Saint Clare of Assisi

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Franciscan, Saint Clare

“We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.”~~Saint Clare of Assisi

Today, August 11, is the Feast Day of Saint Clare, Founder of the Second Order Franciscans, the Poor Clares.

On Palm Sunday of 1212, 17-year-old Clare escaped from the home of her noble parents in Assisi to join Saint Francis. After receiving her vows in religion, cutting off her hair, and giving her a habit to replace her satin finery, Francis placed her in a Benedictine convent. Soon he was able to establish her in the church and convent of San Damiano, where she lived for more than 40 years as head of a community of contemplative nuns. Her sister, Agnes, and her mother became part of her religious order, which spread even in Clare’s lifetime to Germany and Bohemia. Clare is said to have routed the soldiers of Frederick II by her faith in the Blessed Sacrament.

The bond of love between Francis and Clare was strong and significant, though they saw each other only rarely. The example of their love for God, each other, and the whole family of God informs and inspires all Franciscan orders to this day. Clare died two days after receiving the Pope’s approval of her rule binding the Poor Clares to the Franciscan ideal of complete poverty.

Collect: God of peace, who in the holiness of blessed Clare gave us a clear light to shine in the darkness of this world: Give us grace to follow in her footsteps that we may, at the last, rejoice with her in your eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~From the Devotional Companion of the Third Order, Society of Saint Francis, Province of the Americas

Clare was a vessel of humility, a shrine of chastity, a flame of love, the essence of kindness, the strength of patience, the bond of peace, and the source of loving unity in her community.

~~Document of Canonization

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10th Anniversary

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Francis of Assisi, Franciscan, Third Order

Today marks the 10th Anniversary of my Profession to the Third Order, Society of Saint Francis. What does that mean? I’ll let our brochure do the talking. You can click on the photo to see it larger:

 

O God, you have joined to the Society of St. Francis a Third Order, dedicated to your service: Grant, we pray, that being knit together in the spirit of love and unity, we your servants may glorify your holy Name after the example of St. Francis and win others to your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Franciscans Day By Day

On January 1, 2014, I will begin a new daily blog that follows the booklet that the Third Order, Society of Saint Francis uses as part of its daily obedience–Franciscans Day By Day. The booklet offers a daily bit of wisdom from Saint Francis, himself, and others who offer a Franciscan intention.

The blog can be found here at: Franciscans Day by Day beginning January 1.

Meanwhile, I will leave you with this poem by Enid Dinnis:

A Franciscan Prayer

When I am old and tutored by

The grim experience of days;

When I have proved men in their ways,

Oh, do not let the dreamer die.

When I have learned aside to toss

The foolish things that wise men hate,

Lest Littleness should hold me great,

Be mine the folly of the cross.

When comes detachment’s strength to me,

Let mine the weakness be that wept

O’er Lazarus’ grave and kept

Three comrades in Gethsemanee.

When head bids heart herself forget,

When Reason’s lure would love deceive,

May my poor foolish heart achieve

A few life-giving blunders yet.

When I have grown too sane, too sad,

To join the angels’ faerie ring

And serve the playtime of the King,

Then, Sweet Saint Francis, make me mad.

Saint Clare of Assisi

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Clare, the founder of the Second Order of Franciscans. Most people are familiar with her history, so briefly: Chiara Offreduccio ran away from home to join Francis when she was 18. Francis promptly stuck her in Benedictine Monastery, but as soon as possible, she was transferred to San Damiano where she founded the Poor Ladies (or Clares, as they are now called) and lived for the next 40 years. She was later joined  by both her sister, Agnes, and her mother.

Saint Francis was 12 years older than Clare, and until his death in 1226 served as her spiritual guide and mentor. They maintained a very special relationship although they almost never saw each other. Nevertheless, their love for each other carried them each through some particularly hard times, and it is difficult now not to think of one when you think of the other. Clare died in 1253.

Neither Francis nor Clare were exceptionally prolific in their writings, but both left behind much to ponder. Below is one of Clare’s more notable quotes:

Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory! And transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation.

He Christ is the splendor of eternal glory, the brightness of eternal light, and the mirror without cloud.

Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him.

I come, O Lord, unto Thy sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul. As I hope in Thee, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Thy holy mountain. Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to Thee, that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Thy majesty; that my heart, with its tenderest affections, may acknowledge Thine infinite love; that my memory may dwell on the admirable mysteries here renewed every day, and that the sacrifice of my whole being may accompany Thine.

Totally love Him, Who gave Himself totally for your love.

Third Order, Society of Saint Francis

I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, he can work through anyone. ~~Saint Francis of Assisi

Today marks the fifth anniversary of my profession to the Third Order, Society of Saint Francis. And nearly a decade since I first worked my way from aspirant to postulant to novice before being professed.

As it says in the Principles of the Order: When Saint Francis encouraged the formation of The Third Order he recognized that many are called to serve God in the spirit of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience in everyday life (rather than in a literal acceptance of these principles as in the vows of the Brothers and Sisters of the First and Second Orders). The Rule of the Third Order is intended to enable duties and conditions of daily living to be carried on in this spirit.

I will end with the Paraphrase of the Lord’s Prayer written by Saint Francis:

Our Father: Creator, Redeemer, Savior and Comforter.

In heaven: In the angels and the saints. You give them light so that they may have knowledge because you are light. You inflame them so that they may love because you are love. You live continually in them so that they may be happy because you are the supreme good, the eternal good, and it is from you all good comes and without you there is no good.

Hallowed by your name: May our knowledge of you become ever clearer so that we may realize the breadth of your blessings, the extent of your promises, the height of your majesty and the depth of your judgment.

Your kingdom come: So that you may reign in us by your grace and bring us to your kingdom, where we shall see you clearly, love you perfectly, be happy in your company and enjoy you forever.

Your will be done on earth as in heaven: That way we may love you with our whole heart by always thinking of you; with our whole mind by directing our whole intention toward you and seeking your glory in everything; and with all our strength by spending all our energies and affections of soul and body in the service of your love alone. And may we love our neighbors as ourselves, encouraging them all to love you as best we can, rejoicing at the good fortune of others, just as if it were our own, and sympathizing with their misfortunes, while giving offense to no one.

Give us today our daily bread: Your own beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to remind us of the love he showed for us and to help us to understand and appreciate it and everything that he did or said or suffered.

And forgive us our sins: In your infinite mercy, and by the power of the passion of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, together with the examples of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints.

As we forgive those who sin against us: And if we do not forgive perfectly, make us forgive perfectly, so that we may truly love our enemies for love of you and pray fervently to you for them, returning no one evil for evil, anxious only to serve everybody in you.

Lead us not into temptation: Hidden or obvious, sudden or unforeseen.

But deliver us from evil: Present, past or future.

Amen.