Today's Gospel presents us with the birth of John, the prophet of Christ, and the amazement of onlookers:

"What shall this child be? And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him" (Lk 1:66).

In the life of Francis, from his birth, a visible sign of God's predilection was manifested on him and his mother Mona Pica.

The Sources make this clear:

"In fact, she was made to share, as a privilege, a certain resemblance to the ancient Saint Elizabeth, both by the name imposed on her son and also by the 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'.

In fact, this was also the opinion of others, who appreciated Francis already grown up for some of his very good inclinations.

He shunned anything that might sound offensive to anyone and, growing up with a gentle spirit, he did not appear to be a son of those who were called his parents.

Therefore the name of John is appropriate 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. It is a coincidence worthy of note' (FF 583).

Feria proper of 23 December (Lk 1:57-66).

Francis of Assisi was so much in love with Mary, the Bride of the Holy Spirit and Mother of Jesus, that wherever he found himself he lifted up continual praises to her.

He carried her in his heart as the Blessed One among all women, for she had made our Brother the Lord of Majesty.

In Clare's face he always saw the reflection of her who had believed in the fulfilment of God's plan.

She always meditated on the extreme indigence of the Blessed Virgin and her Son, on how Mary had made herself one with the needs of her neighbour.

We read in the Sources what Francis said to his brothers:

"My dear brothers and sons, do not blush to go out to beg, for the Lord made himself poor for our sake in this world.

It is after the example of Him and His most holy Mother that we have chosen the way of true poverty: this is our inheritance, purchased and left by the Lord Jesus Christ to us and to all those who wish to live like Him in holy poverty" (FF 1547).

And again he reminded his brothers:

"When you see a poor person, brother, the mirror of the Lord and his poor Mother is placed before you" (FF 672).

He recalled that Mary, empty of herself, had left room for God's work in her:

"The Most High heavenly Father, through his angel Gabriel, announced this Word of the Father, so worthy [...] in the womb of the Holy and glorious Virgin Mary, and from her womb received the true flesh of our humanity and frailty" (FF 181).

Francis, God's jester, wherever he went, brought the joy of the proclamation of Christ, birthing it with holy works.

And the Legend of St Clare begins by reminding us:

"Let men therefore follow the new followers of the Incarnate Word: let women imitate Clare, the imprint of the Mother of God, the new guide of women" (FF 3153).

Clare, in fact, studied to go to the sisters bringing the joy of Christ who dwelt in her.

"The child leapt for joy" in the hearts of the sisters, who perceived their Mother as the beloved of the Most High.

4th Sunday in Advent (C)  (Lk 1:39-45)

Today's Gospel turns its gaze on Mary of Nazareth and gives us the principal expression of the Annunciation:

"Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God" (Lk 1:30).

Francis made himself a jester of God, but as he loved her, we might add: 'jester of the Blessed Virgin'. He saw in the divine favour poured out by God upon Mary the gift par excellence of the Giver of all good.

Clare herself, in her Spiritual Testament, addressed to her daughters, says:

"By means of these virtues, and not by our own merits, but by the sole mercy and Grace of the Giver, the Father of mercies himself, may they always pour out the perfume of their good name on those who are far off, as on those who are near" (FF 2846).

Thus highlighting how the enemy of Grace is detraction, which Mary never knew.

Grace was the travelling companion of Francis and Clare of Assisi.

We find wonderful expressions in this regard in the second letter addressed by Clare to Agnes of Prague. In various passages, they well recall the beauty of Mary of Nazareth:

"I give thanks to the Author of grace, from whom, as we believe, comes every supreme good and every perfect gift, because he has adorned you with so many recognitions of virtue and has illustrated you with the insignia of such high perfection that, having made you a diligent imitator of the Father, in whom is all perfection, you deserve to become perfect in your turn, so that his eyes find in you no sign of imperfection" (FF 2872).

Clare, 'àltera Maria', unwillingly conveys to Agnes in these few lines what she lives by Grace, offering the testimony of the Marian perfume of a handmaiden wide open to the Gift.

And Francis, on the other hand, on his path of conversion had so well understood the beneficial effects of Grace, that he put into action the same gratuitousness he received towards his brothers, especially towards those who showed the greatest need.

The Sources, in fact, narrate of a friar who in his heart pondered whether he could consider himself worthy of the Grace of heaven to those whom the Saint treated with familiarity.

Whereupon Francis, enlightened by the Spirit, addressed this friar saying:

"Let no thought disturb you, O son, for I hold you the dearest of all those who are particularly dear to me, and I gladly make you a gift of my familiarity and love".

The friar was amazed and, having become even more devout since then, not only did he grow in love towards the Saint, but by the work and Grace of the Holy Spirit he was enriched with ever greater gifts (FF 1196).

Feria proper of 20 December (Lk 1:26-38)

The Lucan passage considered in this feria of Advent is the announcement of the angel Gabriel to the priest Zechariah who was officiating in the temple: despite the advanced age of both spouses, they were to have a son named John.

But his lack of faith rendered him mute until the day of the fulfilment of that event, which also redeemed his wife Elizabeth from the infamy of the time for her barrenness.

As a new John, Francis was given to the world to announce salvation, to bring glad tidings to all.

His mother, Mona Pica, of marked interiority and openness to the new, immediately sensed that her son would be great before the Lord.

In the Franciscan Sources, his birth is presented as a new beginning of Christlikeness, spread through the folds of life.

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 by the name she bestowed on her son and also by 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 is appropriate 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 suggestions of the new Grace: to announce the perfection of the Gospel, preaching penance to all, with simplicity.

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

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

"And many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord" (Lk 1:14b-15a).

* 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.

Feria proper on 19 December (Lk 1:5-25)

The birth of Jesus narrated in Matthew's Gospel highlights not only Isaiah's prophecy but also Joseph's obedience to God's plan.

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife with you [...]" (Mt 1:20).

As the little work in the Sources tells us: "Sacrum Commercium", Francis, a righteous and fearful man, married Our Lady Poverty, with a mutual exchange of gifts and promises, with a commitment of love and fidelity summed up by one word: "Covenant".

We read:

"Thus enamoured of your beauty, the Son of the Most High Father to you alone was closely united in the world and knew you for proof most faithful in all things.

Even before He came to earth from the splendour of His homeland, Thou didst prepare for Him a worthy habitation, a throne on which to sit, and a throne in which to rest, namely, the most poor Virgin, from whom He was born to shine upon this world.

To him as soon as he was born with solicitude you ran to meet him, so that he might find in you, and not in softness, a place that would be pleasing to him.

He was laid, says the evangelist, in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inn.

In the same way, never parting from him, you always accompanied him, so that throughout his life, when he appeared on earth and lived among men, while the foxes had their dens and the birds of heaven their nests, he had nowhere to lay his head.

And later when he, who had once opened the mouth of the prophets, opened his mouth to teach, he first wanted to praise you, he first exalted you with the words: blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (FF 1977).

This is echoed by Clare of Assisi, who in one of her letters to her spiritual daughter, writes:

"If, therefore, such and so great a Lord, coming down in the Virgin's womb, wanted to appear in the world as a despicable, needy and poor man, so that men - who were very poor and destitute, hungry because of the excessive scarcity of heavenly nourishment - might become rich in Him by possessing the heavenly realms, exult and enjoy greatly, filled with enormous joy and spiritual gladness" (FF 2865).

Weekday Liturgy, 18 December (Mt 1:18-24)

In its universal dimension, Francis never even mentally created categories of people who were deserving or not deserving of salvation - for which Christ gave Himself on behalf of all.

Even unworthy names appear in the genealogy of Jesus, from a human point of view, attesting to the intermingling of Christ with our history, who came to redeem the 'deserving' and the undeserving, to become One with us, except for sin.

Francis, who thought it worthy to leave the habit who stripped his brother of his good name, actually strips himself of everything, of his own noble origin (the son of a rich merchant without too many scruples, and of Madonna Pica, a Frenchwoman from beyond the Alps, with a noble heart).

He reinserts himself into common history, breaking out of the enclosures in which people wanted to enclose him, and calling 'Father' He who is in heaven.

He makes all human history his own, and puts himself back, in poverty, in the following of Christ.

Francis departing from the social and commercial greed of his natural father, helped by the rectitude of his mother, Monna Pica, becomes an instrument of God, 

He is the son of a genealogy without beginning or end, no longer limited to those social strata animated by profit, to which the carnal bond wanted to bind him.

And in his spiritual family tree we will find people of all ranks who, converted to Christ, will make Francis' descendants more numerous than the stars or the sands of the sea.

From his mother he had inherited a tender and far-sighted heart, sensitive to the divine. 

"A mirror of righteousness, that woman presented in her conduct, so to speak, a visible sign of her virtue [...].

She bore, as a privilege, a certain resemblance to the ancient Elizabeth, both in the name she bestowed on her son and also in 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" (FF 583).

And the Sources continue:

"Therefore the name of John is appropriate to the mission he carried out, that of Francis to his fame [...].

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).

Weekday Liturgy, 17 December  (Mt 1,1-17)

Today's Gospel emphasises the authoritativeness of Jesus in responding to the arrogant pretension of the Pharisees who asked with what authority he did the works he performed, astounding them.

In Francis, this eloquent trait stems from his genuine holiness, rooted in humility and silencing all insubordination among the brothers and the common people.

The humility of the Minim in the Assisian community made one reflect and silence any hidden or overt pretensions.

In the Sources there are interesting passages in this regard:

"Since his conversion, Francis, with the help of the Lord, founded himself and his house, that is, the Order, as a wise architect, on solid rock, that is, on the highest humility and poverty of the Son of God, and called it the Order of Friars Minor. Above the highest humility. For this reason, in the early days, when the brothers began to multiply, he wanted them to live in lazarettos to serve lepers [...]" (FF 1658).

And again: "In order to preserve a greater humility, a few years after his conversion, in a Chapter celebrated at the Portiuncula, he resigned the office of prelate, saying in the presence of all the brothers present:

"From now on I am dead for you. But here is brother Pietro Cattanio, whom I and all of you will obey'" (FF 1661).

He once said to the Minister General:

"I want you to entrust the care of me to one of my companions. I will obey him as I obey you: for by the good example and virtue of obedience I want you to remain with me always, in life and in death".

And in the Rule of St Clare (1253):

"And just as at the beginning of her conversion, together with her sisters, she promised obedience to blessed Francis, so she promises to keep it inviolably to her successors" (Bull of Pope Innocent IV, 2752).

With what authority did Francis, in the footsteps of his Master, do these things!

"By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority?" (Mt 21:23)

Monday 3rd wk. in Advent (Mt 21:23-27)

In listening to what the Baptist said to the crowds, it almost seems as if the Poor Man of Assisi ended up following him to the letter.

John exhorted: "He who has two tunics let him give to him who has none" (Lk 3:11).

Francis, renewed in heart by the baptism of fire he received, in his day played ahead - and still offers us a solid evangelical paradigm to refer to.

Like the Precursor, he placed Poverty at the top, of the heart and of things.

In the Sources we read: 'He went to visit, with religious devotion, the tomb of the Apostle Peter.

It was on this occasion that, seeing the great multitude of beggars before the doors of that church, 

moved by a gentle compassion and, at the same time, allured by a love of poverty, he gave his clothes to the neediest of them 

and covered himself with his rags, he spent the whole day among the poor, with unusual joy of spirit" (Sources 1037).

Chiara echoed him: 

"O blessed poverty! To those who love you and embrace you bring eternal riches.

O holy poverty! To those who possess and desire you, God promises the kingdom of heaven, and infallibly offers eternal glory and blessed life.

O pious poverty! Thee the Lord Jesus Christ [...] deigned to embrace in preference to all else" (FF 2864 - Letter First to Agnes of Prague)

"Loving him, you are chaste; touching him, you become more pure; welcoming him into you, you are a virgin; 

his power is stronger, his bounty higher, his appearance more beautiful, his love more gentle, and every grace finer.Already you are clasped by his embraces, whom your bosom has adorned with precious stones, and in your ears he has placed priceless pearls, 

and hath clothed you with springy and coruscating gems, and hath crowned you with a crown of gold expressed with the sign of holiness.

Therefore, dearest sister, or rather lady extraordinarily worthy of all veneration, because you are the bride and mother and sister of my Lord Jesus Christ, 

most splendidly adorned with the banner of inviolable virginity and of most holy poverty, be strengthened in the holy service, begun with ardent desire, of the poor Crucified One, who for us all bore the passion of the cross, snatching us from the power of the prince of darkness, in whom by the transgression of the first kinsman we were bound, and reconciling us with God the Father Almighty.

In listening to what the Baptist said to the crowds, it almost seems as if the Poor Man of Assisi defines himself to follow the Gospel to the letter.

John, a witness to the Light, to those who asked him who he was replied:

"I the voice of one crying out in the wilderness. Straighten the way of the Lord" (John 1:23).

In a world seeking to have, to appear, to possess and to dominate, the Poor of Assisi testify to the honesty of living according to God, returning every perfect gift to Him!

"What then shall we do?" (Luke 3:10)

3rd Sunday in Advent (C)  (Lk 3:10-18)

The few lines of today's Gospel are dedicated to the new work of the unrecognised like Jesus, who prepare the ways of the Lord.

Undoubtedly Francis of Assisi, at that time, extendable to our days, brought a remarkable breath of evangelical novelty.

Jesus himself had asked him: Renew my Church which is in ruins!

With his simplicity and humility, united with Lady Poverty, he had revolutionised civil and religious life with the parameters of the Gospel, like Elijah redivivus.

We read in the Sources passages that emphasise this physiognomy and development:

"Like the morning star, appearing in the midst of the clouds, with the brightest rays of his life and doctrine he drew to the light those who lay in the shadow of death.

As a rainbow shining among the bright clouds, bearing within himself the sign of the covenant with the Lord, he proclaimed to men the Gospel of Peace and salvation.

An Angel of true Peace, he too, in imitation of the Precursor, was predestined by God to prepare the way in the desert of the highest poverty and to preach penance by example and word.

Precipitated at first by the gifts of heavenly Grace [...] he rose, then, by the merits of an ever victorious virtue; he was also filled with a prophetic spirit [...].

He was filled with the ardent love of the seraphim, until, having become similar to the angelic hierarchies, he was taken up to heaven by a chariot of fire.

It is thus rationally demonstrated that he was sent among us with the spirit and power of Elijah [...]" (FF 1021 - Major Legend).

"Certainly, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I say to you, Elijah has already come and they have not recognised him" (Mt 17:11-12).

Saturday 2nd wk. Advent (Mt 17:10-13)