I am strongly impressed by the frequency and tranquility with which it is stated today thatFrancis got to God through man, the poor. Today those are fashionable statements, but nothing more contrary to the historical process of his life and the words of Saint Francis himself.
If one carefully analyzes the texts of all contemporary biographers, and confronts them with a synchronic look, it is noticeable the extraordinary sensitivity of Francis towards the poor came from roots in cultivating the personal relationship with the Lord, although first, there was in his nature an innate inclination towards the noble causes
Thus, whenever the poor asked him for alms, finding himself away from home, he helped them with money, if he could. If he didn’t have money, he would even give him the cap or the belt so he wouldn’t leave empty – handed.
Thus, Doña Pica’s son had always been detached and generous. Known by the lively young men who had banqueted so often at the cost of the well-stocked pocket of the cloth merchant’s son.
But now it was different. It emerged to Francis, not knowing from where all the profound mercies came from. With each alms he placed all his tenderness. When delivering a coin, he would gladly have also given the heart and a kiss.
It was Jesus. Jesus himself had returned to the world and dressed like beggars. In it porch of San Rufino, Jesus was found with his hand outstretched under the round arch. Down the lonely road, dragging his feet, came Jesus. It was Jesus who slept under the river bridge, shivering with cold. From the arcane abysses of every beggar Jesus emerged, stretching out his hand and begging for a little affection. Yes, the beggars They had an empty stomach, but their hearts—and that was the most serious thing—were cold and they were looking for warmth.
That is why Assisi the beggar approached each one of them, learned their names, he called them by name, asked them to tell him something about their lives, asked them about their hopes and was concerned with heir health.
He would go out walking through cypresses and chestnut trees toward the forest or the grotto. He would come across the first beggar and gave him the money he had in his pocket. I kept walking. At another bend he met a second homeless man, and He would give away the hat or the belt.
He spent long hours in the dark cavern, illuminated by the glow of his internal fire He talked to God like a friend talks to another friend. He would come out of those concavities lit like a firebrand, radiant with joy, and began to return towards his house.
If on his way back he met a third beggar, one unusual thing could happen. As he had promised himself not to stop giving something to anyone who asked for the love of God, and since he was already left with nothing, he took the beggar by the hand, the two of them demurely went behind a bush. Francisco took off his shirt and, with infinite delicacy, begged the beggar to accept it for the love of God.
More than once, Francisco returned home half-naked. Doña Pica hid, pretending not to notice. Deep down she liked those saint eccentricities, because in this way her intuitions about the heights and the mysterious destiny of that son of hers seemed to be fulfilled.
Taken from the book “The Poor Man of Assisi” chapter 1: “The dawn Of Freedom” subtitle:
Depths of Mercy of Father Ignacio Larrañaga.
