#saint clare of Assisi

[ynhart]

St. Clare of Assisi

"We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become"

[all-changes-pass-me-like-a-dream]

Judi Bowker as Saint Clare of Assisi

in Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972) directed by Franco Zeffirelli

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (August 11)

"Go forth without fear, Christian soul, for you have a good guide for your journey. Go forth without fear, for He that created you has sanctified you, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother."

- Saint Clare, on her deathbed in 1253

Saint Clare was born on 16 July 1194 in Assisi to a noble family.

Before her birth, her mother received a sign that her daughter would be a bright light of God in the world.

As a child she was already very strongly drawn to the things of God, praying fervently, devoutly visiting the Blessed Sacrament, and manifesting a tender love towards the poor.

When she was 18, she heard St. Francis preaching in the town square during Lent and she knew at once that God wanted her to consecrate herself to Him.

The next evening, Clare left her house, ran to meet St. Francis and his companions at the church they were staying in, and shared her desire to follow him in his way of life.

He received her, gave her his tunic, cut off her golden locks, and sent her to a Benedictine convent, because she could not stay with the brothers.

Her younger sister Agnes soon joined her and the two had to resist much pressure from their family to return home.

When Clare was 22, St. Francis placed her in a small house beside the convent and made her superior, a post she should serve for the next 42 years of her life until her death.

The ´Poor Clares,' as they came to be known, lived an unusually austere life for women of the time, walking barefoot around the town begging for alms, wearing sackcloth, and living without any possessions, completely dependent for their food on what was given to them.

But the emphasis of their lives was, and still is, contemplation.

Many young noble women left all they had to take on the poor habit of Clare and the order grew rapidly, with houses being founded all over Italy, all of whom took St. Clare as their model and inspiration.

Clare's reputation for holiness was such that the Pope himself came to her deathbed in 1253 to give her absolution and wanted to canonize her immediately on her death. However, he was advised by his cardinals to wait.

Claire died in absolute tranquility, saying to one of the brothers at her side:

"Dear brother, ever since through His servant Francis I have known the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I have never in my whole life found any pain or sickness that could trouble me."

She was canonized by Pope Alexander IV on 26 September 1255, two years after her death.

[rescatada]

[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

Today’s gospel, it is not really about forgiveness, but rather mercy, although they are related. For, “the works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in [their] spiritual and bodily necessities.”[1] Therefore, mercy often comes about through forgiveness, especially when another has wronged us. We see this in the king who was merciful toward his servant for by forgiving the debt he hoped that the servant would become a more merciful person through the gratitude of the king. This is what God expects from us, for he is willing to forgive us of our sins, but at the same time, God expects us to do the same, not just once but all the time so that we can grow and help others become more merciful.

[1] CCC 2447

Today’s Spiritual Links for August 10, 2022

Saint Clare  of Assisi Today’s Mass Readings Today’s Reflection The Holy Rosary Liturgy of the Hours New American Bible Non-Scriptural Reading Prime Matters Church Life Journal Simply Catholic Catholic Answers

[cuties-in-codices]

st. clare of assisi with sisters of her order

miniatures from a vita of st. clare of assisi ("klarenbuch"), illuminated by clarissine nun sibylla von bondorf, strasbourg, c. 1490-92

source: Karlsruhe, BLB, Cod. Thennenbach 4, fol. 43r and 66r

[portraitsofsaints]

Saint Clare of Assisi

1194-1253

Feast Day: August 11 (New), August 12 (Trad)

Patronage: eye disease, goldsmiths, laundry, embroiderers, gilders

Saint Clare of Assisi, an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi, founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition, and wrote their Rule of Life—the first monastic rule known to have been written by a woman. Following her death, the order she founded was renamed in her honor as the Order of Saint Clare, commonly referred to today as the Poor Clares. In art, Clare is often shown carrying a monstrance or pyx, in commemoration of the time when she warded away the soldiers of Frederick II at the gates of her convent by displaying the Blessed Sacrament and kneeling in prayer.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)

[a-queer-seminarian]

Francis of Assisi’s gender creativity inspired his followers — even centuries later.

[myremnantarmy]

𝑺𝒕. 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒊 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑼𝒔.

[catholic-saint-tournament]

About St Clare of Assisi (left)

About St Joan of Arc (right)

POST-SCHISM SAINTS ROUND 1 WINNERS/ROUND 2 BRACKET

[stjohncapistrano67]

A medieval Catholic religious painting of St. Claire of Assisi. Founder of the Poor Claires. I don't know who the artist is.

[aeshnalacrymosa]

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

Men and women CAN be friends when they both love God.

[all-changes-pass-me-like-a-dream]

Judi Bowker as Saint Clare of Assisi

in Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972) directed by Franco Zeffirelli

[venicepearl]

Clare of Assisi (born Chiara Offreduccio, sometimes spelled Clara, Clair, Claire; 16 July 1194 – 11 August 1253) was an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Francis of Assisi. Inspired by the teachings of St. Francis, she founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition. The Order of Poor Ladies was different from any other order or convent because it followed a rule of strict poverty. Clare wrote their Rule of Life, the first set of monastic guidelines known to have been written by a woman. Following her death, the order she founded was renamed in her honor as the Order of Saint Clare, commonly referred to today as the Poor Clares. Her feast day is on 11 August.

[fuzzysparrow]

Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi is a well-known name in the Western world. He was the topic of numerous paintings between the 14th and 17th centuries, although his popularity has since dwindled. Most people only know Saint Francis’ name or regard him as a saint that liked animals. After looking at Saint Francis’ life in detail, it is clear he was much more than an animal enthusiast. Giovanni di Pietro…

[charmingchief]

All Saints Day

I grew up in a devout Catholic family and attended Catholic schools from Kindergarten through college. As a result, I was deeply immersed in our parish church and actively volunteered for various ministries in our community and at school. However, during my college years, I received a diagnosis of Lupus, Henoch Schonlein purpura, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. After a prolonged period of treatment, my doctor recommended that I begin a Novena to St. Jude, the Patron Saint of Hopeless Cases. My health condition felt quite challenging, and I was in desperate need of divine intervention. This marked the beginning of my devotion to St. Jude.

As I've grown older, I've continued to seek the intercession of several other saints, including St. Clare, Padre Pio, St. Therese, and many more. On this All Saints Day, I want to take a moment to remember and express my deep gratitude for all their intercessions.

Have a blessed All Saints Day!