St. Clare
One
Today is the Feast of St. Clare. She lived from 1194-1253 and came from a noble family of Assisi. As providence would have it, she was even baptized at the same font as Francis of Assisi, with whom she later became a dear friend. Hearing Francis preach on the simplicity and freedom of leaving the world behind to follow Christ moved her heart so much, she had to become a devoted follower, a Bride of Christ. So, on Palm Sunday March 20 (my daughter Claire’s birthday), 1212, she went to the little chapel rebuilt by St. Francis which he called the “Little Portion,” and had Francis cut her beautiful blond hair as a sign of her commitment to this new life of poverty and Divine love. The friendship she enjoyed with Francis inspired her to establish her own religious community. Known as “the Poor Clares, ” Clare and her religious sisters devoted themselves to prayer, penance, and charity for the poor. Her friendship with Francis proved invaluable to him as well. Great saint though he was, he needed Clare towards the end of his life, as she became his personal nurse and special caretaker. How can our friendships bring other people to commit themselves to a simple way of life, like St. Clare?
Two
Clare’s wealth and beauty were not bad in and of themselves. However, she recognized the limitless riches of heaven and desired these instead, even to the point of giving up her worldly possessions. Francis’s word and example moved her to imitate him completely, and so she didn’t view her detachment as much of a sacrifice but more of embracing a purer means of attaining union with God. Her life became so attractive that multiple wealthy family members and friends joined her! Her own sister, Agnes, is also canonized. Her reputation grew so strong that she attracted numerous women to her community. Many eyewitnesses commented on her radiant beauty, this despite her having divested herself of all her attachments. Lord, through Clare’s example, may we recognize that the riches of the world, not bad in and of themselves, are nevertheless a pale substitute for the riches that you have set aside for us in heaven. May we be rich in what matters to most to You!
Three
Clare was known for her deep love for the Holy Mass and the Blessed Sacrament. Many stories circulated about the mystical phenomena that surrounded her love for the Eucharist. She had a cat bring her a sacred veil that she knitted to cover the chalice during Holy Mass. But when the cat drug it across the floor, St. Clare chastised it in her sweet and gentle way, and the cat paused, carefully rolled up the sacred covering and gently brought it to Clare. On another occasion, the Saracens, known for their brutal attacks and treatment of nuns in convents, attacked Clare’s convent. Clare exposed the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance after hearing the Lord’s voice tell her, “I have you always in my care,” and, holding the Sacred Host aloft, threw terror into the invading horde and they were the ones who fled in fear. This is why Clare is often portrayed holding the Blessed Sacrament aloft in a monstrance, scaring off the forces of evil. Dear Lord, may we always flee to you in the Blessed Sacrament when we feel attacked by evil, and may we have the love and confidence in You as that of Clare and her community.
Four
The Sacred Scriptures present the virtue of Faith in three ways. St. James teaches that faith is an intellectual assent to God and His truths. St. Paul shows us that faith is a full, personal commitment. The Letter to the Hebrews and the Gospels offer the most unique component of faith: that faith is the expectation that God will do great things. Clare demonstrated all three of these aspects of faith, but especially that latter. She expected God to do great things for her. For instance, one Christmas Eve, Clare was too ill to rise from her bed to attend Mass at the new Basilica of St. Francis. Although she was more than a mile away, she saw Mass on the wall of her dormitory. So clear was the vision that the next day she could name the friars at the celebration. It was for this last miracle that she has been named patroness of television. Like Francis, Clare also had special connection with animals, and even had her own experience of the multiplication of loaves when she fed 50 sisters with one loaf during a time of famine. Do I have such faith in Jesus that I expect Him to do great things for me?
Five
In a letter she wrote to St. Agnes of Prague, St. Clare said, “Consider also His indescribable delights, His unending riches and honors, and sigh for what is beyond your love and heart’s content as you cry out: ‘Draw me out! We will run after you in the perfume of your ointment, heavenly spouse!” Clare’s intense love of God inspired Agnes of Prague to become a Poor Clare and a saint, her own sister and aunt to become Poor Clares and saints, and countless others. Clare’s life reveals that personal holiness has a tremendous ripple effect. She thought she was just giving herself to Jesus, but she transformed the world. Today, there are 20,000 Poor Clare’s in 75 countries. Clare shows us that the best way to change the world is to change yourself by cultivating your relationship with God. Today, let us commit to one effective way that we can cultivate our relationship with God, either by receiving Jesus in Holy Communion with greater devotion and frequency, praying more in front of the Blessed Sacrament, spending more time in daily meditation, going more regularly to confession, etc. And to leading others to Jesus through Mary with the rosary.