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)]
