St. Clare of Assisi
Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Clare of Assisi who lived a very crazy yet beautiful life. When St. Clare was beginning her religious life she faced many difficulties. St. Clare had to refuse to marry at the age of 15, since St. Clare was moved by the dynamic preaching of St. Francis. He had also became her lifelong friend and spiritual guide.
At the age of 18, St. Clare had escaped from her father’s home one night, and she was later met on the road by friars who were carrying torches, and in the poor little chapel called the Portiuncula she was able to receive a rough woolen habit, she had changed the jeweled belt that she had once wore for a common rope with knots in it, and sacrificed her long tresses to Francis’ scissors. He placed her in a Benedictine convent, which made her family mad. St. Clare had clung to the altar of the church, threw aside her veil to show her cropped hair, and remained adamant.
Eventually overtime many others joined and followed her footsteps. Together they had lived a very simple life of great poverty, austerity, and complete seclusion from the world, according to a Rule which St. Francis had given them as a Second Order. When St. Francis was the age of 21, St. Francis obliged St. Clare under obedience to accept the office of abbess, one that she had exercised until her death.
The Poor Ladies had lived there lives barefoot, they slept on the ground, they ate no meat, and they also observed almost complete silence. Later on St. Clare, like St. Francis, had persuaded her sisters to moderate this rigor: “Our bodies are not made of brass.” The greatest emphasis, of course, was on the gospel poverty. They had possessed no property, even in common, subsisting on daily contributions.
St. Clare's life in the convent of San Damiano in Assisi was very crazy. St. Clare had served the sick and washed the feet of the begging nuns. St. Clare had came from prayer, it was said, with her face so shining it dazzled those about her. St. Clare had also suffered a serious illness during the last 27 years of her life.
There is a very well-known story that concerns St. Clare’s strong prayer and trust. St. Clare had the Blessed Sacrament placed on the walls of the convent when it faced attack by invading Saracens. “Does it please you, O God, to deliver into the hands of these beasts the defenseless children I have nourished with your love? I beseech you, dear Lord, protect these whom I am now unable to protect.” To her sisters she said, “Don’t be afraid. Trust in Jesus.” The Saracens fled.
St. Clare is the patron saint of television and protection from eye disorder. St. Clare’s feast day is celebrated on August 11.
Prayer to St. Clare
St. Clare help us to be a good example of our faith. Help us to be able to sacrifice our lives for others. Help us to offer up our pain for others and help us to constantly keep others in our prayers.
Amen
St. Clare pray for us
St. Joseph pray for us
May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.
Works cited
Information (read from, not taken):
Franciscan media. “Saint Clare of Assisi. ”Saint Clare of Assisi | Franciscan Media. Accessed August 11, 2021.
Images:
Saint Clare of Assisi. August 11, 2021. Saint Clare of Assisi - Google Search.