Today's Johannine Gospel passage shows how the crowd had not yet understood the eternal value of the Bread that Jesus wanted to give them. The people think of the manna eaten in the wilderness by their fathers, but Christ directs their attention to his Father who provides a food that does not perish: his own Person.

A reminder of the unimaginable abundance of the Eucharist, Bread of life for all.

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

Celano points out in the Vita Prima:

"Friend of simplicity, with an incomparably sincere and noble heart. And how much this name "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).

«The Bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world» (Jn 6:33)

Tuesday 3rd wk. in Easter  (Jn 6:30-35)

In today's passage, after the sharing of the loaves, the crowd chases Jesus to the other shore, towards Capernaum.

And immediately the Lord puts his finger on the sore spot by emphasising that they seek Him not because of the signs they have seen, but because they are satiated.

A quest driven not by faith, but perhaps by need.

And, to those who ask what to fulfil to do the works of God, the Lord urges the work par excellence: believing.

Jesus dismounts and shifts his gaze from law to Faith.

Wonderful context that in the time of Francis and Clare led the poor people of Assisi to evolve their path of trust and abandonment in God.

In the extraordinary Franciscan Sources we find Francis himself called by the Lord to a leap of faith.

"The Saint found great consolation in the Lord's visits and was assured by them that the foundations of his Order would always remain stable [...].

Being troubled by bad examples, and having resorted one day, so bitterly, to prayer, he felt himself addressed in this way by the Lord:

"Why are you, little man, troubled? Perhaps I made you pastor of my Order in such a way that you would forget that I remain its principal patron?

That is why I have chosen you, simple man, so that those who will, may follow the works that I will do in you and that must be imitated by all others.

I have called you: I will preserve and shepherd you, I will make up with new religious the void left by the others, to the point of giving birth to them if they were not already born.

'Do not therefore be troubled, but wait for your salvation, for if the Order should be reduced even to only three brothers, my help will always be stable'.

From that day it was customary to say that the virtue of a single holy friar overcomes a quantity, however great, of imperfects, as a single ray of light dispels the thickest darkness" (FF 742).

To him who believes in Him who makes us righteous, it is his faith that is reckoned to him for righteousness (cf. Rom 4:4-5).

S. Clare, then, lived literally what Jesus suggests in this Gospel passage: be concerned about food that lasts forever.

In fact, Pope Gregory, with the Bull "Quo elongati" [Up to what point] of 28 September 1230, forbade the Friars Minor from entering monasteries without a special licence from the Holy See - and that only those brothers deputed to do so could take care of the Poor Clares.

In this context, here is what the Sources attest:

"Once, when the Lord Pope Gregory had forbidden any monk to go to the monasteries of the Women without his permission, the pious Mother regretted that the sisters would more rarely have the food of sacred doctrine and groaning said:

"Take them all away from us now, the brothers, after you have taken away those who gave us the nourishment of life!"

And she immediately sent all the brothers back to the minister, not wanting to have beggars to provide the material bread, when they no longer had those who provided them with the bread of the spirit.

But when Pope Gregory learned of this, he immediately put the prohibition back in the power of the general minister" (FF 3232).

Solicitude of a soul in love with the eternal food and willing to renounce everything for It.

«Work not for the food that perishes, but for the food that remains for the life of the LORD [...]» (Jn 6:27).

«This is the Work of God: that you believe in him whom he has sent» (Jn 6:29).

Monday of the 3rd wk. in Easter  (Jn 6:22-29)

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)

In today's passage Jesus stands before two disciples who are still struggling to understand his Person.

Thomas seeks the way and the Lord answers him that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Philip, perhaps, desires a convincing, glorious manifestation of God, similar to the ancient theophanies.

They have yet to understand that the true and most evident Epiphany of God is Jesus.

The discriminating factor: Faith that makes one see beyond, do the works that Christ Himself does, and even more.

In this context, Francis is the disciple who has always sought the way to achieve perfect union with Jesus, Him in the Father and the Father in Him.

In the Life before Celano we are illustrated:

"In the meantime he studied with all his mind and with all his love to know what way, what path or what desire might be most suitable to achieve a still more perfect union with the Lord God, according to the design and decree of His will.

And this was always his only philosophy, his supreme desire, in which he burned for as long as he lived; and he asked everyone, the simple as well as the wise, the perfect as well as the imperfect, how he could reach the path of truth and arrive at ever higher goals' (FF 480).

In the Regola non bollata, Francis himself writes:

"And let us always build in ourselves a permanent home and dwelling place to Him, who is the Lord God Almighty, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, and who says:

"[...] The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and Life. I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" (FF 61).

But also Clare in her Testament squares the certainty that the soul in Christ is a new creature capable of doing the works that Jesus himself does.

"The Son of God became our Way; and this by word and example our blessed father Francis, a true lover and imitator of Him, showed and taught us" (FF 2824).

And again:

"We must, therefore, dearly beloved sisters, meditate on the immense benefits with which God has filled us, especially those which He has deigned to work among us through His beloved servant, our blessed father Francis, and not only after our conversion, but even when we were still among the vanities of the world" (FF 2825).

Whoever believes in the Lord will become a privileged instrument of His working wonderful things.

«I am the Way, the Truth and the Life» (Jn 14:6)

«He who believes in me, the works that I do he will also do, and do even greater works than these [...]» (Jn 14:12)

Saints Philip and James  (Jn 14:6-14)

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)