CLAIRE'S
ADVICE TO FRANCIS,
of Francesco Frascarelli
Claire chose to call herself the "little plant" of Francis. Excess of humility? Or can one permit oneself to speak of excesses in the context of a virtue? The fact is that the image took root, became part of the tradition, and even today elicits agreement and pleasure. There is a risk however: that the delicacy and diminutiveness implicit in the definition may color our judgment of this woman's psychological structure, may, that is, make her seem like a mere shadow, weak, and submissive. Claire, on the contrary, upon an attentive analysis, reveals herself to be spiritually strong and tenacious: determined in her conversion, matured, thanks to Francis, from the time she was an adolescent, in her flight made courageously during the night, in her opposition, too, to her relatives' demands, whose only aim was to put a stop to the new course her life had taken; in her defense of her fellow nuns and her natal city; in her running of the convent (how much it must have cost her, that refusal , later reversed, to admit Madonna Gasdia, who wished to enter the cloister although she did not have an authentic vocation!); determined, too in her observance of prayers and penitence; in her faithfulness to absolute poverty, never submitting, in this, to her elders, to Church authorities, or even to Francis himself. He knew, yes, very well, Claire's temperament. He admired her firmness of spirit and her wisdom, gifts which led him often to ask for advice in times of uncertainty and confusion. Claire infused Francis with her light and she proved herself to be an invaluable support at a decisive moment, when Francis was torn with doubts as to "what he should do" (Little Flowers, FF, 1845); which path should he chose --his intuition was of no help, nor were conversations with his fellow brothers -- the contemplative life, steeped in prayer or an active life of preaching in the midst of the people? These were the thoughts Francis mulled over: I, who have never been very skilled in speaking, have received the grace of prayer, rather than that of preaching; through prayer, one acquires or accumulates graces, through preaching, one disseminates the vows received from heaven; through prayer, we purify our sentiments; in preaching, the spirit is distracted and discipline looses its force; in prayer, we speak to God; preaching, we have to descend among men and live as men; but preaching has one merit which seems to surpass all the others: Christ spread his Word of salvation among men, offering his blood; and are we not obliged to imitate Christ? And so it seems more pleasing that I should go and work in the world (Greater Legends, FF, 1204). One day, especially assailed by torments, Francis called Masseo and said: Go to sister Claire and ask her, on my behalf, that together with her most devout companions she pray to God so that He will be pleased to reveal which is the better thing for me: prayer alone or preaching. Next, go to Sylvester and give him the same task (Little Flowers, FF 1845). The two messages were delivered. The highly-esteemed Sylvester notified Masseo of the reply he had received: God had not "called" Francis just for himself but so that many souls would be saved by he same. Claire, too, who had scrupulously questioned the divine will, expressed herself much in the same way (ibid.). Francis' destiny had been decided: to evangelize all through the countryside of the Earth. Masseo was received by Francis with the greatest of grace. After the two had dined together, Francis knelt down in the woods, placed his arms so as to form a cross, and asked Masseo: What does Lord Jesus Christ command? And the other: Both to brother Sylvester and to sister Claire He had revealed that you shall go preaching through the world, as He has elected you for the salvation of your neighbor. (ibid.). And so Francis stood up, put on his clothes and without a moment's hesitation, set off on his journey (Greater Legends, FF, 1205). If Claire and Sylvester had received and given the opposite reply -- that Francis was to dedicate himself to prayer -- how different would the poor man's life have been, and how different the development of the Order? If Claire and Sylvester had given two conflicting answers, to whom would Francis have listened? After heartfelt meditation, certainly to Claire, mother, sister, daughter, and affectionate companion in life's adventure?