With the Beatitudes, Mt begins with the theme of poverty in spirit and concludes with the beatitude of the persecuted, that is, of those who want to live the Gospel and love to the full.

For Francis and Clare of Assisi, humility of heart, inner and outer poverty, was the keystone of all the other Beatitudes; the identikit of Jesus and of every disciple who wants to walk in his footsteps.

Enchanting is a passage from the "Sacrum Commercium" (an allegorical operetta by an unknown author) contained in the Sources and which we quote here, concerning poverty.

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

Even before He came to earth from the splendour of His homeland, You prepared for Him a worthy dwelling, a throne on which to sit and a thalamus in which to rest, that is, the poorest Virgin, from whom He was born to shine upon this world.

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

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

In the same way, without ever 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 the air 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).

Francis then, in his Admonitions, among other things extols the pure heart, precisely the poor, when he says:

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Truly pure in heart are those who disdain earthly things and seek heavenly things, and never cease to adore and see the Lord God, living and true, with a pure heart and soul" (FF 165).

Clare echoes him in her Testament:

"If we live according to the aforementioned form of life, we will leave a noble example to others and, through labour of the shortest duration, we will earn the prize of eternal beatitude" (FF 2830).

The theme of wealth to be shared, of "not holding back" and of "giving back" to God and to one's brothers and sisters, is very much felt in Francis of Assisi.

In the Sources:

"Once, while returning from Siena, he met a poor man. It happened that Francis, due to illness, was wearing a cloak over his habit.

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. 'In fact we received him on loan, until we happened to find someone poorer than ourselves'.

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

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."

"Blessed are the poor [...] for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:3).

Monday, 10th wk. in O.T. (Mt 5:12a)

The evangelist Mk portrays Jesus surrounded by crowds, so much so that he had no time even for himself. And his own go to pick him up, considering him "out of his mind".

Francis of Assisi was often considered Christ's 'fool'.

His living the Gospel 'sine glossa' was incomprehensible to many.

On the other hand, he himself considered himself mad for the Lord.

"Many made fun of him, persuaded that he had given them the slip; others were pitied to the point of tears, seeing that young man pass so quickly from a life of pleasures and whims to an existence transfigured by the intoxication of divine love.

But he, heedless of ridicule, gave fervent thanks to God.

How much he struggled in those restorations would be long and difficult to recount.

Used to every delicacy in his father's house, here he was now carrying stones on his shoulders, suffering many sacrifices to serve God" (FF 1421).

The spirit of prophecy shone in Francis, but when he exposed himself he was taken for a fool, because the wisdom of the poor was despised, while the heart of the righteous proclaimed true things.

"When the Christian army was besieging Damiata, there was also the man of God, armed not with weapons but with faith.

The 'day of battle' came when the Christians had decided to storm the city.

When he heard this decision, the servant of Christ, coming out in loud laments, said to his companion:

"If an assault is attempted, the Lord has revealed to me that it will not go well for Christians. But if I say this, they will think me a fool; if I keep silent, I cannot escape the reproach of conscience. So what seems best to you?"

His companion answered him: 'Brother, do not worry at all about people's judgement: it is not the first time they have judged you insane. Free your conscience and fear God more than men'.

At these words, the herald of Christ confronts the crusaders, full of impetus, and, concerned to save himself from danger, tries to prevent the attack, foretells defeat.

But the truth is taken for a fable: they hardened their hearts and would not convert [...].

The hosts of Christians returned decimated by a terrible slaughter: about six thousand dead and prisoners" (FF 1190).

"And he came into the House; and again the crowd gathered, so that they could not even eat bread. And having heard, his [those around him] went out to seize him, for they said, He is beside himself" (Mk 3:20-21).

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand".

The evangelist Mark pays attention to the blasphemous statement of the scribes who see in Jesus a man possessed by Beelzebubl, prince of demons. But the Lord displaces them with unassailable answers.

The 'jester of God', precisely because he loved Him, was much persecuted and had strenuous struggles with those who pointed their finger at God day and night against their brothers.

The Sources tell of various circumstances in which the servant of God had to suffer for his sake, defending himself with continuous and profound prayer, which transferred the Holy Spirit into his soul.

"He arrived one day in Arezzo, while the whole city was shaken by civil war and was threatening imminent ruin. The servant of God was housed in the village outside the city, and saw over it exultant demons, stirring up the citizens to destroy each other. He called Brother Sylvester, a man of God and remarkable simplicity, and commanded him:

"Go to the gate of the city, and by Almighty God command the demons to leave the city as soon as possible".

The pious and simple friar hastened to obey, and after addressing God with a hymn of praise, he cried out at the door in a loud voice:

"From God and by order of our father Francis, go away from here, all of you demons!"

The town soon afterwards found peace and the citizens respected each other's civil rights with great tranquillity.

Later speaking to them, Francis at the beginning of his preaching said:

"I speak to you as people who were once subjugated and enslaved by demons. 'But I know that you have been delivered through the prayers of a poor man'" (FF 695).

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand" (Mk 3:24).

Clare of Assisi also had to fight several times.

In the Legend we find:

"Among the Hours of the Day, at the Sixth and Ninth, she is usually seized with greater compunction, wanting to immolate herself with the immolated Lord.

So it happened once that, while she was praying in her little cell at the Ninth Hour, the devil struck her on the jaw and bloodshot one of her eyes, and he gilded one of her cheeks" (FF 3215).

These two great witnesses of the faith knew that evil is envious of Good, but also that the latter takes ground from it inch by inch, since darkness cannot prevail over the Light.The will of God, the watershed of spiritual kinship

In this passage from Mark's Gospel, Jesus, with an astonishing twist of hand, explains who his mother and brothers are: those who embody the will of God.

After their conversion, Francis and Clare always sought God's will by looking to Mary, the handmaid of the Lord, she who had found favour with the Almighty by becoming the Mother of Jesus.

Francis, from the very beginning of his vocation-mission turned special and devoted attention to the Virgin.

The Sources make us aware of the extraordinary love for Her, summed up by a hieratic antiphon of the Poverello:

"Holy Virgin Mary, there is none like thee, born in the world, among women, daughter and handmaid of the most high King the heavenly Father, mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ, spouse of the Holy Spirit; pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel and with all the powers of heaven and with all the saints, to thy most holy beloved Son, Lord and Master" (FF 281).

Francis 'surrounded the Mother of Jesus with an unspeakable love, because she had made our brother the Lord of majesty' (FF 786).

But Clare herself was considered 'haughty Mary' when she arrived at the Portiuncula, where Francis and the brothers awaited her for her total dedication to God:

"After she had taken the insignia of holy penance before the altar of Saint Mary and, almost before the nuptial thalamus of the Virgin, the humble handmaid was married to Christ, immediately St Francis led her to the church of San Paolo*, with the intention that she should remain there until the Will of the Most High disposed otherwise" (FF 3172).

Like Mary, Clare pronounced her 'Fiat' to the will of the Father.

Oh how they both loved God's will!

Forgetting themselves, they adhered to the divine plan for them, each in her own time, each in her own groove.

In the Sources again:

"In the same way, then, that the glorious Virgin of virgins bore Christ materially in her womb, you too, following his vestiges, especially of his humility and poverty, can always, without any doubt, bear him spiritually in your chaste and virginal body.

And thou shalt contain in thee Him by whom thou and all creatures are contained, and shalt possess that which is most lasting and final good even in comparison with all the other transient possessions of this world" (FF 2893 - Letter three to Blessed Agnes of Prague).

Francis and Clare, following the example of the humble Mary of Nazareth, loved God's will for them in a sunny and lasting way.

In fact, in a concluding prayer of Francis, we contemplate his constant yearning to seek her and indulge her with abandon.

"Almighty, everlasting, just and merciful God, grant us wretches to do, by the power of your love, what we know that you want, and to always want what pleases you, so that, inwardly purified, inwardly enlightened and kindled by the fire of the Holy Spirit may we follow in the footsteps of your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and, with the help of your grace alone, come to you, O Most High, who in perfect Trinity and simple Unity live and reign glorious, Almighty God for ever and ever. Amen" (FF 234 - Letter to the whole Order).

"And responding, he said to them: Who is my mother and brothers? [...] Whoever does the will of God, that is my brother and sister and mother" (Mk 3:33, 35).

Francis, the jester of God, after Grace had made him a new creature, preferred to the natural family the one given him by the Father of mercies. 

Indeed, without hesitation, before the bishop of Assisi and all the onlookers, he stripped himself naked as a sign of abandonment, adding:

"Hitherto I have called you my father on earth; from now on I can say with all confidence: Our Father, who art in heaven, for in Him I have placed all my treasure and placed all my trust and hope" (FF 1043).

As if to say: "Did you not know that I must care for the things of my Father?" (Lk 2:49).

An eloquent response to the old world that let languish in its solace, preferring to taste the sweetness breathed at home in Nazareth.

Francis is in tune with the Holy Family: both in the personal and community dimensions developed around him.

In fact, he was nourished by poverty and simplicity, growing in age, Wisdom and Grace, before God and his beloved brothers.

He was submissive to every brother and sowed everywhere that extraordinary infused Wisdom, which comes to him from above, pure and yielding.

Mary accompanies him everywhere.

He clung to her at every important event, so much so that he called her the Advocate of the Order, she who had made our brother the Lord of Majesty.

And no less was Clare a part of the unique, silent Family of God, so fully that she received as a gift [by then ill and no longer able to go to church] to participate meaningfully in the Christmas Liturgy.

The Father of Mercies and the entire Nazarethian Family were with her. 

The Sources inform us:

"At that hour of Christmas (1252), when the world rejoices with the angels for the newborn Child, all the Women set out for Matins to the place of prayer, leaving the Mother alone burdened with her infirmity. 

And as she began to think of the little Jesus and was very sorry that she could not participate in the singing of his praises, she sighed and said to him:

"Lord God, here I am left alone for You!"

And suddenly the wonderful concert that was going on in the church of St Francis began to ring in her ears.

She heard the brothers psalm in jubilation, followed the harmonies of the singers, even perceived the sound of instruments.

The place was nowhere near enough to humanly perceive those sounds: either that solemn celebration was made divinely audible to her, or her hearing was strengthened beyond all human possibility.

Indeed, which surpasses this prodigy of hearing, she was worthy to see even the Lord's crib.

When, in the morning, the daughters came to her, the blessed Clare said:

"Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ, who did not leave me alone, when you abandoned me!

I have indeed heard, by the Grace of Christ, all those ceremonies that were celebrated this night in the church of St Francis" (FF 3212).

In the communities of Francis and Clare of Assisi, the spirit of the Family of Nazareth fermented, expert in suffering but also a place of genuine virtue. Clare, as 'another Mary', meditated in her heart on all the Mysteries of the Son of God.

Immaculate Heart of Mary (Lk 2:41-51)

Conforming more and more to the Gospel, Francis experienced total belonging to Christ, and shared his crucifixion - perfect Communion with the living Christ.

In his weakness, he recognised the special place, fertilised by Divine Mercy.

In the Sources:

"When he was staying in the hermitage, which from the name of the place is called Verna, two years before his death, he had a vision from God.

There appeared to him a man, in the form of a Seraphim, with six wings, hovering above him, his hands outstretched and his feet joined together, confined to a cross.

Two wings extended above his head, two unfolded to fly and two covered his entire body.

At that apparition the blessed servant of the Most High felt filled with infinite admiration, but he could not understand its meaning.

He arose sad and glad, for joy and bitterness alternated in his spirit.

While he was in this state of preoccupation and total uncertainty, behold: in his hands and feet began to appear the same nail marks that he had just seen in that mysterious crucified man.

His right side was also pierced as if by a lance blow, with a wide scar, and he often bled.

He had made a programme of not revealing his extraordinary secret to almost anyone, for fear that his friends would not resist the temptation to divulge it out of friendship, and he would fall from grace.

He constantly had on his lips the saying of the psalmist: In my heart I have put all thy words, that I might not sin before Thee.

«One of the soldiers struck his side with his spear and blood and water immediately came out» (Jn 19:34).

Friday of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Year B (Jn 19:31-37

To the scribes who ask what is the great commandment Jesus answers in a disconcerting way: Listen! Loving God and neighbour with all one's self is worth more than a thousand sacrifices!

To the scribe, who had understood all this, Jesus points out that he is not far from the Kingdom of God.

The life of Francis of Assisi is full of singular episodes that testify to the breadth of a new heart, marked by Love.

At the beginning of their community life, the brothers lived at Rivotorto, 3 km from the Portiuncula.

Here is what happened one night:

"One night, one of those sheep, while the others were sleeping, began to cry out, "I am dying, brothers, I am starving!"

The wise shepherd immediately got up and hastened to bring appropriate help to the infirm sheep.

He ordered the table to be prepared, even if it was with simple food [...].

It was he who began to eat first and invited the other brothers to that duty of charity, so that the poor man would not blush.

Having taken the food with the fear of the Lord, so that the act of charity might be complete, the Father gave his sons a long discourse on the virtue of discretion.

He warned them to always offer God a sacrifice seasoned with prudence, cautioning them to take their own strength into account in divine service [...].

Then he added:

"Beloved, what I have done in eating, know that it was done not out of greed, but out of dutiful care and because fraternal charity imposed it on me.

Let charity be an example to you, not food, because this satisfies gluttony, that instead satisfies the spirit". (FF 608).

The Poor Assisian had very clear ideas about the priorities to be given on the spiritual path.

For him, love of God with every fibre of his being and of his neighbour was a sweet truth carved into his heart in letters of fire.

In this regard, we are assisted by the Sources, rich in episodes of life.

Clare, a faithful disciple of Francis, did the same within the Damianite walls, always ready to serve lovingly the sisters of her community and those who knocked at the Monastery door.

"She washed the seats of the infirm, she cleansed them herself, with that noble spirit of hers, without shying away from filthiness or loathing the stench" (FF 3181).

"Very often he washed the feet of servants returning from outside and, washing them, kissed them" (FF 3182).

To love the Lord with all one's strength and one's neighbour as oneself is worth more than holocausts; the two Assisian giants had understood this well, testifying to all.

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your life and with all your mind and with all your strength [...] You shall love your neighbour as yourself" (Mk 12:30-31).

Thursday 9th wk. in O.T. (Mk 12,28b-34)

Jesus reminds us that those who are considered worthy of the future life will not have a wife or husband forever.

In this regard, the Sources have a very significant episode that makes one reflect.

"In the hermitage of the friars of Sarteano, the evil one, who always envies the spiritual progress of the sons of God, even had this presumption.

Seeing that the saint was continually striving for his sanctification, and did not neglect today's gain satisfied with that of the previous day, one night, while he was praying in his little cell, he called out to him three times: "Francis, Francis".

"What do you want?"

And that: 'There is no sinner in the world who does not obtain God's mercy if he repents. But whoever causes his own death by rigorous penance will not find mercy in eternity'.

The Saint immediately recognised, by revelation, the cunning of the enemy, as he sought to induce him to lukewarmness [...].

Seeing that in this way he had not succeeded in hiding the snare, he prepared another, that is, a carnal stimulus [...].

As soon as the Father notices [such temptation] he strips himself of his robe and scourges himself with extreme harshness with a piece of rope.

"Now Brother Donkey," he exclaims, "so you must submit, so suffer the scourge! The cassock is the Order's, it is not licit to misappropriate it [...]'.

But since he saw that with the blows of discipline the temptation would not go away [...] he went out into the garden and plunged naked into the deep snow.

Then taking the snow with his full hands he clutches it and makes seven piles of it in the shape of dummies, then he places himself before them and begins to speak to the body thus:

"Behold, this eldest is thy wife, these four, two are thy sons and two thy daughters; the other two are the servant and the maid, necessary for the service."

"Make haste, you must clothe them all because they are dying of cold. If then this multiple preoccupation is a burden to you, serve the Lord with diligence'.

"[...] and the Saint returned to his cell glorifying God" (FF 703).

"For when they rise from the dead, they neither take wives nor husbands, but are as angels in heaven" (Mk 12:25).

Wednesday, 9th wk. in O.T. (Mk 12:18-27)

In today's Gospel, the evangelist Mark proposes the theme of paying taxes to the emperor of Rome. 

The Pharisees and Herodians, in order to mislead Jesus, put a question to him:

"Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?" (Mk 12:14).

But the Lord answers with that wisdom which comes from above and which is his own:

"What [is] Caesar's, render to Caesar, and what is God's, to God" (Mk 12:17).

In the Franciscan Sources, the Assisian Minim shows the Wisdom of a Poor Man throughout his life.

At the beginning of his conversion he gives his money to a priest so that he can repair the church, realising that in this way he would render to God what was his, living distributive justice.

"The new knight of Christ approaches the church, and seeing it in that miserable condition, feels his heart clench.

He enters with reverential awe and, meeting a poor priest there, with great faith kisses his consecrated hands, offers him the money he carries and manifests to him his intentions.

Amazed at his sudden conversion, the priest almost did not believe what his ears heard and refused to take the money, fearing a hoax.

In fact he had seen him, as it were, the day before making merry among relatives and friends, surpassing all in foolishness.

But Francis insists and pleads with him repeatedly to believe his words, and begs him to take him in to serve the Lord.

And finally the priest allows him to stay with him, although he persists in refusing money, for fear of his relatives.

Then Francis, a true despiser of wealth, throws it over a small window, heedless of it as much as of the dust.

For he longed to possess the wisdom that is better than gold and to obtain the prudence that is more precious than silver' (FF 335).

After so much lasciviousness he wanted to give due weight to things and render to God what is his and to men what is theirs.

And the sources continue to illustrate the dynamics of his living in truth:

"Francis, supremely in love with God, had a great contempt for all earthly things, but above all he detested money.

He began to despise it in a very particular way from the very beginning of his conversion and advised his followers to flee it like the devil himself.

He had suggested to them this expedient, to make the same account of money and dung [...]" (FF 651).

Just as Jesus disconcerts the onlookers with his sharp response, so Francis, following in his footsteps, surprises everyone with a new existence under the banner of truth and justice.

Tuesday, 9th wk. in O.T. (Mk 12, 13-17)

Jesus narrates the metaphor of the murderous peasants. It was only at the end that the priests and Pharisees realised it was addressed to them, and tried 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 reproved, this one has become a cornerstone [...]'" (Mt 21:42).

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

Celano, in the Second Life, points out:

"He walked reverently over the stones, in regard to him who is called Stone. 'And having to recite the verse, which says: on the stone you have raised me up, he mutates the words thus for greater respect: 'Under the feet of the Stone you have 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 states 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 made 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 plan to build 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 any other foundation than that which 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 by Francis himself.

It was there that Lady Clare, also a native of Assisi, a most precious and strong stone, became the foundation stone 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, are placed (there finding place and meaning) stones made alive by Him to build the Kingdom of God by the power of the Spirit.

"Have you not read this Scripture: The stone which the builders rejected, this one has become the cornerstone [...]" (Mk 12:10)

Monday 9th wk. in O.T. (Mk 12,1-12)

In his particular faith journey, St Francis of Assisi always felt love for the Body and Blood of Christ.

He had a unified vision of faith, focused on the Word, on the Person of Jesus.

Not a Christ of devout remembrance, but living and life-giving, in unity with the brothers, in whom he saw his Face reflected.

The Sources inform us of what Francis says in the 'Letter to all Clerics':

"We know that there can be no Body if it is not first sanctified by the Word".

And in his Testament:

"And I want these most holy mysteries above all other things to be honoured, venerated, and placed in precious places."

"And wherever I find manuscripts with the most holy names and words of Him in indecent places, I want to collect them, and I pray that they be collected and placed in a decent place". (FF114).

"And we must honour and venerate all theologians and those who administer the most holy divine words, as well as those who administer the Spirit and life to us." (FF115).

And again:

"He burned with fervour in all his bowels for the Sacrament of the Lord's body and blood, admiring in amazement that worthiness full of charity and that charity full of worthiness [...]" (FF 1164).

Francis was in love with France, not because his Mother, Mona Pica, came from there, but because of the flourishing of the Eucharistic cult, of which James of Vitry, a convinced advocate, had informed him.

When he went to the woods or was particularly merry, he often sang praises in French.

The Sources testify to his visceral devotion to the Body of Christ.

The mere thought of the Lord's Supper, of how and how much Jesus had done for each soul, made him tremble in body and spirit. He considered it fundamental, in order to live the Gospel fully, that he and his brothers give themselves to their neighbour in every way and in every circumstance.

The Poverello had perfectly understood that everything is rhetoric if there is no effective Giving of oneself to one's brothers and sisters, who need a concrete witness to recognise Christ.

The Sources, a Franciscan treasure chest, attest to this truth he lived:

"Therefore, I beseech all of you brothers, kissing your feet and with all the love of which I am capable, that you lend, as far as you are able [...] all reverence and all honour to the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all things that are in heaven and on earth have been pacified and reconciled to Almighty God" (FF 217).

Again:

"For we possess and see bodily nothing in this world of the Most High Himself except the body and blood, the names and words by which we were created and redeemed 'from death to life'" (Letter of Francis to all clerics; FF 207).

And in Admonitions:

"Behold, every day he humbles himself, as when from the royal seat he descended into the womb of the Virgin; every day he himself comes to us in humble appearance; every day he descends from the bosom of the Father onto the altar, into the hands of the priest.

And as he showed himself to the holy apostles in the true flesh, so also now he shows himself to us in the consecrated bread.

'And just as they with the eyes of their body saw only the flesh of him, but contemplating him with the eyes of the spirit, they believed that he was the same God, so we too, seeing bread and wine with the eyes of the body, must see and firmly believe that this is his most holy body and blood alive and true' (FF 144).

Having, therefore, penetrated the Mystery by grace, Francis had become a living Eucharist, an effective gift of the One who inhabited it.

"He considered it a grave sign of contempt not to participate in the Eucharist, even a single one, if time permitted.

He communicated often and with such devotion that he made others devout too.

For, being filled with reverence for this venerable sacrament, he offered the sacrifice of all his limbs, and when he received the immolated Lamb, he immolated his spirit in that fire, which always burned on the altar of his heart.

This is why he wanted to die in France, because of the veneration it had for the sacred mysteries.

One day he wanted to send the friars into the world with precious pyxes, so that they might place the price of redemption in the most worthy place possible, wherever they saw it kept with little decorum" (FF 789).

"He wanted great respect to be shown to the hands of the priest, for to them was given the divine power to consecrate this sacrament.

"If I happened," he would often say, "to meet together a saint from heaven and a poor priest, I would greet the priest first and run to kiss his hands.

Indeed, I would say: Ouch! Wait, St Lawrence [a deacon, like Francis] because his hands touch the Word of life and possess superhuman power' " (FF 790).

And St Clare, faced with the shortage of bread in the monastery, by Grace obtained to multiply it.

"There was only one loaf of bread in the monastery, and already the mealtime and hunger were approaching.Called the dispenser, the Saint commands her to divide the bread and send one part to the brothers, to keep the other inside, for the sisters.

From this second half kept, he orders fifty slices to be cut, which was the number of the Women, and to present them to them on the table of poverty.

And to the devout daughter, who replied:

"It would take the ancient miracles of Christ, to be able to cut so little bread into fifty slices," the Mother replied, telling her:

"Do safely what I tell you, daughter!"

So the daughter hastens to carry out the Mother's command; and the Mother hastens to address pious sighs to her Christ, for her daughters.

And by divine Grace that scanty matter grows in the hands of the one who breaks it, so that there is an abundant portion for each member of the community" (FF 3189).

The love of Francis and Clare for the Body and Blood of Christ made them direct sharers in that Sacred Mystery.

Both were transformed into a living Eucharist, credible witnesses to the Bread of Life.

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 stemmed from his genuine holiness, rooted in humility, which silenced all insubordination among the brothers and the common people.

The humility of the Minim in the Assisian community made every hidden or overt pretension silent.

In the Sources there are interesting passages on this subject:

"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 utmost humility. For this reason, in the early days, when the brothers began to multiply, he wanted them to live in lazarettos to serve the 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 his position as prelate, saying in the presence of all the brothers present:

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

He once said to the General Minister:

"I want you to entrust the care you have 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 his conversion, together with his sisters, he promised obedience to blessed Francis, so he promises to maintain it inviolably to his successors" (Bull of Pope Innocent IV, 2752).

Behold with what authority Francis, in the footsteps of his Master, did these things!

"By what authority do you do these things? O who gave you this authority to do these things?" (Mk 11:28).

Saturday of the 8th wk. in O.T. (Mk 11:27-33)