PENITENTIAL SPIRITUALITY
IN THE FRANCISCAN SOURCES

"Praedicare poenitentiam"

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The mandate to announce penance is part of the Franciscan charism as Innocent III clearly stated: "Go with God, brothers, - said the Vicar of Christ - and as He will inspire you, preach penance to all" (I Celano, 33). Encouraged, Francis gave himself to preaching with greater fervor "in towns and villages" (2 Celano,17) "announcing the Kingdom of heaven, peace, the way, of salvation, penance...... " (1 Celano, 36).

The penitential apostolate of Francis was initiated two years after his conversion. Thomas of Celano attests that the Poverello, after hearing the reading of the Gospel at the Portiuncula in 1208, "with great fervor of spirit and joy of mind began to preach penance to all, with simple speaking but with great heart edifying his listeners. His was like an ardent fire, which penetrated into the depth of the heart, awakening the admiration of all" (1 Celano,23). To the first biographer the Legend of the three Companions adds: "Inspired by God, he began to announce evangelical perfection preaching penance to all with simplicity of word" (3Soc. 25). And when the man of God "passed through towns
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 (127) 1 detti, append. II Milano 1964,p. 184.

(128) I de Vitry, Historia Orientalis, II, 32:in Test. minora, cit. p. 83; in FF 2229.

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and castles, exhorted all, men and women, to fear and love God, doing penance..." (3SPc.3.3;1 Celano,36).

Such must also be the mission of the companions of the Saint. One day, Francis said to them: "Let us consider, dear brothers, our vocation. God, in His mercy, has called us not only for our own salvation, but also for the salvation of many others. Let us go, therefore, throughout the world exhorting all, men and women, with example more than words, to do penance for their sins and to remember the Commandments of God." And he added: "Do not be afraid to be thought ignorant and of no account but announce penance with courage and simplicity. " (3Soc. 36). To all the guardians, Francis recommended: "In every sermon you preach, admonish the people to do penance" (Letter to the Guardians,9).

Penitential preaching is, for Francis, a missionary demand. Having become "A Herald of Christ, " he goes preaching with great fervor to invite men to the grace of salvation (cf. LM 12, 1 and 2). Toward 1212 he embarked to go to Syria "to preach the faith and penance to the Saracens" (1 Celano,55). There followed Penitential Missions of Francis and his companions throughout Europe, Asia and Aftica,  (129) preaching penance everywhere (cf. o.c. 23). He exhorts the brothers in clear terms: "Go, my dear ones, two by two to the various parts of the world and announce to men peace and penance. " (1 Celano 29).

Francis, in fact, "did not consider himself a friend of Christ if he did not love souls as Christ loved them" (1 Celano, 172).

Penitential preaching had to be preceded by the witness of life. His first biographer affirms that Francis went preaching penance courageously without fear of being considered or found inconsistent since "he himself had decided first of all to do that which he had enjoined on others" (1 Celano,36).

"The servant of God - Francis would say - must have in himself such ardor of sanctity of life, to reproach all the impious with the light of example and eloquence of conduct" (2 Celano, 103). That the brothers "bring fruit to the Church of God" (2 Celano, 148) it is necessary that they "preach with works" (Rule 1221, 17,3).

The efficacy of this witness and of penitential preaching emerges constantly from all the sources. They are not only the fruit of Christian life, but a source of vocation stimulus. As far back as 1208, two years after the conversion of Francis, some were drawn "from his example to do penance"(3Soc,27;LM 3,3). Following that the phenomenon was continuous in that "many, moved to penance by the preaching and the example of the friars, entered the Order" (Giordano da Giano, o.c. 35). After a sermon at Ascoli Piceno, thirty men became disciples and received the habit of penance (cf. 1 Celano, 62).

According to Francis "the brother who with his good example attracts others to good"(LM 8,2) is always preferred to preachers of beautiful words. He affirmed that the brothers are sent by the Lord to offer examples of light (cf. 2 Celano, 155).

The Saint leaped for joy when he saw the brothers "put into practice examples of sanctity, and bestowed the most elect blessings on those brothprs who, with word and example, induced sinners to the love of God." (2 Celano, 155)

(129) cf. Giordano da Giano, Chronaca,nn.2 ff.

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In fact, "one gathers more fruit with examples than with words, more with prayers accompanied by tears than with high sounding words" (LM 8, 1).

This grace of penitential witness is a gift of God for which the brothers must be grateful: praise the Lord - exhorts Francis "because He sent you throughout the whole world so that you may witness to His voice by words and works.. "(Letter to a General Chapter, prol.9-10)

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