After two pilgrimages to Assisi—in '78 and now in '86—I believe we must see Saint Francis as uniquely close to us. I want to gather my thoughts on this, and share what I took from Assisi this year.
I. The Spirituality of Poverty
Francis chose poverty as his life's companion. We need to understand what this means. Today we speak often of fighting hunger, misery, unemployment. All of that is right and holy, but that is not the heart of the matter. What Francis grasped was the stunning proposal of the Gospel: to choose poverty itself—or rather, the poor Christ—as your life's project. I think few of us Christians have truly understood this message. Yet Jesus set it as the condition for a new kind of human relationship, based on sharing rather than power. Perhaps we are closer to this grace than we know. When we touch the "poverty" of our own situations and choose to embrace it as part of a "life project" rooted in the Gospel, we will see it transform into the mysterious fruitfulness of the cross.
II. The Spirituality of Fraternity
Francis wore a rough habit, but he was no misanthrope. He loved to be with his brothers. Clare followed him. Fraternity, of course, demands commitment, a sense of responsibility, service, and sometimes sacrifice. But brotherly love is also a balm. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!" (Ps. 133:1). A burden shared is lighter. The gift our young people give us is precisely this: they teach us to live this reality simply and purely—something so hard in our world. They free an affection that is not greed or narrow group loyalty, but intense fraternal love without borders.
III. The Spirituality of Praise
Francis is the man of praise. To praise means to let your heart sing, because "it is good to give praise to the Lord" (Ps. 92:2). Each time we gather, we rediscover the miracle of celebration and praise. Those who have received this gift know that praise does not solve our problems—they remain—but it is the way forward through them. Self-pity, despair, turning inward: these help no one, least of all those we are called to serve. Praise releases in us the energy of life, love, and forgiveness. Praise is the source of reconciliation, especially with the God we are so often tempted to accuse. Thank you, Francis, for walking with us!
by Father Enrico Cattaneo, Assisi, 1986