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August 11
St. Clare
(1194-1253)
One of the
more sugary movies made about Francis of Assisi pictures Clare as a
golden-haired beauty floating through sun-drenched fields, a sort of one-woman
counterpart to the new Franciscan Order.
The beginning of her religious life was
indeed movie material. Having refused to marry at 15, she was moved by the
dynamic preaching of Francis. He became her lifelong friend and spiritual
guide.
At 18, she escaped one night from her
father’s home, was met on the road by friars carrying torches, and in the poor
little chapel called the Portiuncula received a rough
woolen habit, exchanged her jeweled
belt for a common rope with knots in it, and sacrificed the long tresses to
Francis’ scissors. He placed her in a Benedictine convent which her father and
uncles immediately stormed in rage. She clung to the altar of the church, threw
aside her veil to show her cropped hair and remained adamant.
End of movie material. Sixteen days
later her sister Agnes joined her. Others came. They lived a simple life of
great poverty, austerity and complete seclusion from the world, according to a
Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order (Poor Clares).
Francis obliged her under obedience at age 21 to accept the office of abbess,
one she exercised until her death.
The nuns went barefoot, slept on the
ground, ate no meat and observed almost complete silence. (Later Clare, like
Francis, persuaded her sisters to moderate this rigor: “Our bodies are not made
of brass.”) The greatest emphasis, of course, was on gospel poverty. They
possessed no property, even in common, subsisting on daily contributions. When
even the pope tried to persuade her to mitigate this practice, she showed her
characteristic firmness: “I need to be absolved from my sins, but I do not wish
to be absolved from the obligation of following Jesus Christ.”
Contemporary accounts glow with
admiration of her life in the convent of San Damiano
in Assisi. She served the sick, waited on table, washed the feet of the begging
nuns. She came from prayer, it was said, with her face
so shining it dazzled those about her. She suffered serious illness for the
last 27 years of her life. Her influence was such that popes, cardinals and
bishops often came to consult her—she never left the walls of San Damiano.
Francis always remained her great
friend and inspiration. She was always obedient to his will and to the great
ideal of gospel life which he was making real.
A well-known story concerns her prayer
and trust. She 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.
Comment:
The 41 years of Clare’s religious life are poor movie material, but they are a
scenario of sanctity: an indomitable resolve to lead the simple, literal gospel
life as Francis taught her; courageous resistance to the ever-present pressure
to dilute the ideal; a passion for poverty and humility; an ardent life of
prayer; and a generous concern for her sisters.
Patron Saint of:
Eye disorders
Television
St. Clare, Pray
for us.
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