What do you think the poor and sickly multitudes looked like who followed Jesus around the country side day and night while he was tirelessly ministering to them? You think he even noticed their garb? I mean, for real, do you really think this is what matters to him? He who was stripped naked while hanging on that Cross for us?
When our Holy Father St. Francis appeared before Pope Innocent III to request the confirmation of the rule for his new order he was thrown out of St. John Lateran, where the Pope lived, because he looked like a homeless man.
Here is the juxtaposition. The Great Innocent III, in all of his papal glory and Francis of Assisi who was dirty, unshaven, unbathed and who had not even brushed his teeth since he began his life of prayer and penance were face to face. The papal household failed to see Francis’ holiness, because of his appearance. They could not see papal stature and evangelical holiness standing face to face.
That night, Innocent had a dream. He saw Christ wearing the same garb and looking like Francis. He saw the walls of the Church crumbling down and the little man who looked like a homeless bum stood up against the walls of the Church and grew into a giant. He prevented the Church from collapsing.
Upon waking up, Innocent sent for the little man who had been cast out by his staff. When he heard his message of peace, fraternity, poverty, obedience, and love for the crucified Christ, he had only one statement to make, “You put us all to shame. Go and multiply as God told Abraham to do.”
The year after Francis died, the Pope canonized him without an inquiry into his sanctity. He not only declared him a saint, but he gave him a title that has not been given to any saint in the Catholic Church before or after, THE MIRROR OF PERFECTION.
As Jeanette correctly pointed out, he who was perfection was a simple carpenter and those who followed him came from all walks of life. Each presented himself or herself as he was.
What he sees is the heart of every man, woman and child that comes before him. You should try to see this as well, see with the eyes of Christ instead of the eyes of early 20th century culture that you can’t seem to let go of.
This ties in with something else that our Holy Father Francis taught the Church and many of us have forgotten. He said that we should approach God, the Church and each other with one truth in mind and one truth only, “I am what I am before God, nothing else.”
God sees this woman and all who approach him as they are, not as they dress. He looks into the soul. He looks for a life of faith, prayer, obedience, detachment, perfect charity and contrition.
Our Holy Father Francis told the Christians of his time that their Jewelry should be the virtues of Christ. Their veil should be holy modesty. Their shroud should be holy poverty. Their belt, should be holy chastity and purity.
When they approached the Eucharist, they should see in it the Lord Jesus Christ who had given his life for them on the cross. When they approached the Pope or any other prelate of the Church, they should see the holy apostles.
Despite all of the above admonitions about virtue and love for the Church, the Holy Father and the clergy, Our Holy Father Francis, always preached to the Church of his time, that the only proper way to approach Christ in the Eucharist was by being one with the poorest of the poor, for there was no place for elegance or etiquette on the cross.
It is our turn to embrace the cross. The cross is not a pretty sight.
The dress of this woman would have been of no concern to the great and holy saints of the Church who understood that the poor and crucified Christ preferred to be surrounded by his own kind, the simple and the humble. This was the message of St. Francis, St. Vincent, Mother Teresa, Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II.
Holiness is achieved through faith and charity. When I see this woman, I see a person of faith approaching the altar of charity to consume the food of hope for redemption.
What more can we ask and how much more Catholic can this get?
JR
. Thanks alot Voltaire. 
