Teresa Girolami
Teresa Girolami è laureata in Materie letterarie e Teologia. Ha pubblicato vari testi, fra cui: "Pellegrinaggio del cuore" (Ed. Piemme); "I Fiammiferi di Maria - La Madre di Dio in prosa e poesia"; "Tenerezza Scalza - Natura di donna"; co-autrice di "Dialogo e Solstizio".
What Fasting?
Jesus answers John's disciples about fasting. Now the Bridegroom is with them and they will not fast; when he is taken from them they will fast.
Logic that breaks down the legalistic mentality.
In the Sources we have various passages that highlight the Poor Man of Assisi's way of acting on this subject.
The Minim forbade excesses.
Francis knew well how to discern between the importance of fasting and exaggeration in practising it.
In his life, never did form take the place of substance. The Franciscan Sources illustrate:
"Francis reproached his brothers who were too hard on themselves and who were exhausted by vigils, fasts, prayers and corporal penances [...].
The man of God forbade such excesses, admonishing those brothers lovingly and calling them to common sense, healing their wounds with the medicine of wise instructions [...].
He spoke with them, identifying himself with their situation, not as a judge then, but as an understanding father with his children and as a compassionate doctor with his own sick.
He knew how to be sick with the sick, afflicted with the afflicted" (FF 1470).
All this while being "a new man, [who] with new virtues renewed the way of perfection that had disappeared from the world" (FF 3162).
As a mature and profoundly human person, he knew how to help his brothers, evaluating the different situations he had before him.
In the Legend of the Three Companions: "However, when it was appropriate, he chastised those who committed offences" (FF 1470).
Francis had received, by Grace, the immeasurable gift of true discernment.
The Little One did not betray substance for form: he kept both in a sensible human and spiritual balance.
«But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast» (Mt 9:15)
Saturday of the 13th wk. in O.T. (Mt 9:14-17)
In the search, the Encounter
On the first day of the week, Jesus came to the disciples while they were gathered behind closed doors.
He entrusted them with the mission of proclaiming the Good News, 'breathing' on them so that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
Thomas, who was absent, found it hard to believe and was rebuked by Jesus for demanding to see and touch, without accepting the testimony of the other disciples.
Yet Thomas sought a first-hand experience of the Risen One.
The Poor Man of Assisi and his brothers grew in faith through their active encounter with the Lord in the poverty they lived, in the solitude and prayer they experienced in their daily lives.
Faith in Jesus, who died on the cross as a criminal to assure us of eternal life, overflowed in the bare existence of Francis and his brothers.
It was certainly a divine gift, but also the fruit of a non-formal relationship that developed along the path they had taken.
It is worth remembering what the Sources attest:
"[Francis] taught them to praise God in all creatures; to honour priests with special veneration; to believe firmly and confess openly the truth of the faith [...]
They observed in everything the teachings of their holy father, and as soon as they saw a church or a cross from afar, they turned towards it, prostrated themselves humbly on the ground and prayed in the manner they had been taught" (FF 1069).
Chiara herself, in her Letter to Ermentrude of Bruges, regarding the life of Fede, suggests:
«Remain, therefore, my dearest, faithful until death to Him to whom you have bound yourself forever. And you will certainly be crowned by Him with the crown of life.
The time of toil here below is short, but the reward is eternal.
Do not be dazzled by the splendours of the world that pass like a shadow.
Do not be surprised by the empty images of this deceitful world; close your ears to the whispers of hell and strongly resist its temptations.
Bear adversity willingly, and do not let pride swell your heart in prosperous times; the former call you back to your faith, the latter demand it» (FF 2914).
The experience of God in their lives had been so strong, incisive and merciful that they could speak as no one had ever done before.
‘Thomas answered him and said, «The Lord of mine and the God of mine!»’ (Jn 20:28)
3 July, St Thomas the Apostle (Jn 20:24-29)
The Welcomings of Francis and Clare. Actively Taking Up the Cross
Francis and Clare: Littleness, and in the background. Personal Universality
Free of charge, quite simply: Francis and Clare’s ‘the Kingdom Nearby’
Franciscan Corpus Christi
Franciscan Most Holy Trinity
Franciscan PENTECOST. Gospel and Sources
Franciscan Ascension
Paraclete, Spirit of the Truth, Jesus’ Commandments, in Francis and Clare
And it is not enough that you belong to the Son of God, but you must be in him, as the members are in their head. All that is in you must be incorporated into him and from him receive life and guidance (Jean Eudes)
E non basta che tu appartenga al Figlio di Dio, ma devi essere in lui, come le membra sono nel loro capo. Tutto ciò che è in te deve essere incorporato in lui e da lui ricevere vita e guida (Giovanni Eudes)
Consequently, just as for Christ carrying the cross was not an option but a mission to be embraced for love, so it is for Christians too. In our world today, where the forces that divide and destroy seem to dominate, Christ does not cease to offer to all his clear invitation [Pope Benedict]
Come per Cristo, così pure per i cristiani portare la croce non è dunque facoltativo, ma è una missione da abbracciare per amore. Nel nostro mondo attuale, dove sembrano dominare le forze che dividono e distruggono, il Cristo non cessa di proporre a tutti il suo chiaro invito [Papa Benedetto]
We see this great figure, this force in the Passion, in resistance to the powerful. We wonder: what gave birth to this life, to this interiority so strong, so upright, so consistent, spent so totally for God in preparing the way for Jesus? The answer is simple: it was born from the relationship with God (Pope Benedict)
Noi vediamo questa grande figura, questa forza nella passione, nella resistenza contro i potenti. Domandiamo: da dove nasce questa vita, questa interiorità così forte, così retta, così coerente, spesa in modo così totale per Dio e preparare la strada a Gesù? La risposta è semplice: dal rapporto con Dio (Papa Benedetto)
The lamp is a symbol of the faith that illuminates our life, while the oil is a symbol of the charity that nourishes the light of faith, making it fruitful and credible (Pope Francis)
La lampada è il simbolo della fede che illumina la nostra vita, mentre l’olio è il simbolo della carità che alimenta, rende feconda e credibile la luce della fede (Papa Francesco)
Jesus wants our existence to be laborious, that we never lower our guard, so as to welcome with gratitude and wonder each new day given to us by God. Every morning is a blank page on which a Christian begins to write with good works (Pope Francis)
Gesù vuole che la nostra esistenza sia laboriosa, che non abbassiamo mai la guardia, per accogliere con gratitudine e stupore ogni nuovo giorno donatoci da Dio. Ogni mattina è una pagina bianca che il cristiano comincia a scrivere con le opere di bene (Papa Francesco)
And this is the problem: when the People put down roots in the land and are the depository of the Law, they are tempted to place their security and joy in something that is no longer the Word of God (Pope Benedict)
Ed ecco il problema: quando il popolo si stabilisce nella terra, ed è depositario della Legge, è tentato di riporre la sua sicurezza e la sua gioia in qualcosa che non è più la Parola del Signore (Papa Benedetto)
Despite the scarcity of information about him, St Bartholomew stands before us to tell us that attachment to Jesus can also be lived and witnessed to without performing sensational deeds. Jesus himself, to whom each one of us is called to dedicate his or her own life and death, is and remains extraordinary (Pope Benedict)
La figura di san Bartolomeo, pur nella scarsità delle informazioni che lo riguardano, resta comunque davanti a noi per dirci che l'adesione a Gesù può essere vissuta e testimoniata anche senza il compimento di opere sensazionali. Straordinario è e resta Gesù stesso, a cui ciascuno di noi è chiamato a consacrare la propria vita e la propria morte (Papa Benedetto)
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