In the first pericope, today's Gospel highlights the urgency of the profound conversion of every man, without pointing the finger at the guilt of others, but looking at one's own.

In Francis, it is a case of speaking of permanent conversion, always sought - and which lasted as long as he lived.

He considered himself, in fact, the most sinful of men, reached by Grace.

Consulting the Sources, we realise the calibre of the Poverello also in this regard.

We read of a friar who, rapt in ecstasy, saw among the many seats in heaven one of particular beauty.

Asking whose it was, a voice answered him that it was reserved for the humble Francis.

The story continues:

"Having returned to himself, the friar sees Francis returning from prayer.

He immediately prostrates himself before him, with his arms in the form of a cross, and addresses himself not as one who lives on earth, but almost as one who already reigns in heaven:

"Pray for me the Son of God, Father, that he may not take my sins into account."

The man of God holds out his hand and lifts him up, confident that in prayer he has received a vision.

Finally, as they leave the place, the friar asks Francis:

"Father, what do you think of yourself?".

And he replied:

"It seems to me that I am the greatest sinner, because if God had used such mercy on some wicked man, he would be ten times better than me".

At these words, immediately the Spirit said inwardly to the friar:

"Know that your vision was true from this: for this most humble man will be raised by his humility to that throne which was lost through pride" (FF 707).

And Francis himself, speaking to his brethren about the efficacy of prayer, told them:

"Indeed [there are] those who delude themselves that they have edified or converted to penance by their discourses; it is the Lord who edifies and converts them through the prayers of the holy brethren, even if the latter ignore him [...].

These brethren are my knights of the round table, who hide in secluded and uninhabited places, to engage more fervently in prayer and meditation, weeping over their own sins and those of others [...]" (FF 1624).

The Minim warned against feeling better than others and against the glory of inducing conversion with one's own speeches, inflated with complacent wisdom.

No one is perfect! Only the Spirit of God, who transforms hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, is better.

Jesus calls for conversion: "unless you are converted, you will all perish in the same way" (Lk 13:5) is a recurring expression.

Francis, humble of heart and simple, offers an episode in this regard that calls for reflection.

"He said that preachers, who often sell their ministry for a penny of vainglory, are to be pitied. And he sometimes tried to cure their swelling with this remedy:

"Why do you glory in the conversion of men, when my simple brethren have converted them with their prayers?"

And indeed he commented thus on the passage that says: "Even the barren woman has borne many sons":

"The barren one is my poor brother, who has no business begetting sons in the Church. But in the judgement he will have given birth to many, because on that day the judge will ascribe to his glory those whom he now converts with his personal prayers'" (FF 749).

And again:

"There are many brethren who [...] proclaiming the Gospel to some people and to the people, on seeing or hearing that some have been edified by it or converted to penance, become proud and mount in pride for results obtained by the efforts of others.

The humble and daily conversion of the Minim and his brothers has, over time, revolutionised all prideful thinking, thanks to the Word of Christ.

«Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans, for having suffered these things? No, I tell you, but unless you are converted, you will all perish just the same» (Lk 13:2-3)

3rd Sunday in Lent (year C)  (Lk 13:1-9)

Chapter fifteen of Luke is known for its parables of Mercy.

Before the Pharisees and scribes who murmur because he is close to publicans and sinners, Jesus responds with effective parables whose foundation is:

do not reject, but go forth to raise up.

Wherever there is pity for man's lost condition, there Christ rises again.

Francis in his young existence had encountered the paternal and maternal compassion of the Lord.

After a life spent in merry bandits and a bit of debauchery, he was thunderstruck by the Father of Mercies or, as he called him, the Great Helmsman.

Touched by Grace, after his evident change of mentality, before the Crucifix of San Damiano his vocation-mission was revealed to him.

He renounced everything, even his earthly father, to be free to go where the Father in heaven sent him.

The waste of his youthful years translated him into boundless generosity towards lepers and the poor.

The Blessing Embrace of the Almighty had imprinted him with a more solid and precious human and spiritual character.

All his life he wept for his sins, thinking of the Passion of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for all his lost children.

In the Sources ('Vita seconda' by his biographer Celano) we find a moving passage:

"Once he heard that a sick friar wanted to eat some grapes. He accompanied him to a vineyard and, sitting under a vine, to infuse him with courage, he himself began to eat first' (FF 762).

Mercy for the misfortunes of others is the Franciscan foundation of the spiritual journey.

And again:

"He used to say that it is the duty of the superior, a father and not a tyrant, to prevent the occasion of guilt and not to allow those to fall who would then find it difficult to get up again, once they have fallen.

Oh, how worthy of compassion is our foolishness!

Not only do we not lift or support the weak, but we sometimes push them to fall.

We judge it of no importance to take away from the Supreme Shepherd a sheep, for whom on the Cross he uttered a loud cry with tears.

But quite differently didst thou, holy father, prefer to amend the errant and not to lose them!

[...] the oil and the wine, the rod and the staff, the zeal and the indulgence, the burning and the anointing, the prison and the womb, everything has its time.

All these things require the God of vengeance and the Father of mercies: but he prefers mercy to sacrifice' (FF 763).

Clare herself, a loving mother, had received a generous heart full of compassion, especially towards her needy sisters.

The Sources, through the Rule, attest that as the leader of the community, the First Plant of Francis did not allow herself to be imprisoned by the law, but unmistakable Charity reigned over all.

We read in fact:

"[The abbess] console the afflicted. May she still be the last refuge of the afflicted so that, should the remedies of health fail in her, the disease of despair may not prevail in the sick" (FF 2778).

Francis and Clare, transformed by the Father's mercy, treasured the gift they had received and poured it out freely to all creatures. Never caged by the immovability of codes, they were witnesses of that singular welcome that recovers those who have erred and reintroduces them into the new life of the risen.

"Where there is mercy and discretion,

there is neither superfluity nor harshness" (FF 177).

«While he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran to his neck and super kissed him» (Lk 15:20)

Saturday 2nd wk. in Lent  (Lk 15:1-3.11-32)

Jesus narrates the metaphor of the murderous peasants. Only at the end do the priests and Pharisees realise that it was addressed to them, and try to capture him, fearing however the crowd who considered him a prophet.

Francis well knew that Jesus is the cornerstone, discarded by the builders, yet precious and granite before God.

He knew and repeated in his heart the Psalm (118) that captures all this:

«Jesus says to them: You have never read in the Scriptures: the stone which the builders rejected, this one has become a cornerstone [...]» (Mt 21:42).

In the Sources, in fact, we find the Poverello's great respect for the stones that reminded him of the cornerstone: Christ.

Celano, in the Second Life, emphasises:

"He walked reverently over the stones, out of respect for him who is called Stone. And having to recite the verse, which says: on the stone you raised me up, he changed the words thus for greater respect: 'Under the feet of the Stone you raised me up'" (FF 750).

Following the example of Christ and through the work of the Spirit, Francis became a stone in the building of the Church.

The major legend testifies in this regard:

"During the two years that followed the impression of the stigmata he, like a stone destined for the building of the heavenly Jerusalem, had been squared by the blows of trial, through his many and tormented infirmities, and, like a ductile material, had been reduced to ultimate perfection under the hammer of numerous tribulations" (FF 1239).

Together with Francis, Clare was also transformed into the foundation stone for the Order of the Poor Ladies.

We read: "The first work Francis set about [...] was to rebuild a temple to the Lord. He does not think of building a new one, but restores an ancient and crumbling church; he does not undermine the foundations, but builds on them, thus unknowingly leaving the primacy to Christ. For no one could create another foundation apart from the one that has already been laid: Jesus Christ.

Returning therefore to the place where, as has been said, the church of San Damiano had formerly been built, with the grace of the Most High he repaired it with all diligence in a short time" (FF 350).

"This is the blessed and holy place in which the glorious Order of the "Poor Ladies" and holy virgins, almost six years after his conversion, had its happy origin through the work of Francis himself.

It was there that Lady Clare, also a native of Assisi, a most precious and strong stone, became the cornerstone for all the other stones of this religious family" (FF 351).

On the cornerstone of Christ, the One whom the murderous vinedressers persecuted and killed, were placed (there finding place and meaning) stones made alive by Him to build the Kingdom of God by the power of the Spirit.

Friday, 2nd wk. in Lent  (Mt 21:33-43.45-46)

The Gospel proposed by today's liturgy sets before us three important existential dimensions, which Francis held in high regard.

The parable of poor Lazarus and the immoderate rich man evokes the diligent use of riches, care for the needy, and is a call to conversion, since after death, individual judgement will be irreversible.

Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi, always had this Gospel picture before his eyes, which led him to better direct his heart towards God and the poor.

The Sources attest, from the very beginning of his journey:

"(Francis) had always benefited the needy, but from that moment on he firmly resolved never to refuse alms to the poor who asked for them for the love of God, and on the contrary to make spontaneous and generous donations.

To every poor man who asked for charity, when Francis was away from home, he provided with money; if he lacked it, he gave him his hat or belt, so as not to send him back empty-handed.

Or if he lacked these, he would withdraw to the sidelines, take off his shirt and secretly give it to the indigent, begging him to take it for the love of God.

He bought utensils that the churches needed and secretly gave them to poor priests' (FF 1403).

And again, the Legend of the Three Companions informs us:

"Divine Grace had profoundly changed him. Although he did not wear a religious habit, he longed to find himself unknown in some city, where he could barter his clothes for the rags of a beggar and try begging for the love of God himself' (FF 1405).

The Minim knew that what a poor man received was addressed to Christ himself and that a single glass of water given to the small and marginalised was offered to Jesus.

His encounter with the leper in the plain of Assisi had turned bitterness into true sweetness in him.

Francis feared divine judgement and wanted to respond to what the Word of God demanded of him.

Clare herself, from a young age, took food from her body to give to the poor, maintaining this attitude of special care and concern for the needy - all her life.

Both made an evangelical, intelligent use of the goods at their disposal in the service of the Kingdom of God.

«Son, remember that you received your goods in your life, and Lazarus likewise the evils; but now here he is comforted, you on the other hand are tormented» (Lk 16:25).

The Poor Man always exhorted his brothers to be merciful to all forms of indigence, because judgement does not grant full life to those who do not acknowledge it to their brothers.

Thursday 2nd wk. in Lent  (Lk 16:19-31)

Today's Gospel tells of the announcement made by the angel to Joseph, inviting him to take Mary with him, since the child begotten in her was the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Joseph's marvellous obedience recalls that before the Crucifix at San Damiano by Francis, and invites the latter to accept a new call.

Consulting the Franciscan Sources we read:

"As he was passing near the church of San Damiano, he was inspired to enter it. He went there, and began to pray fervently before the image of the Crucifix, who spoke to him with moving goodness:

"Francis, do you not see that my house is falling down? Go, then, and restore it". Trembling and astonished, the young man replied:

"I will do it gladly, Lord".

But he had misunderstood: he thought it was about that church which, because of its antiquity, threatened imminent ruin. At those words of Christ he became immensely happy and radiant; he felt in his soul that it was really the Crucified One who had given him the message.

As he came out of the church, he found the priest sitting there beside him, and putting his hand in his purse, he offered him money, saying:

"Sir, I beg you to buy oil to make a lamp burn before that Crucifix.

When this money is finished, I will bring you more, according to need'" (FF1411).

"Following this vision, his heart yearned, as if wounded, at the memory of the passion of the Lord [...]" (FF1412).

Aware of his calling, Francis awoke from the vision he had and, shortly after his conversion, welcomed Clare of Assisi, his seedling and faithful disciple, to the Portiuncula:

"Abandoning, therefore, home, city and relatives, he hastened to St Mary of the Portiuncula, where the friars, who were keeping vigil in prayer at the little altar of God, welcomed the virgin Clare with lighted torches.

There at once, having renounced the filth of Babylon, she delivered to the world the libel of repudiation; there, letting her hair fall by the hand of the friars, she laid aside for ever the variegated ornaments" (FF 3170).

Joseph, through his special calling, adhered to God's will and Francis, through the call of the Crucified One, understood what the Lord destined him for. Joseph welcomed Mary, the Mother of Jesus and

the new man of the plain of Assisi welcomed Clare, who became the Mother of the Second (Clarian) Franciscan Order. For this gift the Spirit of God used both of them, to bring it to light. Clare generated many virgins to Christ in San Damiano.

The Legend informs us:

"This is the famous church for the restoration of which Francis laboured with admirable zeal [...]" (FF 3175).

In this tiny place Clare shut herself away and:

"Placing her nest, like a silvery dove, in the hollow of this cliff, she generated a host of virgins of Christ, founded a holy monastery and began the Order of Poor Ladies" (FF 3176).

«Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, with you. For that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit» (Mt 1:20)

[St Joseph (Mt 1:16.18-21.24a)]

Jesus urges the crowd to listen and observe what the scribes and Pharisees say, without doing according to their works, because of the obvious contradiction between their saying and doing.

The Lord also calls for humility and service.

The Poor Man of Assisi had made poverty the guiding motif of his life. We are not speaking only of material poverty, but first and foremost of spiritual poverty - with the numerous "sisters"... Humility, discretion, concealment; fleeing all forms of power and appearances, as the scribes and Pharisees loved to do - rebuked, in today's passage, by the Master Jesus.

"They say and do not do [...] All their works they do to be admired by the people" (Mt 23:3.5).

Francis was convinced that virtue must remain hidden, far from seeking admiration.

In the Sources, Celano reiterates:

"In this way Francis had rejected all glory that did not know Christ and had inflicted a radical repudiation on human praise.

He well knew that the price of fame diminished the secret price of conscience, and that it is far more harmful to abuse virtue than to lack it at all [...].

[We, on the other hand] patiently endure not being good, but we do not resign ourselves to not seeming so nor to not being believed so.

Thus we live completely in the pursuit of men's esteem, because we are nothing but men' (FF 723).

He continues, regarding the Poverello:

"Humble in demeanour, most humble in feeling, most humble in his own esteem.

By nothing could one distinguish that this prince of God held the office of superior, if not by this most shining gem, that is, that he was the least among the least.

This was the virtue, this was the title, this was the badge that indicated him as minister general.

His mouth knew no haughtiness, his gestures no pomp, his acts no ostentation" (FF 724).

Moreover, Francis, faithful to the Lord, "did not want to give anyone the title of 'father' or 'master', nor write it in his letters, out of respect for the Lord who said: 'do not call anyone father on earth, nor be called master'" (FF 1615).

So, the Minim loved to make himself a servant in the footsteps of Christ, as Clare herself practised in San Damiano among her sisters.

From the Legend, contained in the Sources, we learn:

"Clare, the primary stone and noble foundation of her Order, from the beginning studied to set the edifice of all virtues on the foundation of holy humility.

She promised holy obedience to blessed Francis, and never deviated in any way from this promise [...].

she would have wished to humbly submit rather than be at the head, and among the handmaids of Christ more willingly to serve than to be served.

[...] Compelled by blessed Francis, she finally assumed the government of the Women: and from this was born in her heart fear, not arrogance; and there grew not independence, but the spirit and practice of service.

For the more she sees herself elevated by these appearances of superiority, the lower she finds herself in her own esteem, more ready for duty, more humble even in outward appearance" (FF 3179)

«He who is greater among you shall be your servant» (Mt 23:11)

Tuesday 2nd wk. in Lent  (Mt 23:1-12)

Jesus calls us to avoid all judgement, to be merciful, giving with breadth.

After his conversion, Francis had experienced that the measure of Love is not having any.

Helped by the Good Samaritan, he had learnt to give overflowingly and joyfully to anyone who asked for the love of God.

Moreover, conforming to the Word of the Gospel that invites us to be merciful, he was animated by true compassion towards all those in need, starting with lepers, whom he once repudiated.

In the Sources, a jewel of early documentation, on the subject of judgement seasoned with mercy, we read:

"Those then who have received authority to judge others, let them exercise judgement with mercy, just as they themselves wish to obtain mercy from the Lord; for judgement will be without mercy for those who have not used mercy" (FF 191 - Letter to the Faithful).

The Minim had once had a singular experience of compassion on the plain of Assisi:

"Francis, while one day he was riding near Assisi, met a leper on the road.

Of these unfortunates he felt an invincible revulsion; but this time, doing violence to his instinct, he dismounted from his horse and offered the leper a coin, kissing his hand.

And receiving a kiss of peace, he got back on his horse and continued on his way.

From that day he began to free himself from his own selfishness, to the point of knowing how to overcome himself perfectly, with God's help" (FF 1407).

This encounter revolutionised his mentality, transforming him profoundly.

He urged his companions by example to make themselves a continuous gift to every indigent person.

"Nothing they considered private property [...] they were spontaneously generous with everything that was offered to them in the name of God. They joyfully donated, for love of Him, the alms they collected, to those who asked for them, especially the poor" (FF 1450).

Salvation received gratuitously had become a yardstick for them in their relations with their neighbour.

«Be merciful, as your Father is merciful»

«Do not judge and you will not be judged» (Lk 6:36-37)

Monday, 2nd wk. in Lent  (Lk 6:36-38)

On this Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor before Peter, James and John. The disciples, astonished, fall with their faces to the ground in front of so much splendour, while from the cloud that covers them the Voice of the Father calls them to listen to the Son who is the object of his delight.
The Sources recount that "the man of God, remaining all alone and in peace, filled the woods with groans, sprinkled the earth with tears, beat his breast and, as if he had found a more intimate sanctuary, talked with his Lord [...].
There, too, he was heard by the brothers, who were piously observing him, to appeal with cries and groans to the divine Goodness on behalf of sinners; he also cried aloud the Lord's Passion, as if he had it before his eyes.
There, as he prayed at night, he was seen with his hands stretched out in the form of a cross, lifted up from the ground with his whole body and surrounded by a luminous cloud: marvellous light spread around his body, which wonderfully testified to the light shining in his Spirit.
There, moreover, as sure evidence testifies, the hidden mysteries of divine Wisdom were revealed to him, which, however, he did not divulge to the outside world, except to the extent that the charity of Christ compelled him to do so and the usefulness of his neighbour demanded it [...].
When he returned from his prayers, which transformed him almost into another man, he took the greatest care to behave in uniformity with others, lest the wind of applause, because of what he let out, deprive him of the interior reward" (FF 1180 - Major Legend).
Francis guarded his transformation into "Alter Christus" with great discretion, almost living in the seclusion of his heart.
In fact, the same Sources attest:
"From the beginning, when the true love of Christ had already transformed the lover into his own image, he began to conceal and hide the Treasure so carefully that not even his intimates would discover it for a long time.
But divine Providence did not allow it to remain hidden and not reach the eyes of her loved ones [...].
One of his companions once, seeing the stigmata on his feet, said to him: "What is this, good brother?".
"Think of your own business" - he answered him" (FF 719 - Vita Seconda del Celano) with the frankness and simplicity that distinguished him.

"This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him" (Lk 9:35)

Transfiguration of the Lord C (Lk 9:28-36)

Jesus proposes Perfection according to the Father: loving and forgiving even our enemies makes us sons.

Francis of Assisi often repeated that Love was not loved. Going beyond the considerations of the Old Testament (cf. Lev 19:18), for him one was called to love everyone and not to consider only one's fellow countrymen as neighbour.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy. Now I say to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Mt 5:43-44).

In the writings of the Poor Man of Assisi [Paraphrase of the Our Father] we read:

"As we forgive our debtors:

and what we do not know how to fully forgive, you, Lord, make us fully forgive, so that, for your sake, we may truly love our enemies and devoutly intercede with you, rendering no one evil for evil, and striving in you to be of benefit to all" (FF 273).

In the Letter to a Minister:

"I say to you [...] every person who will be an obstacle to you, whether they be brothers or others, even if they cover you with beatings, all this I must consider as a grace [...].

And in this love them and do not expect them to become better Christians" (FF 234).

All this in order to be children of the heavenly Father, who makes the sun rise on all: good and bad.

Francis, in fact, in front of the scoundrels he met in a forest - while singing the praises of God in French - and who attacked him asking who he was, reacts thus:

"I am the herald of the great King; does this interest you?".

They beat him and threw him into a pit full of snow, saying:

"Stand there, ye herald of God!".

But he, turning this way and that, shaking off the snow, as soon as the brigands are gone, leaps out of the pit and, all joyful, resumes singing in a loud voice, filling the forest with praises to the Creator of all things" (FF 346).

Love your enemies in perfect joy!

Saturday 1st wk. in Lent  (Mt 5:43-48)