In today's passage Jesus asks Peter if he really loves him and, to the disciple's affirmative answer, he adds to begin to shepherd his lambs, to begin with the little ones.

In Francis, an authentic witness of the Lord is given to the brothers and to the world, who opens a new way for every man of good will. In the Poverello, the request of Jesus is concretely incarnated.

In this sense, the Prologue of the Major Legend is illuminating:

"The Grace of God, our Saviour, in these last times has appeared in his servant Francis, to all those who are truly humble and truly friends of holy poverty.

For while they venerate in him the superabundance of God's mercy, they are instructed by his example to radically deny ungodliness and worldly desires, to live in conformity with Christ and to yearn, with insatiable thirst and desire, for blessed hope.

On him, truly poor and contrite of heart, God rested His gaze with great condescension and goodness; He not only lifted him, a beggar, from the dust of worldly life, but made him a champion, guide and herald of evangelical perfection and chose him as a light for believers, so that, having become a witness to the light, he might prepare for the Lord the way of light and peace in the hearts of the faithful" (FF 1020).

So in Francis, in the footsteps of Jesus, a way of salvation opened up for everyone, a precious presence for the brothers and all humanity.

How many times did he reassure his own with his benevolent presence!

Before the strong wind of trials, he always comforted them, helping them to overcome them, exhorting them not to fear.

In him, God was tangibly present, special and multifaceted, offering a path of newness and redemption.

The major legend recalls:

"As a shrewd architect, he wanted to build himself on the foundation of humility, as he had learned from Christ" (FF 1103).

That is why his figure acquired authority simply by making himself small, attesting with his life to the divine Presence in him, which worked admirably.

Clare herself, full of divine love, by now close to her departure, came to say to her soul:

"Go in safety," she told her, "for you have a good escort on the journey.

Go because He who created you, has sanctified you and always looking upon you as a mother his son, has loved you with tender love" (FF 3252).

As if to say: do not fear, for the Lord has already led you on the path of redemption, He is with you!

With Jesus, every headwind is overcome "from below" - and the horizon shows up-to-date ramifications of salvation.

3rd Easter Sunday, year C  (Jn 21:1-19)

The passage from John takes us back to Jesus' distribution of the loaves and fishes.

The Lord before the large crowd that follows him, puts his disciples to the test.

Turning to Philip, he asks where he could buy bread to feed so many people, even though he knew what he was about to accomplish: the 'multiplication' of five barley loaves and two fish, close to the Passover of the Jews.

We are reminded of the unimaginable abundance of the Eucharist, Bread of Life for all.

Francis, who described himself as 'simple and idiot', had a special heart that enabled him to perceive the depths of the Mystery of Christ's total self-giving.

Celano points out in Vita Prima:

"Friend of simplicity, with an incomparably sincere and noble heart. And how much this name of "Francis" suits him, to him who had a frank and noble heart more than any other" (FF 529).

His compassion for needy and poor people was visceral:

"He bent down, with wonderful tenderness and compassion, towards anyone afflicted by some physical suffering and when he noticed in someone indigence or need, in the sweet pity of his heart, he considered it as a suffering of Christ Himself" (FF 1142).

Indeed, before Jesus, Bread descended from Heaven, he expresses himself thus in his Admonitions:

"Behold, every day he humbles himself [...] every day he himself comes to us in humble appearance; every day he descends from the bosom of the Father onto the altar in the hands of the priest [...] and as to the holy apostles he showed himself in the true flesh [...] And as they with the eyes of the body saw only the flesh of him, but contemplating him with the eyes of the spirit, they believed that he was the same God, so we too, seeing bread and wine with the eyes of the body, must see and firmly believe that this is his most holy body and blood alive and true.

"And in this way the Lord is always with his faithful, as he himself says: 'Behold I am with you to the end of the world' " (FF 144-145).

And in his letters:

"O sublime humility! O humble sublimity [...] Behold, brothers, the humility of God, and open your hearts before him; humble yourselves also, that you may be exalted by him. NOTHING, THEREFORE, OF YOU HOLD BACK FOR YOURSELVES, THAT HE WHO OFFERS HIMSELF TOTALLY TO YOU MAY RECEIVE YOU TOTALLY' (FF 221).

But an example of 'Bread given' comes to us no less from Clare of Assisi:

"There was only one bread in the monastery, and already the hour of supper and hunger were pressing.

Calling the dispenser, the Saint commands her to divide the bread and send one part to the brothers, keeping the other inside for the sisters.

From this second half kept, he orders fifty slices to be cut, which was the number of the Women, and to present them to them on the table of poverty.

And to the devout daughter, who answered her: "It would take the ancient miracles of Christ, to be able to cut so little bread into fifty slices", the Mother replied, saying:

"Do safely what I tell you daughter!".

So the daughter hastened to carry out the Mother's command; and the Mother hastened to address more sighs to her Christ, for her daughters.

And by divine grace that scanty matter grows in the hands of the one who breaks it, so that an abundant portion results for each member of the community" (FF 3189).

«Then Jesus took the loaves and, having given thanks, gave them to those who were seated, and the same he did with the fish, as much as they wanted» (Jn 6:11)

Friday 2nd wk. in Easter  (Jn 6:1-15)

In the memory of St Joseph the Worker, the liturgy uses a passage from the Gospel of Matthew.

In it, the rejection of Jesus by the inhabitants of Nazareth is highlighted, so much so that the Lord cannot work any wonders there because of their surprising incredulity.

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 with purple garments, went 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 responded 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 mind, 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).

«A prophet is not despised except in his own country and in his own house» (Mt 13:57)

S. Joseph the Worker  (Mt 13:54-58)

Today's Gospel proclaims that God sent his Son to save men, not to humble them.

The distinction is: he who believes has the same life as the Eternal, but he who prefers darkness to Light excludes himself from the founding and happy relationship.

Francis, in his Letter to the Faithful, puts it this way:

"Those who do not wish to taste how sweet is the Lord and prefer darkness to light, refusing to keep God's commandments, are accursed" (FF 186).

The life of the Poor Man of Assisi, illuminated by Christ, was light in the Light:

"This was the way in which he infallibly foresaw even the fall of many, who seemed to stand upright, as well as the conversion to Christ of many sinners.

Hence it seemed as if he were now closely contemplating the mirror of eternal light, in whose wondrous splendour the eye of his spirit could see things physically distant as if they were present" (FF 1198).

The new man, made such by Grace, did the 'truth' reflected in his own works.

"In this way many began to recognise the truth of the doctrine, which the man of God with simplicity preached, and of his life. Some began to feel invited to penance by his example and to join him, in habit and life, leaving everything behind.

The first of them was the 'venerable Bernard', who, made a partaker of the divine vocation, deserved to be the firstborn of the blessed father, first in time and holiness" (FF 1053).

In the footsteps of the Lord, the Poverello's life became light for the dark time in which he lived.

"His intellect, free from the dense fog of earthly things [...] ascended lightly to the heavenly heights and plunged purely into the light.

Irradiated in this way by the splendour of eternal light, he drew from the uncreated Word what echoed in the words.

Oh, how different we are today, we who, enveloped in darkness, ignore even necessary things!

Francis, transformed by the Light, had fallen in love with it: his works attested to this.

The glow of the Word came to conform him to his specific connotation: to communicate to others the Truth confessed on the cross, so that the world might be redeemed and realise the Gift received.

"With the radiant rays of his life and doctrine he drew to the light those who lay in the shadow of death, like the rainbow shining through the bright clouds, bearing in himself the sign of the covenant with the Lord, he proclaimed to men the Gospel of peace and salvation" (FF 1021).

«But he who does the truth comes towards the light, that his works may be made manifest, for they are done in God» (Jn 3:21)

Wednesday 2nd wk. in Easter  (Jn 3:16-21)

«I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and revealed them to babes» (Mt 11:25).

Jesus is the only one who can truly call the Lord of heaven and earth Father, but into this familiarity he introduces everyone.

Clare, seedling of the blessed Father Francis, with her special character of simplicity and littleness had attained, by Grace, such a great familiarity with the Lord that she moved in total harmony with Him.

Consulting the Sources, in the Legend we read of the degree of the Saint's intimate union with the divine Bridegroom.

"How much strength and support she received in the furnace of ardent prayer, how sweet the divine goodness was to her in that fruition, is attested by proven evidence.

For when he returned in the joy of holy prayer, he brought back from the fire of the altar of the Lord burning words, such as inflamed the hearts of his sisters.

For they noted with admiration that a certain gentleness radiated from his face and that his face seemed brighter than usual' (FF 3199).

In a letter to Ermentrude of Bruges* he recommends:

"Always be attentive and vigilant in prayer. Bring to its consummation the good you have begun, and fulfil the mystery you have embraced in holy poverty and sincere humility" (FF 2916).

Such was Clare, a simple and small creature, capable of rejoicing at every gift received, at every tiny reality that spoke to her of the Eternal.

"She received with great joy the scraps of alms, the pieces of bread that the beggars brought back and, almost sad for the whole loaves, she was happy instead for those little pieces" (FF 3188).

A woman conformed to Christ in everything, she considered herself a nothing before God.

In her Testament she exhorted meekness and humility of heart, as a loving Mother:

"Again I beg her who will be in charge of the sisters, that she may endeavour to preside over the others more by virtue and holiness of life than by dignity, so that, animated by her example, the sisters may lend obedience to her, not so much because of the office she occupies, but out of love.

Let her also be provident and discreet towards her sisters, like a good mother towards her daughters [...].

May she still be so affable and accessible to all that the sisters may confidently manifest their needs to her and have recourse to her at every hour with confidence [...]" (FF 2848).

Meekness and humility: stature of the little ones, to whom the Mysteries of the Kingdom are revealed, finding consolation in loving with the sentiments of Christ.

*Ermentrude of Bruges: to her we owe the spread of the Order of the Poor Clares in Flanders.

St Catherine of Siena, 29 April  (Mt 11:25-30)

In the opening verses of John 3 Jesus emphasises to the Pharisee Nicodemus, who questioned him, the urgency of being born again from above by the Holy Spirit.

In the Sources, Francis shows a special affection for the Spirit of God, allowing Him to act in his life. The Finger of God reciprocates him with frequent visits and his holy operation in every vicissitude.

Exploring the Franciscan documents, there are many episodes that attest to the surprising action of the Spirit in the Poverello. They highlight Francis as a new creature, reborn from water and the Giver of gifts, sown in his journey of transformation.

The Sources attest:

"Francis wanted one day to go to a hermitage* to devote himself more freely to contemplation; but as he was very weak, he obtained from a poor peasant the use of his donkey.

It was summertime, and the peasant who was following the Saint by climbing mountain paths was dead tired from the harshness and length of the journey.

Suddenly, before reaching the hermitage, he felt himself parched with thirst. He began to cry out after the Saint, begging him to have mercy on him, for without the comfort of a little water he would certainly have died.

The Saint, ever compassionate towards the afflicted, leapt from the donkey, and kneeling on the ground raised his hands to heaven and did not cease to pray until he felt he had been granted.

"Up, quickly," he cried to the farmer, "there you will find living water, which merciful Christ has now brought forth from the rock to quench your thirst.

Wondrous pleasing to God, who so easily bends to his servants! 

The man drank the water that gushed forth from the rock by the merit of the one who prayed and quenched his thirst at the hard flint. There had never been a stream of water in that place, nor was it found afterwards, no matter how many searches were made.

What wonder, if a man filled with the Holy Spirit brings together in himself the wondrous works of all the righteous? It is certainly not an extraordinary thing, if he repeats deeds similar to those of other saints who have the gift of being united to Christ by a special grace" (FF 632).

He who believes becomes himself Living Water that gushes forth for the benefit of all, because he is reborn from above.

«Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God» (Jn 3:5)

Monday 2nd wk. in Easter  (Jn 3:1-8)

On the first day of the week Jesus went behind closed doors into the place where the disciples were gathered.

He gave them the mandate to proclaim the Good News, "breathing" on them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.

Thomas, absent, struggled to believe and received a reprimand from Jesus for claiming to see and touch, without accepting the testimony of the other disciples.

Yet Thomas sought the first-hand experience of the Risen One.

The Poor Man of Assisi and his brothers grew in faith also through an active encounter with the Lord in lived poverty, solitude and prayer experienced in daily life.

Faith in Jesus, who had died on the cross as an evildoer to assure us of Life without end, overflowed into the bare minority existence of Francis and his disciples.

Certainly it was a divine gift, but it was also the fruit of a non-formal relationship, developed in the itinerary undertaken.

It is worth recalling what the Sources attest:

"[Francis] taught them to praise God in all creatures; to honour priests with particular veneration, as well as to believe firmly and confess frankly the truth of the faith [...].

They observed in everything and for everything the teachings of the holy father and, as soon as they saw some church from afar, or some cross, they turned towards it, prostrating themselves humbly on the ground and praying according to the form indicated to them" (FF 1069).

Clare herself, in her Letter to Ermentrude of Bruges, regarding the life of Faith, suggests:

"Remain, therefore, O dearest one, faithful until death to Him to whom you are bound for ever. And surely you will be crowned by Him with the crown of life.

The time of toil here below is short, but the reward is eternal.

Let not the splendours of the world that passes like a shadow daunt thee.

Let not the empty images of this deceiving world surprise you; close your ears to the hisses of hell and break its temptations from strength.

Endure adversity willingly, and let not pride swell your heart in prosperous things; these call you to your faith, those require it" (FF 2914).

The experience of God in their lives had been so strong, so incisive and so merciful that they could speak as no one had ever done.

«Thomas answered and said to him, 'The Lord of mine and the God of mine!'» (Jn 20:28)

2nd Easter Sunday  (Jn 20:19-31)

The Risen Jesus manifested Himself several times to the disciples and, despite their unbelief and hardness of heart, sent them out into the world to proclaim the Gospel to every creature.

Francis was a proclaimer on every opportune and untimely occasion of the crucified and risen Christ. His inner experience had made him a Herald of the Word.

Consulting the Sources, in the Vita prima of Celano, we read:

"At the time when [...] he preached to the birds, the venerable Father Francis, travelling through towns and villages to scatter the seed of blessing everywhere, also arrived in Ascoli Piceno.

In this city he proclaimed the word of God with such fervour that all, full of devotion, by the grace of the Lord, flocked to him, eager to see and hear him.

The crowd was extraordinary, and as many as thirty, including clerics and lay people, became his disciples, receiving the religious habit from his own hands.

Men and women worshipped him with such faith that anyone who could touch his robe considered himself supremely fortunate" (FF 430).

"When he entered a town, the clergy rejoiced, bells were rung, men exulted, women congratulated, children applauded, and often went to meet him with twigs in their hands and singing psalms.

The heresy was covered with confusion, the faith of the Church triumphed; while the faithful were filled with jubilation, the heretics became fugitives.

The signs of his holiness were so evident that no heretic dared dispute with him, while the whole crowd obeyed him" (FF 431).

In his evangelical itinerary, going and proclaiming the Word to every creature under heaven was a vital dimension of following sine glossa in the footsteps of the Risen One.

But meeting the Poor Man was also an experience of great impact and resurrection for the people, because the Saint was an eloquent witness to newness of life.

«Going into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature» (Mk 16:15).

Octave of Easter Saturday  (Mk 16:9-15)

The Risen Jesus returned to manifest Himself to His disciples on the Lake of Tiberias, inviting them to go fishing.

The disciples believed and immediately experienced the fruitfulness of gestures made in unity with Christ.

The beloved disciple, the one with the enlarged heart and sharp eyes, before the abundance of the catch, said: «It is the Lord!» (Jn 21:7).

In the time in which he lived, Francis truly revealed himself as "the lesser one" loved by Jesus.

With introspective capacity combined with Grace, he became a fruitful missionary, working wonders with the power of the Risen One, casting the net on the right side.

The Sources narrate a significant episode that occurred at a hermitage near Rieti (Fonte Colombo).

Visited by the doctor for the cure of his eyes, Francis asked his companions to take him to lunch and prepare something good for him.

"'Father,' replied the watchman, 'we tell you with blushes, we are ashamed to invite you, so poor are we at this time.

"Would you like me to repeat it to you?" insisted the saint.

The doctor was present and intervened: "I, dearest brothers, will esteem your penury a delight".

The friars in all haste arrange on the table what is in the pantry: a little bread, not much wine, and to make the meal more sumptuous, the kitchen sends some pulses.

But the Lord's table in the meantime moves to take pity on the servants' table.

There was a knock at the door and they ran to open it: there was a woman carrying a basket full of beautiful bread, fish and shrimp pies, and on top plenty of honey and grapes.

At such a sight, the poor diners sparkled with joy, and putting aside that misery for the next day, they ate of the delicious food.

The moved doctor exclaimed:

"Neither we seculars nor you friars really know the holiness of this man".

And they would certainly have been fully fed, but more than the food had satiated them the miracle.

Thus the loving eye of the Father never despises his own, rather he assists those most in need with most generous provision.

The poor man feeds at a richer table than the king's, as God surpasses man in generosity" (FF 629).

The beloved disciple believed and did things equal to the Master.

Francis, filled with the Spirit of the Risen One, recognised him in the events of life and repeated with deeds:

«It is the Lord!».

Truly, every day he testified to the Presence of the Risen One, who stood by his intimates, teaching them and performing wonders.

Friday between the octave of Easter  (Jn 21:1-14)