They are children of the heavenly Father, whose works they do, and they are spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Mt.
Here Francis applies to the Christian believer in general what he had said in particular about Mary: She is the chosen daughter and servant of the Father, mother of our Lord Jesus Christ and bride of the Holy Spirit (cf. OffPass Ant 2). What happened to Mary can happen again any time when the Holy Spirit is at work in a person. It is He who transforms nonbelievers into believers. This is why Francis greets not only Mary but also all virtues, which through the grace and light of the Holy Spirit are poured into the hearts of the faithful, so that from their faithless state they are made faithful to God (Sal BVM 6).
It is good that the quotation from the Letter to the Faithful is part of most of the basic documents of the Franciscan Order today, because nowhere else does Francis describe our relationship with God and with each other as mystically dynamic as in this letter. We are a family of God, linked together not by blood ties but by spiritual ties; it is the inspiration of the Holy Spirit which unites us and prompts us to act. The missionary aspect in this mystic text is not neglected; rather, it bears the origin of Franciscan mission. Before any action can take place one has to be filled with the Spirit of Christ. Only the connection with God brings forth life, for what is within seeks to express itself outwardly. Through the love of the Holy Spirit we become pregnant with Christ and we give birth to Him into this world through holy deeds and through acts which conform with God’s divine will. Hence, like Mary, we become mothers to God when our life and actions manifest Christ.
What is important here is to be open and allow ourselves to be animated by the Spirit of God and to follow in the footprints of Jesus Christ – not only to countries far away and in the far future, but here and now. This is very clearly seen in the letter which Francis wrote to his brothers towards the end of his life. This letter ends with a prayer, which stresses the role of the Holy Spirit and which shows us once again the foundation of any mission in the Trinity:
Almighty, eternal, just, and merciful God, grant us in our misery the grace to do for You alone what we know You want us to do and always to desire what pleases You. Thus, inwardly cleansed, interiorly enlightened, and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, may we be able to follow in the footprints of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. And, by Your grace alone, may we make our way to You, Most High, Who live the rule in perfect Trinity and simple Unity, and are glorified God all-powerful forever and ever. Amen (LOrd 50-52).
From CCFMC, Lesson Unit 6
back
print