Matthew portrays Jesus healing a leper, exhorting him not to tell anyone and to go to the priest with the prescribed offering.

Francis "the Minim" poured out on everyone the Gratuity received from Christ. A man of indomitable faith, he also embraced those who were excluded, going far beyond any judgement or stereotypical mentality.

In the Sources, the episode that makes him the guardian of the marginalised is of extraordinary beauty and special humanity.

We read:

"One day, while riding his horse across the plain at the foot of Assisi, he came across a leper.

That unexpected encounter filled him with horror.

But, thinking and reflecting that, if he wished to become a knight of Christ, he must first overcome himself, he dismounted from his horse and ran to embrace the leper and, as the latter extended his hand as if to receive alms, he handed him some money and kissed him.

Immediately he got back on his horse; but no matter how much he turned to look on all sides, and although the countryside stretched open all around, he could no longer see the leper in any way.

Therefore, filled with wonder and joy, he began devoutly to sing the praises of the Lord" (FF 1034).

"From then on he clothed himself in the spirit of poverty, an intimate feeling of humility and deep piety.

Whereas before he abhorred not only the company of lepers, but even seeing them from a distance, now, because of the crucified Christ who, according to the words of the prophet, took on the despicable appearance of a leper, he served them with humility and kindness [...].

He often visited the homes of lepers; he gave them alms generously and with great compassion and affection kissed their hands and faces" (FF 1036).

"He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying: 'I want him: be cleansed! And immediately his leprosy was washed away'" (Mt 8:3).

Friday, 12th wk. in O.T. (Mt 8,1-4)

In the passage proposed by the Liturgy of the day, Jesus calls us to concretely do his will, to be like a dwelling founded on his Rock, resisting rain and wind.

Brother Francis loved doing God's will deeply, so much so that it was his true consolation.

He was happy when he saw even among his brothers full adherence to the divine will, or at least repentance, where some act was a little reluctant.

The Sources, clear informants of authentic experience, document this and offer material for careful reflection.

"And they, receiving with great joy and gladness the precept of holy obedience, prostrated themselves before the blessed father, who, embracing them with tenderness and devotion, said to each one:

"Put your trust in the Lord and He will take care of you".

This phrase he repeated every time he sent some brothers to perform obedience" (FF 367).

The Poor Man of Assisi, even in the face of a great accumulation of evils and trials, testified to his incomparable adherence to the divine will, like another Job.

We read with emotion:

"But no matter how agonising his sorrows were, he did not call them sufferings, but sisters.

[...] And though exhausted by long and severe infirmity, he threw himself on the ground, beating his bones weakened in the crude fall.

Then he kissed the earth, saying:

"I thank thee, Lord God, for all these pains of mine, and I beseech thee, O my Lord, to give me a hundred times more, if it pleases thee so.

I will be most content, if Thou dost afflict me and spare me no sorrow, for to fulfil Thy will is for me exceeding consolation'" (FF 1239).

And when the time came for his departure:

"Lying on the earth, after having laid down his sackcloth, he lifted his face to heaven, according to his habit, totally intent on that heavenly glory, while with his left hand he covered the wound on his right side, that it might not be seen.

And he said to the brothers: "I have done my part; may Christ teach you yours" (FF 1239).

Francis, the Little One of Assisi, drew good from his new heart. He had built his spiritual edifice on the Rock of Christ.

In fact, the Sources bring us an episode that testifies to this:

"After some months had passed, Francis was staying at the church of the Portiuncula, and was near the cell that rises after the house, along the street, when that friar returned to speak to him about the psalter.

Francis said to him: "Go, and do as your minister tells you.

At these words, he began to return the way he had come.

But the Saint, who remained on the road, began to reflect on what he had said, and suddenly cried out after him:

"Wait for me, brother, wait for me!".

He went up to him and said:

"Come back with me, brother, and show me the place where I told you to do, concerning the psalter, what the minister will tell you."

When they arrived at that place, Francis bowed down before the friar and getting down on his knees said:

"My fault, brother, my fault! Whoever wants to be a minor must have only the cassock, the rope and the breeches, as the Rule says, and in addition the shoes, for those who are constrained by obvious necessity or illness".

To all the brothers who came to consult him on the subject, he gave the same answer.

And he used to say: 'AS MUCH AS A MAN KNOWS, AS MUCH AS HE DOES; AND AS MUCH AS A RELIGIOUS MAN IS A GOOD PREDICATOR, AS MUCH AS HE HIMSELF ACTS.

"Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord!" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Mt 7:21).

Thursday of the 12th wk. in O.T. (Mt 7,21-29)

Today's Gospel passage highlights the spiritual intelligence of those who, like Francis, place at the service of the Kingdom all that The Most High has deposited in their bare existence.

He who has talents to invest in making the Gospel take root, will find them increased by the Lord's longsuffering.

Francis, who described himself as "simplex et idiot", after encountering Christ, changes his skin and everything he previously yearned for ends up detesting him - and everything he previously abhorred becomes sweetness of soul for him.

Walking through the Franciscan Sources, a chisel of events and of the Saint's deep and solid vocation, we read:

"Many, nobles and plebeians, clerics and laymen, docile to divine inspiration, came to the Saint, yearning to stand forever with him and under his guidance.

And to all he, as a rich spring of heavenly grace, bestows the life-giving waters that make the virtues blossom in the garden of the heart.

A truly glorious artist and teacher of the evangelical life: through his example, his Rule and his teaching, the Church of Christ is renewed in her faithful, men and women, and the threefold militia of the elect triumphs" (FF 384).

We also learn that 'he became a herald of the Gospel. He began, in fact, to travel through towns and villages and to proclaim the kingdom of God there, not relying on persuasive speeches of human wisdom, but on the demonstration of spirit and power [...].

Henceforth the vineyard of Christ began to produce fragrant shoots of the good odour of the Lord, and abundant fruit with sweet flowers of grace and holiness" (FF 1072).

The Poor Man of Assisi had made the gifts received bear fruit in order to reach as many souls as possible through the power of the Spirit of God and make known the salvific value of the Word made flesh.

St Clare too in her life was a fruitful tree, laden with good fruit, as Pope Alexander defined her in the Bull of canonisation 'Clara claris praeclara' (of 1255).

"This was the tall tree, stretching towards heaven, with expanded branches, which in the field of the Church produced sweet fruits of religion, and in whose pleasant and pleasant shade many followers flocked from all parts, and still flock to enjoy its fruits" (FF 3294).

These are the eloquent sign of a life truly given to God and the brethren.

"By their fruits you will recognise them [...] so every good tree bears good fruit, but the dead tree bears bad fruit" (Mt 7:16-17).

Wednesday of the 12th wk. in O.T. (Mt 7,15-20)

Jesus exhorts us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, committing ourselves to enter through the narrow door, which leads to the Kingdom.

These themes are recurrent in the Franciscan Sources.

After his conversion, the son of Peter Bernardone took great care to "strive to enter through the narrow gate" recommended by Jesus.

In fact, in what we call the "Writings of Francis" [mostly dictated to some friar who became his secretary] his firm adherence to the Gospel emerges clearly.

In the Regola non bollata (1221) we find, among the exhortations addressed to his brothers:

"And let them strive to enter through the narrow gate, for the Lord says: Narrow is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life; and there are few who find it" (FF 37).

And well aware of the evangelical requirement of humility and minority in order to enter the Kingdom of heaven, he responded to his own as to who should be considered a true friar minor:

"Take a dead body," he said, "and put it wherever you like. And you will see that if you move it, it will not object: if you drop it, it will not protest. If you put it on a chair, it will not look up, but down. If you put a purple robe on him, he will look doubly pale. This is the true obedient one: he who does not judge why they move him; he does not care where he is assigned; he does not insist on being transferred; elected to an office, he maintains his usual humility; the more he is honoured, the more he considers himself unworthy' (FF 1107).

And Clare was no less!

In her Testament left to the sisters we read:

"But because narrow is the way and the path, and narrow is the gate by which one sets out and enters into life, few are those who tread it and enter it; and if there are those who walk in it for a little while, very few persevere in it. Blessed, however, are those to whom it is granted to walk this way and persevere in it to the end" (FF 2850).

And in the Legend:

"From then on, she no longer refused any servile duties, to the point that, for the most part, it was she who poured water on her sisters' hands, stood to assist them while they sat, and served them at table while they ate" (FF 3180).

Yea, the last shall be first in the Kingdom of God!

And what we wish to be done to us is what we gratuitously have to do to others in order to enter the narrow way, thus living the Word.

In this regard, what Francis writes in his eloquent Admonitions is symptomatic.

In short: 'Do you want the door of the Kingdom to be opened for you? Love your sick brother and do not say in his absence what you would not say in his presence'.

This is as much as we would wish for ourselves and therefore also applies to our neighbour.

"Blessed is the servant who is so willing to love his brother when he is sick, and therefore cannot return his service to him, as he loves him when he is healthy, and can return it to him" (FF 174).

"Blessed is the servant who would so love and fear his brother when he is far from him, as if he were beside him, and would say nothing behind his back that with charity he could not say in his presence" (FF 175).

"Therefore, whatever you would have men do to you, so also do you to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate [...]" (Mt 7:12-13).

Tuesday of the 12th wk. in O.T. (Mt 7,6.12-14)

The Liturgy relating to the Birth of the Baptist examines a Lucan passage where the people's question, faced with this event, is:

"What then will become of this child?" (Lk 1:66).

Like the Baptist, Francis was also called John at the baptismal font.

We find clues of recall in his life so particularly prophetic and, between the folds of his meagre existence, we discover admirable vocational assonances with the Friend of the Bridegroom.

The Sources help us in this regard.

In them we read:

"The servant and friend of the Most High, Francis, was given this name by divine Providence, so that by his originality and novelty the fame of his mission might spread more easily throughout the world.

His mother had called him John, when he was reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, and from a son of wrath had become a son of grace*.

A mirror of righteousness, that woman presented in her conduct, as it were, a visible sign of his virtue.

In fact, she was made to share, as a privilege, a certain resemblance to the ancient Saint Elizabeth, both in terms of the name she bestowed on her son, and also in terms of her prophetic spirit.

When neighbours expressed their admiration for Francis' generosity of spirit and moral integrity, she would repeat, almost divinely inspired:

"What do you think he will become, this son of mine? Know that by his merits he will become a son of God.

[...] Therefore, the name of John corresponds to the mission he then carried out, that of Francis to his fame, which soon spread everywhere after his full conversion to God.

Above the feast of any other saint, he held that of John the Baptist to be most solemn, whose distinguished name had imprinted in his soul a sign of arcane power.

Among those born of women there arose none greater than this, and none more perfect than this among the founders of religious orders" (FF 583).

Francis put all his enthusiasm into understanding and realising the promptings of Grace: to announce the perfection of the Gospel, preaching penance to all, with simplicity.

And since for the Poverello the voice of the smallest, in the fraternity, had the same weight as the voice of the great, indeed it was privileged, in the Spirit, for that priority given to the smallest by the Gospel, the Lord took him at his word for that he made himself the least in everything and among everyone.

"Often the Lord manifests what is best to the least" (Reg. c. IV. 18).

In him was realised the admirable wisdom of the Gospel, namely that in heaven, despite the greatness of the Baptist, the smallest is greater than he!

* Francis was baptised in the church of Santa Maria del Vescovado. The baptistery was later moved to the cathedral of San Rufino, where it still stands today.

Nativity of St John the Baptist (Lk 1:57-66.80)

In this passage from the Gospel of Mark, the episode of the storm calmed by the Lord of history and glory is narrated.

Jesus commands the winds and says to the sea: "Shut up!" (Mk 4:39) and, faced with the fear of his own, he calls their Faith into question.

Francis, the Herald of the Gospel, a few years after his conversion, guided by the Spirit that pushes the sail of human existence, wished to die for Christ in the proclamation of the Word, overseas. His encounter with Jesus had made him courageous and tenacious, so much so that he exhorted his own brothers to abandon all fear, sailing through the storms of the world.

It is interesting to stop and meditate on a passage from the Sources that portrays Francis in the experience of headwinds.

"Six years after his conversion, inflamed by the desire for martyrdom, he decided to cross the sea and go to the parts of Syria to preach the Christian faith and penance to the Saracens and other infidels.

But the ship on which he had embarked, in order to reach that country, was forced by contrary winds to disembark in the parts of Schiavonia.

He remained there for some time; but then, unable to find a ship to go to the overseas countries, defrauded in his desire, he begged some sailors, bound for Ancona, to take him with them, for the love of God. He was flatly refused, because he did not have the necessary money.

Then the man of God, putting all his trust in the goodness of the Lord, secretly boarded the ship anyway, with his companion.

A fellow came along - certainly sent by God to help his poor fellow - bringing with him the necessary food.

He called one of the sailors, who had the fear of God, and spoke to him as follows: "Keep all this stuff for the poor brothers who are hiding on the ship: you will give it to them when they need it".

Except that, it happened that, because of the violence, the sailors could not disembark for many days and so consumed all the provisions.

All that was left was the food offered in alms, from above, to poor Francis.

It was very scarce, in truth; but the divine power multiplied it in such a way that it was enough to fully satisfy the needs of all, for all those stormy days, until they could reach the port of Ancona.

The sailors, seeing that they had escaped death many times through the merits of the servant of God, gave thanks to Almighty God, who always shows himself admirable and loving in his friends and servants.

With good reason, for they had experienced at first hand the dreadful dangers of the sea and had seen the admirable works of God in the deep waters" (FF 1170).

We read again of the Poverello:

"Having left the sea, he began to wander the earth, sowing there the seed of salvation and reaping an abundant harvest of good fruits" (FF 1171).

"Comforting himself in the Lord, he prayed confidently and repeated singing that word of the prophet: for even if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (FF 1172).

His faith in Christ made him overcome all fears, sleeping in the stern of unfortunate situations, knowing in Whom he had placed all hope.

The Spirit of God drove him forward, making him fearless.

The Sources still inform us:

"Thirteen years after his conversion, he set out for the regions of Syria, bravely facing many dangers, in order to be able to present himself before the Soldier of Babylon.

An implacable war was going on between the Christians and the Saracens: the two armies were camped very close together, facing each other, separated by a strip of land, which could not be crossed without danger of death.

The Soldan had issued a cruel edict: whoever carried the head of a Christian would receive the reward of a bisante of gold.

But Francis, the intrepid soldier of Christ, animated by the hope of soon realising his dream, decided to attempt the feat, not terrified by the fear of death, but, on the contrary, eager to face it.

Conforming himself to the Lord, he prayed confidently and repeated the words of the prophet in song:

'For even if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me' (FF 1172/Major Legend).

"Why are you fearful? Have you no faith yet?" (Mk 4:40).

12th Sunday in O.T. B (Mk 4,35-41)

Jesus, in today's Gospel, focuses on relying on Providence:

"Look at the birds of the air: for they neither sow nor reap in barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them" (Mt 6:26).

Francis and Clare of Assisi were truly the 'entrusted to Providence', precisely as an evangelical way of life, since faith had made them 'hands open to the blessings of the Lord' - without worrying about tomorrow, which would take care of itself.

In the Sources there are passages worthy of reflection in this regard.

In the Major Legend:

"When, as time went on, the brothers had become very numerous, the thoughtful pastor began to gather them together in the place of St Mary of the Portiuncula for the General Chapter, in which he could assign to each one of them a portion of obedience in the kingdom of the poor, according to the measure willed by God.

At the Portiuncula there was a shortage of everything; but, although at times a multitude of more than five thousand brothers would gather there, the help of the Divine Goodness was never lacking, who provided enough for all and granted to all health of body and superabundant joy of spirit" (FF1080).

And again, in the Perugine Legend:

"We who have lived with him have heard him say on several occasions that word from the Gospel: the foxes have their lair and the birds of the air their nest, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.

And he continued:

"The Lord, when he stood apart to pray and fasted forty days and forty nights, did not have a cell or a house prepared for him, but sheltered himself under the rocks of the mountain.

Thus, following the example of the Lord, he did not want to have either house or cell in this world, nor did he want them built for him.

On the contrary, if the recommendation escaped him:

"Prepare this cell for me like this", he did not want to dwell in it afterwards, in obedience to the Word of the Gospel: do not worry" (FF 1559).

Clare herself entrusted herself to Providence in need, praying.

"One day there was a complete lack of oil for the handmaids of Christ, to the point that there was none even for dressing the sick.

Donna Chiara took a vase and, master of humility, washed it herself with her own hands; then she set the empty vase aside for the begging brother to come and get it [...].

The devout brother hastens to succour such great indigence and runs to fetch the vase.

But it does not depend on the will of man nor on the efforts of the one who runs, but on God who uses mercy.

In fact, by God's intervention alone, that vase finds itself filled with oil: St Clare's prayer prevented, to the relief of the poor daughters, the friar's service.

Actually, that friar, believing he had been called for nothing, muttering to himself said:

"To mock me these women have called me! For behold, the vessel is full" (FF 3190 - Legend).

God always goes before with his mercy!

Trusting in God, the Saints of Assisi gained awareness of their call entrusted to the Lord.

Saturday of the 11th wk. in O.T. (Mt 6,24-34)

Jesus exhorts not to accumulate treasures on earth, soon to be consumed, but in God because they are eternal.

In the Sources, the theme of not accumulating is at home, since Francis, throughout his life, thought only of returning what he had received, starting with his father to whom he "returned" even his clothes, following 'naked' the path of poverty, his coveted wealth.

The Minim had his mind and heart turned to God and sought only the Kingdom of heaven, in simplicity and purity of heart. Testimony to this is given to us by one of several passages from the Franciscan Sources.

We read:

"These visits to the lepers increased his goodness. Leading one of his companions, whom he loved very much, to an out-of-the-way place, he told him that he had discovered a great and precious treasure.

He was overjoyed and willingly joined Francis when invited.

He would often lead him to a cave near Assisi; he would enter it alone, leaving his friend outside, impatient to get hold of the treasure [...].

Animated by an extraordinary new spirit, he prayed in secret to the Father [...].

He suffered unspeakable suffering and anguish in his heart, for he could not be serene until he had realised his vocation' (FF 1409).

On his way, in the middle of winter, in Celano, the Poverello gave a little old woman his cloak.

He said to her:

"Go, make yourself a dress, that you really need it" (FF 673).

And Clare, in her letters, writing to her spiritual daughter, Agnes of Bohemia, states:

"You who have preferred poverty to temporal riches, and have entrusted your treasures, rather than to earth, to heaven, where neither rust corrodes them, nor woodworm consumes them, nor thieves discover them or steal them, you will receive abundant reward in heaven [...]" (FF 2866).

The theme of wealth to be shared, of 'not withholding' and 'giving back' to God and to one's brothers and sisters, was very much felt by Francis of Assisi; one of the guiding motives of his journey of faith.

In the Sources we read:

"Once, while returning from Siena, he met a poor man. It happened that Francis, because of illness, was wearing a cloak over his clothes.

Looking with merciful eyes at the man's misery, he said to his companion:

"We must return the cloak to this poor man: for it is his. For we have received it on loan, until we should happen to find someone poorer than ourselves'.

The companion, however, considering the state in which the pitiful father found himself, opposed a clear refusal: he had no right to forget himself, in order to provide for another.

But the saint:

"I believe that the Great Elector will accuse me of theft, if I do not give what I wear to those most in need" " (FF 1143).

"Do not store up treasures on earth" (Mt 6:19).

Friday of the 11th wk. in O.T. (Mt 6,19-23)

Jesus invites his disciples to a prayer that is not long-winded, but lean, essential; as sons.

Although in different paradigms, Clare and Francis of Assisi were aware that in the depths of their being lurked a secret to be found in order to be reborn and healed.

To the point that, distancing himself from his earthly father, before the local bishop, the Poverello expressed himself thus:

"Hitherto I have called you, my Father on earth; from now on I can say with all confidence: OUR FATHER, WHO IS IN HEAVEN, because in Him I have placed all my Treasure and placed all my Trust and Hope" (FF 1043).

To his brothers who asked him to teach them how to pray, he replied:

"When you pray, say: Our Father, and [...] We adore you, O Christ, in all your churches throughout the world, and we bless you, because through your holy Cross you have redeemed the world" (FF 1068).

And in the paraphrase of the 'Our Father':

"Hallowed be thy Name: let the knowledge of Thee be made bright in us, that we may know the breadth of thy benefits, the extent of thy promises, the sublimity of thy majesty and the depth of thy judgments" (FF 268).

A prayer, therefore, attested by life, by the capacity for forgiveness, in Listening.

All in the cell of one's own body, Francis maintained - as the Perugina Legend reminds us:

"Wherever we are or move, we take our cell with us: brother body; the soul is the hermit who lives in it praying to God and meditating.

And if the soul does not live serenely and solitarily in its cell, it is of little use to the religious to have a cell erected by the hand of man" (FF 1636).

And in the Legend, Clare herself:

"How much strength and support she received in the furnace of ardent prayer [...] she brought back from the fire of the altar of the Lord burning words, such as to inflame the hearts of the sisters" (FF 3199).

A prayer not marked by the multiplication of words, but by an authentic and profound relationship with God, who knows everything.

"In praying, do not babble like the pagans, for they think they are heard because of their wordiness" (Mt 6:7).

Thursday of the 11th wk. in O.T. (Mt 6,7-15)