Chapter twenty-one of John, in its concluding part, puts on the lips of Jesus the repeated verb «to shepherd» after the question asked to Peter: «Do you love me?» (Jn 21:15, 16); «Do you care for me?» (Jn 21:17).

Being a shepherd and shepherding the sheep of the flock had been for Francis the principal work of his singular journey.

This solicitous call always constituted for Francis the fundamental motive for his life.

In the Sources there are passages that well illustrate this vocation.

In the Major Legend in particular:

"Although he encouraged the brothers to an austere life with all his might, he disliked that intransigent severity which does not cover the heart of piety and is not seasoned with the salt of discretion.

One friar, due to excessive fasting, could not sleep at all one night, tormented as he was by hunger.

Realising the pitiful shepherd that his sheep was in danger, he called the friar, put some bread in front of him and, to prevent him from blushing, he began to eat first, while gently inviting the other to eat.

The friar cast off his shame and took food with great joy, for by his vigilance and condescension, the Father had spared him the harm of the body and given him cause for great edification.

In the morning, the man of God assembled the brothers and, referring to what had happened that night, added this providential admonition:

"To you, brothers, let not food but charity be an example".

He taught them, then, to always follow in the pursuit of virtue, the discretion that is its charioteer; not the discretion counselled by human wisdom, but that taught by Christ with his most holy life, which certainly is the declared model of perfection" (FF 1095).

Francis was a pastor of refined intuition, ready to educate with love and respect for others, starting with the smallest.

Friday of the 7th wk. in Easter  (Jn 21:15-19)

In the concluding part of chapter seventeen of John, Jesus repeatedly returns to the theme of unity, asking the Father for his own that «all the people may be One» (Jn 17:21).

Francis had always cherished the milestone value of unity, of concord with both his brothers and fellow citizens.

There is a passage in the Sources, in the Second Life of Celano, which highlights how the Poor Man, while preaching to the people of Perugia, predicts civil war and praises concord.

"A few days later the Father came down from the aforesaid cell and addressing the brothers present said in a voice of tears:

"The Perugini have done much harm to their neighbours* and their hearts have grown proud, but to their ignominy. For God's vengeance draws near and he already has the sword in his hand".

He waited a few days, then in fervour of spirit, headed for Perugia.

The friars could deduce with all certainty that he had had a vision in his cell.

Having arrived in Perugia, he began to speak to the people who had gathered.

And as the knights prevented the Word of God from being heard, jousting, according to custom, and performing shows of arms, the Saint, greatly grieved, apostrophised them:

"O wretched and foolish men, who reflect not and fear not the punishment of God!

But listen to what the Lord is announcing to you through this poor man.

The Lord has raised you above those around you, and for this you should be more benevolent towards your neighbour and more grateful to God.

And instead, ungrateful for so much benefit, you attack your neighbours with weapons in your fist, kill them and plunder them.

Well, I say to you:

you shall not get away with it! The Lord to your greater punishment will bring you to ruin with a fratricidal war, which will see you rise up against one another.

You will be taught out of indignation, for you have learned nothing from benevolence.

Shortly afterwards strife broke out*: people took up arms against their neighbours, the commoners raged against the knights and these, in turn, against the people:

Such was the atrocity and slaughter, that even the neighbours, who had also been harmed, felt pity.

Punishment well deserved! They had turned away from the One and Supreme God: it was inevitable that not even among them would unity remain.

There can be no stronger bond for a state than a convinced love for God, united to a sincere faith without hypocrisy' (FF 622).

And in the Canticle of the Creatures here is a very significant expression, which ties in well with what has been said:

«beati quelli ke trovarà ne le Tue sanctissime voluntati, / ka la morte seconda no ‘L farrà male» (FF 263).

[Blessed are those whom Thou wilt find in Thy holy will,/ so that the second death will do them no harm].

Francis worked concretely so that the Unity, for which Christ had died on the cross, might dwell among his sons and daughters.

* It was fought between Assisi and Perugia on several occasions from 1202 to 1209.

Francis seems here to hint at his imprisonment.

* The civil strife flared up several times: in 1214, in 1217 and finally in 1223-1225, and ended with the exile of the nobles.

Thursday of the 7th wk. in Easter  (Jn 17:20-26)

In today's passage from John's Gospel Jesus pronounces a phrase that is both wonderful and challenging: «Holy Father, keep them in your Name which you have given me, that they may be One like us» (John 17:11b).

This expression contains an inexhaustible treasure and is the motor and raison d'être of every mission.

Francis consumed himself, and so did Clare, for the cause of unity in the fraternity and in the world, because peace also derives from it.

In the 'Franciscan workshop' of the Sources we find a range of passages that, directly and indirectly, point to the unity pursued by the Assisian Poor.

In the Letter to the Faithful:

"Oh, how glorious and holy and great it is to have a Father in heaven!

Oh, how holy, how consoling, how beautiful and admirable it is to have such a Spouse!

Oh, how holy, how delightful, how pleasant, how humble, how peaceful, how sweet and lovable and above all desirable to have such a brother and son, who offered his life for his sheep and prayed to the Father for us, saying

"Holy Father keep them in thy name [...] that they may be sanctified in unity, as we are" (FF 201).

Celano's Second Life:

"It was his constant desire and vigilant care to maintain among his children the bond of unity, so that those who had been drawn by the same spirit and begotten by the same father would live together in one mother's womb.

He wanted the major and minor to merge, the learned to be bound with fraternal affection to the simple, the religious, though far apart, to feel united by the cement of love" (FF 777).

Francis also recommended unity of hearts to the poor sisters of St Damiano and in the Rule of Clare:

"For the purpose of preserving the unity of mutual charity and peace, let all those in charge of the offices of the monastery be elected by common consent of all the sisters" (FF 2782).

For the sake of all this Francis composed a song for the Damianite sisters, knowing them to be distressed by his infirmity, and, not being able to go to them in person, he sent some of his companions to make the recluses hear that song.

"In it Francis proposed to manifest to the sisters, then and forever, his ideal: that they should be one heart in charity and fraternal coexistence, since when the brothers were still few, they had been converted to Christ, following the example and advice of him, Francis" (FF 1594).

United to Jesus in order to be united among them, in his footsteps.

The concluding prayer of the Poverello, in the Letter to the whole Order, reads:

"Almighty, eternal, just and merciful God, grant to us miserable people 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 in simple Unity live and reign glorious, Almighty God for ever and ever. Amen" (FF 233).

Wednesday of the 7th wk. in Easter  (Jn 17:11b-19)

Jesus addresses the Father, telling Him to glorify Him so that the Son may glorify Him, as He prays for those entrusted to Him in His immense and impervious mission.

The beginning of this chapter, illustrating the wonderful priestly prayer of Christ, transfers us to the world of prayer of Francis of Assisi, liturgist of the universe and of humanity.

In the Sources we find equivalent passages - pearls of Franciscan contemplation.

In the Letters of the Minim of Assisi:

"Oh, how glorious and holy and great it is to have a Father in heaven!

Oh, how holy, how consoling, how beautiful and how admirable it is to have such a Spouse!

Oh, how holy, how delightful, how pleasant, how humble, how peaceful, how sweet and lovable and above all things desirable to have such a brother and son, who offered his life for the sheep and prayed to the Father for us, saying:

"Holy Father, keep in thy name those whom thou hast given me. Father, all those you gave me in the world were yours and you gave them to me [...]" (FF 201).

And again:

"To him who suffered so much for us, who bestowed so much good and who will bestow so much good on us in the future, to God, every creature who lives in the heavens, on earth, in the sea and in the deep, give praise, glory, honour and blessing, for he is our virtue and our strength. He alone is good, alone is most high, alone is almighty, alone is admirable, and alone is holy, worthy of praise, and blessed for ever and ever. Amen" (FF 202).

The same sons of Francis, after the departure of their holy father, we see them praying with words and attitudes that recall the priestly prayer of Jesus.

"Remember, O Father, all your children. You, O most holy one, know perfectly well how, distressed by grave dangers, they only follow in your footsteps from afar. Give them strength to endure, purify them that they may shine, make them fruitful that they may bear fruit. Obtain that the spirit of grace and prayer may be poured out upon them, that they may have the true humility that thou hast had, observe the poverty that thou hast followed, merit that charity with which thou hast always loved Christ Crucified. He lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen" (FF 820).

«I pray for them; I do not pray for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours» (Jn 17:9)

Tuesday 7th wk. in Easter  (Jn 17:1-11a)

Left alone by the disciples, Jesus responds to them by reminding and emphasising his Communion with the Father.

He invites them to Peace, urging them to be courageous - because He has overcome the world.

Francis faced adversity with courage, knowing that it is inevitable for those who love the Kingdom.

The Poor Man met them everywhere, but he related to the trials by singing, because Jesus had triumphed over them.

The Sources tell of an episode that occurred near Caprignone:

"Dressed in rags, he who once adorned himself in purple robes, goes out into a thicket, singing the praises of God in French.

Suddenly, some ruffians rush in on him, brutally asking him who he is.

The man of God responds fearlessly and confidently:

"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 robbers are gone, leaps out of the ditch and, all joyful, resumes singing loudly, filling the forest with praises to the Creator of all things" (FF 346).

Example of courage and trust in the Lord!

Francis, whose name comes from the ancient German and means 'free', just freely continued on his way through the storms of the world.

The courage to which Jesus called, he asked for in prayer.

In the Major Legend it is narrated:

(FF 346) "The fellow citizens, seeing him bleak in the face and changed in spirit, believing him to be out of his mind, threw mud and stones from the streets at him, and, shouting and clamouring, insulted him as a madman, a demented person.

But the servant of God, without becoming discouraged or upset by the insults, passed through the midst of them, as if he were deaf" (FF 1041).

«In the world you have tribulation. But take courage! I have overcome the world» (Jn 16:33).

Monday of the 7th wk. in Easter  (Jn 16:29-33)

Luke's Gospel passage highlights Jesus' mandate to his own, sent to preach the Word to all peoples.

Jesus emphasises that «in his name conversion for the remission of sins would be preached to all peoples» (Lk 24:47).

Francis, a faithful Herald of Christ and constant proclaimer of the Word, always had at heart the spreading of the Good News of the Kingdom for the salvation of every brother.

In the Sources, the path of his first experiences of faith, we find confirmation of this attitude.

In the Early Life of Celano we read:

"He was truly steadfast and constant in the good, and sought nothing else but to do God's will. And indeed, when he even preached the word of the Lord before thousands of people, he was calm and confident, as if he were speaking to his brother and companion.

In his eyes an immense multitude of hearers was like one man, and with the same diligence he used for the crowds he preached to a single person.

From the purity of his heart he drew the certainty of his word, and even when suddenly invited, he knew how to say wondrous things that had never been heard before' (FF 447).

In the Major Legend, then, his way of proclaiming the Gospel is highlighted.

"People of all ages and sexes ran to see and hear that new man, given from heaven to the world.

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

In fact, in the name of the Lord, Francis, preacher of the truth, drove out demons, healed the sick, and, an even greater miracle, by the efficacy of his word he softened and moved the obstinate to penance and, at the same time, restored health to bodies and hearts" (FF 1212).

The Poor Man of Assisi, aware of the sufferings of Christ, drew strength for his proclamation from the teachings of Jesus.

He perceived Christ's ascension to the Father as a going of Him to "prepare a place for us".

For this reason, inflamed by the mission entrusted by the Lord to his disciples, he preached the Gospel to every creature under heaven, praying constantly.

Ascension of the Lord  (Lk 24:46-53)

The passage from Luke proposed by the Liturgy today presents the visit of Mary, Mother of Jesus, to her cousin Elizabeth. Both are awaiting the birth of their son, whom they carry in their wombs. An expectation comforted by a gasp of joy in Elizabeth's womb and the hymn of the Magnificat on Mary's lips.

It is a splendid encounter that testifies to the great works of God in those who believe in Him.

Francis and Clare lived their encounter and that with every creature as a Visitation of Grace to them, rejoicing and being moved by the beauty of the divine work. 

There are passages in the Sources that hint at this.

It is enough to glance at Clare's Letters to her spiritual daughter, Agnes of Bohemia, to realise how, although distant from each other, they rejoiced in the wonders God worked in them, communicating them to each other.

"To the venerable and most holy virgin, Donna Agnes, daughter of the exalted and most illustrious King of Bohemia, Clare, unworthy servant of Jesus Christ and useless handmaiden of the women recluses of the monastery of San Damiano, his subject in all things and servant [...] wish you to attain the glory of eternal happiness" (FF 2859 - Letter prima).

"Mindful of your purpose, like another Rachel, always keep the starting point before your eyes. The results you have achieved, keep them; what you do, do well; do not stop; but on the contrary, with a swift and light step, with a sure footing, that not even the dust may retard your progress, cautiously advance confidently, joyfully and solicitously along the path of beatitude" (FF 2875 - Letter II).

And again:

"I admire you [...] clasping to yourself, through humility, with the strength of faith and the arms of poverty, the incomparable treasure, hidden in the field of the world and of human hearts, with which is bought Him who from nothingness drew all things" (FF 2885 - letter three).

"Place your eyes before the mirror of eternity, place your soul in the splendour of glory, place your heart in Him who is the figure of the divine substance, and be transformed entirely, through contemplation, into the image of His divinity" (FF 2888 - Letter Three).

So Clare, amiably, exhorts Agnes:

"In the same way, then, that the glorious Virgin of virgins bore Christ materially in her womb, you too, following his vestiges, especially 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 other transient possessions of this world" (FF 2893 - letter three).

The dance of joy of these two great souls visited by Grace highlights how the Lord, from generation to generation, continues to fulfil His plans of salvation in a wondrous and unstoppable manner.

«My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit exults in God, my Saviour, because he has turned his gaze to the lowliness of his servant» (Lk 1:46b-48a)

Visitation B.V. Mary, 31 May  (Lk 1:39-56)

Jesus speaks to His own saying: «Your Joy no one can take away from you» (Jn 16:22).

The happiness that comes from Him is lasting, it is authentic because it is founded on non-worldly pillars.

Francis found joy in poverty and fraternity. Even more so in prayer, in the inner relationship with Christ.

It was his joy that came from being the Herald of the Great King, who rested his feet in the footsteps of the Son of God.

In the Sources, the source of the original Franciscan experience, there are passages that corroborate this.

Celano, the diligent biographer, in the Vita prima, informs about the fraternal and joyful life of the brothers:

"As faithful devotees of the most holy poverty, since they possessed nothing, they attached themselves to nothing, and feared nothing to lose.

They were content with a single tunic, sometimes mended inside and out, so poor and unrefined that in that garment they appeared as true crucifiers to the world, and they tightened it at the hips with a rope, and wore rough breeches.

Their holy purpose was to remain in that state, having nothing else. They were therefore always serene, free from all anxieties and thoughts, without anxieties about the future; they did not even worry about securing a hospice for the night, even if they suffered great discomfort on the journey. Often, during the coldest cold, finding no hospitality, they would huddle in an oven, or spend the night in some cave" (FF 388).

In the Legend of the Three Companions, Francis and Brother Aegidius vibrate with joy in the Lord:

"Francis together with Egidio went to the March of Ancona, the other two set out for another region. On their way to the March, they exulted joyfully in the Lord.

Francis, in a loud and clear voice, sang the praises of the Lord in French, blessing and glorifying the goodness of the Most High. So great was their joy, that they seemed to have discovered a magnificent treasure in the evangelical estate of Lady Poverty, for the love of which they had generously and spontaneously got rid of every material possession, considering it as rubbish [...]" (FF 1436).

And Clare rejoices in knowing how Agnes of Prague, her beloved daughter in the Spirit, progresses in the interior life, so much so as to say:

"On hearing the wonderful fame of your holy religious life, which has not only reached me, but has spread magnificently over almost the entire face of the earth, I am filled with joy in the Lord and I rejoice; and not only I can rejoice in this, but all those who serve or wish to serve Jesus Christ" (FF 2860).

The two Poor of Assisi lived their unadorned existence, projected into the Gospel of Jesus; they rested on the Word, which prepared them for endless bliss.

Awaiting the return of Christ, they had prepared their lives by offering them to union with God and their brothers.

With joy they welcomed favourable and (at least in appearance) contrary experiences, knowing that God is faithful to his promises and to the simple ones who follow him.

Friday of the 6th wk. in Easter  (Jn 16:20-23a)

In chapter sixteen of John's Gospel, close to his return to the Father, Jesus says to his disciples:

«You will be sad, but your sadness will become joy» (Jn 16:20).

Francis had a brilliant ability, inspired from above, to transform every sadness into joy, in anticipation of blessed hope.

He had taught, for example, Brother Leo, God's sheep, to find perfect joy in being rejected and unrecognised by others.

He found joy in suffering at the mere thought that Jesus had experienced it first and that it was a noble way of uniting with Him.

He felt sadness at the bad testimonies among his own, but he was shaken by God himself before this kind of bitterness, for the Lord reminded him that everything was in his hand.

The various melancholies of the journey were transformed by the Poor Man, by the power of the Spirit, into opportunities for grace - thinking of the return of Jesus and the blessed union.

In the Sources, a jewel of original testimonies, we discover the beauty of such dynamics that faith in God and the efficacy of the Word worked out in the Minim.

"One day he saw one of his companions with a sad and melancholic face. Grudgingly enduring it, he told him:

"The servant of God must not show himself to others sad and angry, but always serene.

To your sins, reflect in your room and in the presence of God weep and groan. But when you return among the brothers, leave sadness behind and conform to others".

And, a little later:

"The adversaries of human salvation have much envy of me, and since they cannot upset me directly, they always try to do so through my companions."

He loved then so much the man full of spiritual gladness, that as a general admonition he had these words written in a chapter

"Let the brothers beware that they do not show themselves to be sad on the outside and gloomy like hypocrites, but let them show themselves to be joyful in the Lord, cheerful and suitably gracious" " (FF 712).

And again, in the Second Life of Celano, we find Francis instructing on how to behave in turmoil:

"The servant of God," he explained, "when he is troubled, as it happens, by something, he must get up at once to pray, and persevere before the Supreme Father until He restores to him the joy of his salvation. For if they remain in sadness, that Babylonian evil will grow and, in the end, will generate an indelible rust in the heart, if it is not removed with tears" (FF 709).

Francis, an expert on life in the Spirit, used to say to his own:

"Demons can do no harm to the servant of Christ when they see him holy and joyful. 'If, on the other hand, the soul is melancholic, desolate and weeping, with all ease it is either overcome by sadness or is carried away to frivolous joys' (FF 709).

While waiting to be reunited with his Lord, he wanted to live everything in unity of Spirit with Him, who had given all of Himself for every creature.

Thursday, 6th wk. in Easter  (Jn 16:16-20)