Jesus in today's Gospel emphasises that the Trinity dwells in those who keep his Word.
He then mentions the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will teach them all things and will be the "Memory" of the disciples.
Looking at Francis and Clare we realise how the Spirit of the Lord guided their lives and was their counsellor.
The Major Legend of St. Bonaventure attests how Francis allowed himself to be led and instructed by the Spirit in compiling the Regola non bollata (1221).
"Therefore, guided by the Holy Spirit, he climbed a mountain with two companions and there, fasting on bread and water, dictated the Rule, according to what the divine Spirit suggested to him during prayer.
Having descended the mountain, he entrusted it to his vicar for safekeeping. But since the latter, a few days later, told him that he had lost it through neglect, the Saint returned again to the solitude and immediately re-did it in all respects as if he had received the words from the mouth of God.
He then obtained confirmation, as he had desired, from the aforementioned Pope Honorius, in the eighth year of his pontificate.
To encourage the brothers to observe it fervently, he said that he had put nothing of his own into it, but had everything written down as it had been revealed to him by God" (FF 1084).
He considered the Holy Spirit to be the Minister General of the Order and was convinced that he spoke to everyone, especially the simple.
In the Second Life of Celano we read:
"When Francis took the tonsure, he often repeated to those who cut his hair:
«Take care not to make my crown too wide! For I want my simple brothers to have a part in my head».
He wanted the Order to be open equally to the poor and unlettered, and not only to the rich and learned.
«With God,' he said, 'there is no preference of persons, and the Holy Spirit, the Minister General of the Order, rests equally on the poor and the simple» " (FF 779).
His singular unity with the Spirit he bore witness to in life and in death.
"In the twentieth year of his conversion, he asked to be taken to St Mary of the Portiuncula, to render to God the spirit of life there where he had received the spirit of grace.
When he was brought there, in order to prove that, after the model of Christ-Truth, he had nothing in common with the world, during that illness so severe that it ended his suffering, he prostrated himself in fervour of spirit, all naked on the bare earth: thus, in that extreme hour in which the enemy could still unleash his wrath, he would be able to wrestle naked with him.
So lying on the earth, after having laid down his sackcloth, he lifted his face to heaven, according to his custom, totally intent on that heavenly glory, while with his left hand he covered the wound on his right side, that it might not be seen.
And he said to the brothers:
«I have done my part; let Christ teach you yours» (FF 1239).
And Clare, gripped by the Spirit of the Lord, expressed herself thus in the second letter addressed to Agnes of Bohemia:
«And do not believe, and do not let yourself be seduced by anyone who would try to lead you astray from this purpose or put obstacles in your way, to prevent you from bringing back to the Most High your promises with that perfection to which the Spirit of the Lord invited you» (FF 2876).
«But the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you» (Jn 14:26)
Monday 5th wk. in Easter (Jn 14:21-26)
