An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association December 24 – Vigil of the Nativity What Saint Francis did when he was reminded of the poverty of the Blessed Virgin It does not only matter to know that God became man, it is important to know also what type of man he became. Significant is the different and complementary way in which John and Paul describe the event of the Incarnation. For John it consists in the fact that the Word who was God was made flesh; for Paul it consists in the fact that “Christ, being of divine nature, took the form of a servant and he humbled himself and became obedient unto death”… Saint Francis of Assisi is placed in the line of Saint Paul. More than on the ontological reality of the humanity of Christ (in which he believed firmly with the whole Church), he insisted, to the point of being overwhelming, on the humility and poverty of his humanity. The sources say that two things had the power to move Saint Francis to tears every time he heard talk about them: “the humility of the Incarnation and the charity of the Passion.” He could not think about the great penury, in which the poor Virgin found herself that day, without weeping. Once, when he was seated for lunch, a brother reminded him of the poverty of the Blessed Virgin and the indigence of Christ her Son. He rose from the table immediately, broke out in sobs of grief and, with his face bathed in tears, ate the rest of the bread on the naked ground. Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa O.F.M.Cap. Rome, December 20, 2013 (Zenit.org) www.mariedenazareth.com Let’s pray together Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.