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Friends of the Rosary,
Today, August 11, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253), a virgin and a most perfect follower of St. Francis of Assisi, who practiced a life of entire poverty.
At the wish of St Francis, she established a community of nuns in the small convent of San Damiano — the Order of Poor Clares — and acted as their superior for forty-two years — her own life serving as a constant sermon for her sisters to emulate.
Their Rule included austerities, walking barefoot, sleeping on the ground, keeping perpetual abstinence, and making poverty the basis of their lives. St. Clare died on August 11, 1253, and was canonized two years later.
The Breviary says of her:
“When the Saracens were besieging Assisi and were preparing to attack the convent, St. Clare asked to be assisted as far as the entrance, for she was ill. In her hand she carried a vessel containing the blessed Eucharist as she prayed: O Lord, do not deliver over to beasts the souls that praise You! (Ps. 73). Protect Your servants, for You have redeemed them by Your precious Blood. And in the midst of that prayer, a voice was heard, saying: Always will I protect you! The Saracens took to flight.”
Heroic in suffering (she was sick for twenty-seven years), she was canonized only two years after her death.
In our twentieth century, there still remain large areas with millions suffering under extreme poverty. Poverty in itself is no virtue, but it should be made into a virtue. Christ was poor. His entrance into the world and His departure from it took place in circumstances of greatest need. He had no house wherein to be born, no crib; no house wherein to die, no deathbed. Poverty stood watch at birth and remained to see His death. “The foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matt. 3:20).
At least, we can be moderate and frugal, and thereby find the way to the spirit of Christian poverty. St. Clare, help us, pray for us!
Ave Maria!
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Please give us the grace to respond with joy!
+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:
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Ave Maria!
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Please give us the grace to respond with joy!
+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:
Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play
