Jesus emphasised not to be afraid of martyrdom, of those who kill the body but do not have the power to kill the soul (Mt 10:28), because the disciple is not greater than the Master.

Ignited by the charity that drives away all fear, Francis wished to offer himself to the Lord in the fire of martyrdom to reciprocate the Christ who dies for us, and to provoke the brothers to the love of God.

In the "Sacrum Commercium" [document contained in the Franciscan Sources] we read:

"But the perfection of all virtues, that is, Our Lady Persecution, to whom, as to me, God has entrusted the kingdom of heaven, was with me in every circumstance, faithful helper, strong co-operator, wise counsellor, and if at times she saw someone grow tepid in charity, forget even for a little while heavenly things, become attached in any way to earthly goods, she would immediately raise her voice, shake the army, cover the faces of my children with shame so that they would seek the name of the Lord" (FF 1994).

Clare of Assisi herself, meditating on the penury and danger of the Holy Family of Nazareth, shed hot tears in continuous prayer.

In the Rule, addressed to her daughters, she says:

"Have the Spirit of the Lord and his Holy operation [...] and love those who persecute us [...] for the Lord says: Blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those who persevere to the end will be saved' (FF 2811).

And Francis, in his Testament, writes to his brothers thus:

"Wherever they are not accepted, let them flee to another land to do penance with the blessing of God" (FF 123).

Francis himself, who went to the Sultan of Egypt Melek-el-Kamel to bring the proclamation of Christ, was persecuted:

"Before he reached the Sultan, his assassins seized him, insulted him, lashed him, and he feared nothing: neither threats, nor torture, nor death; and although invested with the brutal hatred of many, he was received by the Sultan with great honour!" (FF 422).

And to his brothers he taught that boldness in faith that makes one intrepid in adverse situations, because Providence accompanies the innocent who are beaten for Christ, for his Gospel.

The teachings of the Poverello were kept in mind by his own.

In fact, in the second Life, Celano tells of a young friar who had assimilated well his father's teaching on fidelity to the Rule.

"A lay brother, who in our opinion is to be venerated in the number of martyrs, remembered this teaching and achieved the palm of a glorious victory.

While he was being dragged to martyrdom by the Saracens, he knelt down and, holding the Rule with the extremity of his hands, said to his companion:

"Dearest brother, I accuse myself before the Divine Majesty and before you of all the faults I have committed against this holy Rule".

After the brief confession, he held the sword and thus ended his life with martyrdom. Later he made himself famous with miracles and wonders.

He had entered the Order so young that he could hardly bear the fasting prescribed by the Rule. Yet so young he wore the cilice on his bare flesh!

Happy young man, who began in a holy way, to end his life even more happily!" (FF 798).

Saturday of the 14th wk. in O.T.  (Mt 10,24-33)

The Liturgy of the feast of St Benedict, co-patron of Europe, emphasises the theme of leaving everything for Christ, for the Gospel, reciprocated by the hundredfold and the Life of the Eternal.

Benedict, like Francis, left all possessions to follow Jesus, summing up his path in the famous axiom: 'Ora et labora', 'pray and work'.

Sometimes the severity of Benedictine monastic asceticism is contrasted with Franciscan cheerfulness, as if St Benedict and St Francis were two separate universes; but this is not the case.

There are elements in which they differ and others in common, perhaps elaborated differently.

Both consider prayer and work important. As well as prayer as the path leading to detachment from everything and interiorisation, the place of encounter with Christ - to be put before everything.

Francis, too, considers work an important aspect of his life and of the Minorite Rule, recalling in this the Benedictine one.

The Poor Man, although not Benedictine (as depicted in the Sacro Speco of Subiaco, in an ancient image) also lived within a history that preceded him, drawing from it some things, others rejecting them.

Those familiar with the Franciscan Sources, wishing to affirm the novelty of Brother Francis compared to St Benedict of Norcia, refer to a passage in the Compilatio Assisiensis.

In it it is narrated how during a Chapter at the Portiuncula, where the Minorite Rule was being discussed, some brothers proposed the adoption of earlier forms of life.

But Francis replied:

"My brothers, my brothers, God has called me to the way of humility and shown me the way of simplicity. Therefore, I do not want you to name me any other Rule, neither that of St Augustine, nor that of St Bernard or St Benedict.

The Lord told me that this is what he wanted:

that I should be in the world a 'new fool'; and the Lord does not want to lead us by any other path than that of this science!" (FF 1564).

The greatness of the Benedictine Rule does not lie so much in its contribution of novelty, but in its ability to synthesise the various previous monastic experiences in a sort of sapiential reading.

But these saints both place great importance on work that overcomes idleness and makes one live in the constant Presence of Christ in history, to which they put everything before him.

Continuous prayer and constant work are therefore two common elements differently elaborated, but fundamental for the following of Jesus and detachment from everything.

Francis taught the brothers:

"In prayer we purify our feelings and unite ourselves with the one, true and supreme Good and reinvigorate virtue [...].

In prayer we speak to God, we listen to him and we linger in the midst of the angels; in preaching, on the other hand, we must often descend to men and, living as men among men, think, see, say and listen in the human way" (FF1204).

In his Testament, the Minim writes:

"And I worked with my hands, and I want to work; and I firmly want all the other brothers to work in a manner befitting honesty.

Those who do not know, let them learn, not out of greed to receive the reward of work, but to set an example and keep idleness at bay" (FF 119).

And it is precisely this approach of thought and life that made the Benedictines capable of building Europe "by making the everyday heroic and the everyday heroic" and that drove the Franciscan friars, among other things, to constant and faithful work especially in the evangelising mission of peace.

Sons of God in a different way, equally projected to follow Jesus, knowing that having left everything for his Kingdom is a guarantee of eternal life.

«And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my name's sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life» (Mt 19:29)

S. Benedict patron of Europe  (Mt 19:27-29)

Chapter 10 of Matthew continues to present us with a Jesus who asks his disciples, sent to preach the nearness of the Kingdom of Heaven, to give freely as they have received, trusting in Providence.

The Poor Man of Assisi followed Jesus' instructions to his disciples to the letter, committing himself to proclaiming the Gospel without taking anything with him.

Francis described himself as "simplex et idiota" (simple and stupid). For him, the transparency and simplicity of little ones was the key to the Kingdom of Heaven.

As Jesus says in the Gospel, he was convinced that only those who become like children in their mentality can understand the dynamics of the Kingdom, which requires the acceptance of the pure of heart, of those who live the Word without prejudice of any kind and with trust in God.

In the Franciscan Sources, the dimension of smallness and simplicity is transversal and marked, as many passages attest.

"The Saint practised holy simplicity with particular care and loved it in others, for it is the daughter of Grace, the true sister of wisdom and the mother of justice.

Not that he approved of every kind of simplicity, but only that which, content with its God, despises all else.

And that which places its glory in the fear of the Lord, and which knows neither how to say nor do evil.

Simplicity that examines itself and condemns no one in its judgement, that desires no office for itself, but considers it due and attributes it to the best [...]

It is simplicity that leaves the tortuousness of words, embellishments and frills in all divine laws, as well as ostentation and curiosity to those who want to lose themselves, and seeks not the bark but the marrow, not the shell but the kernel, not many things but the many, the highest and most stable Good" (FF 775).

This simplicity, sister of true wisdom, is characteristic of the little ones, the least, the children who welcome the Kingdom of God knocking at the door of their hearts.

The smallness of Francis, the framework of his evangelical life, is moving.

"Francis, a man of God, stripped of worldly things [...] committed himself to serving God in every way possible [...]

With ardent enthusiasm he will make this and similar appeals full of ingenuity, for this chosen one of God had a candid and childlike soul, did not resort to the learned language of human wisdom, but was simple and immediate in everything" (FF 1420).

"And in fact, everything that the heavenly Father has created for the benefit of men, he continues to give us freely even after sin, to the worthy as well as to the unworthy, because of the love he has for his beloved Son" (FF 1610).

"He was not ashamed to ask small things of those smaller than himself; he, the true minor, who had learned great things from the supreme Master.

He used to seek with singular zeal the way and means of serving God more perfectly, as He pleased Him best.

This was his supreme philosophy, this his supreme desire, as long as he lived: to ask the wise and the simple, the perfect and the imperfect, the young and the old, how he might most virtuously attain the summit of perfection" (FF 1205 - Leggenda maggiore).

Francis loved with the heart of a child and taught this to his friars and to the poor ladies of St Damian, virtuous sisters on the path of faith, among whom Clare shone for her humility and transparency.

This young woman gave witness to the light; she was a morning star in becoming a child at the service of God, following in the footsteps of Christ, following the example of her blessed father Francis, a true lover and imitator of Him.

«Freely you have received, freely give» (Mt 10:8)

Thursday of the 14th wk. in Ordinary Time (Mt 10:7-15)

Who knows how many times Francis, the Herald of the Great King, in reading this passage from Matthew must have thought that in order to announce the Kingdom of God he would travel the whole earth to bring souls to Christ and to reach the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

"Would you do that?"

Francis must surely have asked himself this disarming question, to which his whole eloquent existence was answered: "Yes, without a doubt!".

For a single sheep of his flock he would certainly have left the others safe in search of the lost one.

"Let us look closely, brothers all, at the good Shepherd who, in order to save his sheep, endured the passion of the cross" (FF 155 - Admonitions).

He, who used to call Brother Leo "God's sheep", would have faced any adversity to find it, and for this he sought martyrdom even before the Sultan of Egypt, to win it for Christ.

The Sources, through the Major Legend, report:

"Francis, the servant of God, with an intrepid heart answered [the Sultan] that he had been sent not by men, but by God most high, to show him and his people the way to salvation and to proclaim the Gospel of truth.

And he preached to the Sultan the triune God and the Saviour of all, Jesus Christ, with so much courage, with so much strength and so much fervour of spirit, as to make it clearly evident that the promise of the Gospel was being fulfilled with full truth: I will give you a language and a wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict" (FF 1173).

Rich in tenderness and mercy, it is an episode that highlights the shepherd heart of the Poor Man and his concern for the Kingdom of God.

We find in the Sources:

"Once crossing the March of Ancona, after preaching in the same city, and heading towards Osimo, in the company of Brother Paul, whom he had elected minister to all the brothers of that province, he met a shepherd in the countryside, who was grazing his flock of rams and goats.

In the midst of the flock was a single sheep, quietly and humbly grazing on the grass.

As soon as he saw it, Francis stopped, and as if he had had a grip on his heart, full of compassion he said to his brother:

"Do you see that lonely and meek sheep among the goats? Our Lord Jesus Christ, surrounded and hunted down by the Pharisees and Sanhedrites, must have looked just like that humble creature.

Therefore I beseech thee, my son, for love of Him, be thou also full of compassion, let us buy her and take her away from these goats and goatherds" (FF 456).

«Depart, preach, saying that the kingdom of heaven has come near» (Mt 10:7)

Wednesday of the 14th wk. in O.T.  (Mt 10,1-7)

In today's Gospel we see Jesus going through towns and villages proclaiming the Kingdom of God and healing the sick.

Assiduous contemplation and purity of life had made Francis powerful, by grace, even over the power of evil, making him a credible witness to the Lord through numerous healings.

The Sources eloquently illuminate in this regard:

"People of all ages [...] ran to see and hear that new man.

He pilgrimaged through the various regions, fervently proclaiming the Gospel; and the Lord cooperated, confirming the Word with the miracles that accompanied it.

Indeed, in the name of the Lord, Francis, preacher of the truth, cast out demons, healed the sick" (FF 1212).

Once "I do not know how to qualify the horrible illness from which a brother suffered, some attributed it to the presence of an evil devil.

The poor man would often throw himself to the ground and, squinting his eyes in a horrible way, he would foam at the mouth; his limbs would now contract, now stretch, now stiff, now bent and twisted...

The saint Francis had immense compassion for him, went to him, blessed him, humbly praying to God, and the sick man obtained prompt and complete health and never suffered such an evil again" (FF 440).

"In Città di Castello a woman was possessed by an evil and furious spirit: as soon as the Saint [...] had obediently ordered [him to come out of her], the demon fled full of indignation, leaving the poor obsessed woman free in body and soul" (FF 1219)

Francis had married the Light, obscuring the power of evil.

The Minim had compassion on the tired and exhausted crowds that followed him and, in prayer, his constant refuge, he asked God for labourers for the abundant harvest.

He also asked his brothers to pray much for this cause.

Like Jesus, the Saint travelled through all the towns and villages, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing every sickness and every infirmity (cf. Mt 9:35).

Tuesday of the 14th wk. in O.T.  (Mt 9,32-38)

Today's Gospel highlights Jesus resurrecting a dead girl and the healing of a woman who had been suffering from loss of blood for a long time.

Jesus saves both, and to the woman he says:

«Take courage, daughter, your faith has saved you» (Mt 9:22).

Like Jesus, Francis the Simple did not humiliate the needy, but went to them and saved them through faith in God.

The Sources recount:

"In the diocese of Sora, a noblewoman named Rogata had been suffering from loss of blood for twenty-three years. It should be added that she had resorted to many doctors, resulting in a great deal of ill health.

Often, as the illness worsened, she seemed to be dying. If the bleeding could be stopped, her whole body would swell.

She happened to hear a young man singing in the Roman vernacular the story of the miracles wrought by God through St Francis, and then, dissolving into tears from emotion and pain, she began to say thus:

"O blessed Father Francis, who shines through so many miracles, if you deign to free me from this illness, you will have great glory, because you have never performed such a great miracle until now".

To what so many words? She had scarcely finished speaking when she felt cured by the merits of blessed Francis.

Even a woman from Sicily, who had suffered loss of blood for seven years, was healed by the holy bishop of Christ" (FF 1314).

Faith in Jesus and his servants works wonderful things!

Monday of the 14th wk. in O.T.  (Mt 9,18-26)

The passage proposed for this Sunday is taken from the Gospel of Luke and emphasises Jesus' mandate to his disciples, highlighting how they were to be itinerant preachers of the Gospel.

«Go! Behold, I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road» (Lk 10:3-4).

The Sources document how Francis took this Word of God literally, inviting his friars to do the same.

The Poor Man of Assisi declared himself simple and foolish and taught his brothers the way of simplicity, the sister of true wisdom and meekness.

In the Major Legend we read:

"I want my brothers to be disciples of the Gospel and to progress in the knowledge of the Truth, so that they may grow at the same time in the purity of simplicity. Thus they will not separate the simplicity of the dove from the prudence of the serpent, which the unsurpassed Master has joined together with his blessed Word" (FF 1188).

Francis had the grace to become a great witness even in his encounter with the Saracen soldiers.

He took with him a companion, Brother Illuminato, and decided to proclaim Christ even among those who cut off the heads of Christians.

"So he set out, taking with him a companion named Illuminato, who was truly enlightened and virtuous.

As soon as they set out, they met two sheep.

The saint rejoiced and said to his companion:

'Have faith in the Lord, brother, for the words of the Gospel are being fulfilled in us: Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves'.

They went on and came upon the Saracen sentries, who, rushing like wolves against the sheep, captured the servants of God, threatening them with death, cruelly and contemptuously mistreating them, covering them with insults and beatings, and chaining them.

Finally, after beating them in a thousand ways, by divine Providence they were brought to the Sultan, as the man of God had wished" (FF 1173).

And often the Poverello "redeemed the lambs that were being led to slaughter, in memory of that most meek Lamb, who willingly went to his death to redeem sinners" (FF 1145).

Moreover, wherever he went to proclaim the Gospel, he brought the greeting of peace to all:

"In every sermon, before communicating the Word of God to the people, he wished peace, saying:

'The Lord give you peace!'.

He always proclaimed this peace with great devotion to men and women, to all those he met or who came to him" (FF 359).

Francis was entirely focused on proclaiming the Kingdom of God, which had now taken possession of him; he burned with the desire to bear witness to it so that it might reach as many souls as possible.

Sunday 14th in O.T. (year C)  [Lk 10:1-12, 17-20]

Jesus answers John's disciples about fasting. Now the Bridegroom is with them and they will not fast; when he is taken from them they will fast.

Logic that breaks down the legalistic mentality.

In the Sources we have various passages that highlight the Poor Man of Assisi's way of acting on this subject.

The Minim forbade excesses.

Francis knew well how to discern between the importance of fasting and exaggeration in practising it.

In his life, never did form take the place of substance. The Franciscan Sources illustrate:

"Francis reproached his brothers who were too hard on themselves and who were exhausted by vigils, fasts, prayers and corporal penances [...].

The man of God forbade such excesses, admonishing those brothers lovingly and calling them to common sense, healing their wounds with the medicine of wise instructions [...].

He spoke with them, identifying himself with their situation, not as a judge then, but as an understanding father with his children and as a compassionate doctor with his own sick.

He knew how to be sick with the sick, afflicted with the afflicted" (FF 1470).

All this while being "a new man, [who] with new virtues renewed the way of perfection that had disappeared from the world" (FF 3162).

As a mature and profoundly human person, he knew how to help his brothers, evaluating the different situations he had before him.

In the Legend of the Three Companions: "However, when it was appropriate, he chastised those who committed offences" (FF 1470).

Francis had received, by Grace, the immeasurable gift of true discernment.

The Little One did not betray substance for form: he kept both in a sensible human and spiritual balance.

«But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast» (Mt 9:15)

Saturday of the 13th wk. in O.T.  (Mt 9:14-17)