Man and woman were created by God and are welcomed by Christ with open arms.

We are told that God created "humanity in His image, a male and a female He created them" (Gen. 1:27, 5:1?2).

Thus, to understand God's nature, males and females together are needed to reflect God's image.

Men and women were created to complement each other, and at the highest manifestation of their selfless love, they help carry on with God's plan in this level of existence.

Through them, the spirit materializes on earth, and the matter gets redeemed and spiritualized, when reason and a loving heart work in unison and balance.

As we evolve, the expression of our love can also grow, and for some individuals, God becomes the new lover, an endless source of pure love and fulfilment.

This was precisely what Francis and Clare of Assisi manifested in this world through the loving relationship that led them to follow Jesus together.

They decided to follow Jesus' example, no matter what.

Francis and Clare's communal venture was successful if we consider that they effectively rebuilt a Church that was falling into ruins, and left a wonderful example of how the Gospel of Jesus can be lived in our world while they were alive.

Their life examples as a man and a woman following Jesus together greatly need to be followed in our days and times in which our church is falling again into ruins.