Jesus warns against the ruthless justice of the Pharisees, urging respect for every brother and sister and reconciliation, which is the flavour of life as children of God.

Francis was a great spiritual teacher, almost without realising it.

He was convinced, by Grace, that justice always goes hand in hand with mercy.

A justice far removed from legalistic rigidity, eager to express itself in the fulfilment of God's will, always with respect for one's brother.

During the period when he was very ill, Francis learned that the bishop of Assisi had excommunicated the podestà of the city and that the latter had organised various reprisals against him.

Sick as he was, he was moved with pity for them, concerned that no one was interested in restoring harmony and peace between the two.

So he spoke to his brothers.

We find in the Sources: "It is a great shame for us, servants of God, that the bishop and the podestà hate each other so much, and no one takes the trouble to restore peace between them".

He then composed a verse to add to the Lauds (now known as the Canticle of the Creatures).

«... BE PRAISED, MY LORD/

FOR THOSE WHO FORGIVE FOR YOUR LOVE/

AND THEY SUPPORT IN THEMSELVES INFIRMITIES AND TRIBULATIONS/

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO BURY THEM IN PEACE,

FOR BY YOU, MOST HIGH, THEY WILL BE CROWNED».

This verse was sung by Francis to his friars on the square in front of the bishop's palace, in the presence of the two parties involved and other people.

Thus Francis holy favoured their reconciliation, and the bishop took the podestà in his arms, saying: "By virtue of my office, I should be humble. Unfortunately, I have a temperament prone to anger. I beg you to forgive me."

And so the two embraced and kissed each other cordially.

The Lord, through Francis, had touched the hearts of the two adversaries who, no longer remembering their mutual insults, returned to sincere harmony. (cf. FF 1593)

Justice and mercy are to be sought and asked of God first and foremost in prayer and silence, for a new heart is a gift from the Lord, a continuous exodus.

In the Rule of the Hermits, written by Francis, we read:

"And these [the friars] should have a cloister, in which each one has his own little cell, in which he can pray and sleep [...] and they should rise for matins, and first of all seek the kingdom of God and his justice" (FF 137).

In the same Praises of God Most High, Francis emphasises that God is justice:

"[...] You are justice,

You are temperance,

You are all our wealth in enough" (FF 261).

The Poor Man, knowing that the Lord-Justice called for a greater justice than that of manner, committed himself wholeheartedly to the Kingdom of Heaven and sought to teach his brothers to do the same.

He never forgot that mercy always prevails in God's judgement.

«For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and scribes, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven» (Mt 5:20)

Thursday, 10th wk. in Ordinary Time  (Mt 5:20-26)

In the Gospel passage proposed today, Jesus speaks of having come to give full fulfilment to the Law.

So do not tear down or transgress the Word, but observe it by loving. Love is the true fulfilment of the Law of the Lord, which is perfect and refreshes the soul.

Francis understood this well by living and teaching his fraternity to do the same.

The Sources provide, through various pieces, precious examples of life. In the Letter to the rulers of the peoples:

"I beseech you [...] with all the reverence of which I am capable, not to forget the Lord, absorbed as you are by the cares and cares of this world, and not to deviate from his commandments, for all those who forget the Lord and depart from his commandments are accursed and will be forgotten by him" (FF 211).

At the same time, the Poverello, with that balance and elasticity that distinguished him, emphasised:

"And whenever necessity arises, let all the brothers, wherever they may be, be allowed to take all the food that men can eat, just as the Lord says of David, who ate the loaves of the offering that were not allowed to be eaten except by priests [...] Similarly, in times of manifest necessity, let all the brothers provide for their necessities as the Lord will give them grace, since necessity has no law" (FF 33).

According to Francis' thought, what harms love is detraction. In fact, in the Major Legend, we read:

"The vice of detraction, the radical enemy of piety and grace, had him in horror like the bite of the serpent and like the most harmful pestilence [...].

"The wickedness of detractors," he would say, "is all the greater than that of thieves, the greater the force with which the law of Christ, which finds its fulfilment in love, obliges us to desire the salvation of souls more than that of bodies"" (FF 1141).

Clare herself, in the Rule warns:

"I admonish, then, and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that the sisters beware of all pride, vainglory, envy, avarice, care and solicitude of this world, of detraction and murmuring, of discord and division" (FF 2809).

"Let them always be solicitous to preserve mutually the unity of mutual charity, which is the bond of perfection" (FF 2810).

Love was the Rule of the brothers and the Poor Ladies of San Damiano: "[...] and so, bearing the yoke of mutual charity, with ease shall we fulfil the law of Christ. Amen." (FF 2918 - Letter to Ermentrude of Bruges).

«Do not believe that I have come to tear down the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to demolish, but to fulfil» (Mt 5:17)

Wednesday, 10th wk. in O.T.  (Mt 5,17-19)

In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks of the witness we are called to give with our lives, to be salt and light for all.

Francis, in his journey of faith, sought to please God with a savoury existence and a luminous life, irrigated by Grace.

Chiara herself, always united with her Spouse Jesus, was prophetically chosen to be what her name meant: light, brightness for the world.

Their witness shines forth in the Sources.

In the Letter of Brother Elia, written immediately after Francis' death, the experience of the friars alongside their father and the fragrance of life they breathed is evident.

"Truly, the presence of our brother and father Francis was the true light, not only for us who were his companions in the same profession of life, but also for those who were far away.

He was, in fact, a light brought forth from the true light, the one who enlightens those who were in darkness and sat in the shadow of death, to direct their steps on the path of peace.

This he did, like true midday light.

The light that came from above illuminated his heart and warmed his will with the fire of his love" (FF 307).

This was the experience of those who knew him closely.

But Chiara herself, in the collection of letters compiled for the wonderful dialogue with Agnes of Bohemia, offers passages that are the measure of her heart and her life-light.

In the fourth letter we read:

"And since this vision of him is the splendour of eternal glory, the brightness of everlasting light and a mirror without blemish, every day bring your soul, O queen, bride of Jesus Christ, to this mirror and gaze continually at your face in it, so that you may thus adorn yourself entirely within and without, clothed and surrounded by variety, and be equally adorned with the flowers and garments of all the virtues, as befits you, daughter and beloved bride of the supreme King" (FF 2902).

The purity of Francis and Clare had reached such heights that, as St Bonaventure says, the whole machinery of the world was placed at the service of the sanctified senses of these two splendid figures.

Everything in their poor and simple existence became a clear and profound testimony to the praise of God.

«Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven» (Mt 5:16)

Tuesday of the 10th wk. in Ordinary Time  (Mt 5:13-16)

The passage in today's liturgy highlights the figure of Mary at the foot of the cross, as Mother of all believers - and the blood and water that flowed from the side of Christ, struck by the lance [which nourishes a broad symbolism].

Francis and Clare always had a great fondness for Mary, considered their mother, and of all souls.

There is a prayer of Francis that begins like this:

"Hail, Lady, Holy Queen, /Holy Mother of God, Mary, /Who art a virgin made Church" (FF 259 - Salutation to the Blessed Virgin Mary).

When Clare left the worldly life to follow Jesus in the footsteps of Francis, she was received at St Mary of the Portiuncula, a place dedicated precisely to Mary, the Mother of Christ.

In the Legend we read:

"Abandoning [...] house, city and relatives, he hastened to St Mary of the Portiuncula, where the brothers, who were keeping vigil in prayer at the little altar of God, welcomed the virgin Clare with lighted torches" (FF 3170).

"Nor would it have been right that, in the evening of time, the Order of flourishing virginity should germinate elsewhere, if not there, in the temple of her who, first of all and of all the most worthy, alone was mother and virgin.

This is that famous place where the new host of the poor, led by Francis, began: so that it appears clearly that it was the Mother of mercy who gave birth in her dwelling place to the one and the other Order" (FF 3171).

But Francis and Clare of Assisi always had before their eyes the Passion of Jesus, and that gesture made by a soldier, as the Son of God hung from the cross, of striking his side with a lance; and the price paid with his blood to redeem souls.

In the Major Legend we note a passage that gives the measure of what is said:

"Piety elevated him to God by means of devotion, transformed him into Christ by means of compassion, made him turn towards his neighbour by means of condescension and, reconciling him to all creatures, brought him back to the state of primitive innocence.

For she felt great attraction towards creatures, but in a special way towards souls, redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus; and, when she saw them polluted by the ugliness of sin, she pitied them with such tender pity, that every day she bore them, like a mother, in Christ" (FF 1134).

In his Letter to the whole Order, Francis writes:

"I beseech all of you, brethren [...] 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).

The Mother and her Son Jesus occupied the entire life of the two Poor Men, guiding them in every work.

«Woman, behold your son» (Jn 19:26)

«But one of the soldiers struck his side with his spear, and immediately there came out blood and water» (Jn 19:34)

[Monday after Pentecost: B.V. Mary Mother of the Church (Jn 19:25-34)]

The Gospel of the Solemnity of Pentecost highlights, through Jesus, the sending of the Holy Spirit: «whom the Father will send in my name» (Jn 14:26), says the Lord.

Francis of Assisi lived and served under the sign of the Holy Spirit, considered the Minister General of the Order.

He was, in fact, frequently visited by Him, who guided him interiorly.

In Celano's Second Life, we are given a very interesting passage:

"It is not right to omit the memory of the spiritual building, much more noble than the material one, which the Father, after the repair of the church*, raised in that place under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to increase the heavenly city.

And it cannot be believed that Christ spoke to him from the wood of the Cross in such a wonderful way as to instil fear and sorrow in those who hear about it, only to repair a falling building destined to perish.

But, as the Holy Spirit had once foretold, an Order of holy virgins was to arise there, destined to be transferred in due course, like a chosen mass of living stones, to restore the heavenly house.

Indeed, after the virgins of Christ began to gather in that place, coming from various parts of the world, and professed their commitment to the highest perfection, observing the utmost poverty in the splendour of every virtue, the Father gradually withdrew his physical presence from them. However, he intensified his care for them, loving them even more in the Holy Spirit.

In fact, when the Father, from the numerous proofs of the highest perfection they had given, knew them to be ready to endure every earthly harm and every sacrifice for Christ [...] he promised firmly to them and to the others [...] that he would give them his help and counsel and that of his brothers in perpetuity.

As long as he lived, he always kept these promises scrupulously, and as he was about to die, he commanded with concern that they should always be kept, because, he said, "one and the same spirit brought the friars and those poor women out of this evil world" (FF 793).

A continuous Pentecost rained down on the Order, especially during the lifetime of Francis and Clare, a fragrance of the Spirit that went beyond the walls and spread everywhere.

In the Form of Life, written by Francis for the Damianite sisters (preserved in the same Rule of Clare), we read:

"Since, by divine inspiration, you have become daughters and handmaids of the most high King, the heavenly Father, and have married the Holy Spirit, choosing to live according to the perfection of the holy Gospel, I want and promise on behalf of myself and my brothers to always have special care and concern for you, as for them" (FF 139).

Francis and Clare and their fraternities lived contemplating and welcoming the Breath of the Spirit, their Master and Friend.

* This refers to the church of Saint Damian.

Pentecost Sunday C  (Jn 14:15-16, 23b-26)

Addressing Peter, Jesus asks him to follow him [«Me, Follow» Jn 21:22] instead of worrying about the future of the beloved disciple.

Following is a theme strongly felt by Francis - in the first person, for his brothers, and not only.

In fact he founded no less than three Orders, because of his extraordinary desire to follow and have others follow in Christ's footsteps; religious or lay, so much so that, inflamed, he repeated:

"I want to send you all to Paradise".

The Sources, a travel tool in the Franciscan journey, give interesting passages on this subject.

"Some began to feel invited to do penance by his example and to join him, in dress and in life, leaving everything behind.

The first of them was the "venerable Bernard", who, having been made partaker of the divine vocation, deserved to be the first-born son of the blessed father, first in time and holiness.

Bernard, having witnessed for himself the holiness of Christ's servant, decided to follow his example, abandoning the world completely. Therefore he turned to him, to know how to realise this intention" (FF 1053).

Crowds followed Jesus, but many souls also followed the poor disciple of Assisi.

In fact, in the Fioretti, an episode is narrated in which Brother Masseo, wanting to prove the saint's humility, asked Francis why the whole world should go after him. The Poor Man began thus:

"[...] Saint Francis replies:

"Which is what you mean?"

Brother Masseo said:

"I say, why is the whole world directed to you, and every person seems to desire to see you and hear you and obey you? Thou art not a handsome man of the body, thou art not of great learning, thou art not noble; whence then to thee should all the world come after thee?".

Hearing this holy Francis, all joyful in spirit, raising his face to heaven, for a long time he remained with his mind lifted up in God; and then returning to himself, he knelt down and gave praise and grace to God; and then with great fervour of spirit he turned to Brother Masseo and said

"Do you want to know why all the world comes after me? [...] those most holy eyes have seen no one among sinners more vile, nor more insufficient, nor greater sinner than I [...] and therefore to do that marvellous operation, which he intends to do, he has not found a more vile creature on earth; and therefore he has chosen me to confound the nobility and greatness and the strength and beauty and wisdom of the world, so that it may be known that all virtue and all good is from him" (FF 1838).

And in Clare's Spiritual Testament we read:

"Among the other benefits, which we have received and daily receive from our Giver, the Father of mercies, for which we are greatly bound to render to Him glorious living graces, great is that of our vocation. And the greater and more perfect it is, the more we are obliged to him" (FF 2823).

All the rest, in the life of Clare as in that of Francis, is nothing but the response of the Spirit, who guides both on the same path, in the footsteps of Christ, marvelling.

Saturday of the 7th wk in Easter  (Jn 21:20-25)

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)