The salvation of the whole world is anchored in one single moment in history: the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. That is, according to Thomas of Celano, the decisive reason for Francis’ missionary attitude. He “chose not to live for himself alone, but for Him who died for all, knowing that he was sent for this” (1C 35=2Cor 5:14f). If God gave Himself for the salvation of the world, then the disciple of Jesus, too, must be ready to set his own life at risk. The meditative-mystical gaze at the Crucified One brings the whole world into focus.
The one who follows Jesus is compelled to take up the same options as Jesus in order to share His mission. Francis took this option literally: his decision for the “poor and humble Christ” led him to choose for himself and his followers to be lesser (minores). This has far-reaching consequences for those who decide to follow the path of the Lord and become His disciples: preaching the Good News to the poor “to the ends of the earth,” by dying with Christ and rising with Him. In the present context, this means worldwide, that Franciscans are always on the side of the poor and oppressed, just as Jesus was during His time, and that they contribute to the process of the liberation of the poor (cf. Lk 4:18).
CCFMC, Lesson Unit 11,C 2.2
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