers, which almost transformed him into another man, he took the greatest care to behave in the same way as others, so that the wind of applause—arising from what he allowed to be seen on the outside—might not deprive him of his inner reward” (FF 1180 – Major Legend).
Francis guarded his transformation into the «Alter Christus» with great discretion, almost as if living within the cloister of his own heart.
Indeed, the Sources themselves attest:
“From the very beginning, when the true love of Christ had already transformed the lover into his own image, he began to conceal and hide this Treasure with such caution that, for a long time, not even those closest to him discovered it.
But divine Providence did not allow it to remain hidden forever, nor for it to escape the notice of his loved ones […]
Once, one of his companions, seeing the stigmata on his feet, said to him: «What is this, good brother?».
«Mind your own business» - he replied” (FF 719 – Second Life of Celano) with the frankness and simplicity that characterised him.
«And his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light’ (Mt 17:2)
Transfiguration of the Lord (Mt 17:1–9)
