Today we Celebrate the life, work and witness of St Clare of Assisi, founder of the Poor Clares.
Good Morning My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope all is well, and that today you find yourself being a channel of love and peace to someone.
I do like a Saints story with a bit of drama, and that is certainly how we can view the early years of St Clare.
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. (As an aside, during the film we see a great deal of St Francis laughing, and I for one think we should do more of that.)
The beginning of her religious life was indeed movie material. Having refused to marry at 15, Lets remember the times, she was born in 1194. Young girls at that time were definitely obedient to their parents wishes, so she was obviously made of strong stuff.
Clare was not only moved by the dynamic preaching of Francis, but totally transformed by it. His is a message that we can understand, and it makes so much sense for today. It is about letting go of the ego, the desire for wealth, even possessions, and embracing with awe and wonder the whole of God’s creation. Francis preached that we were all connected and related. All unique and therefore special. His message was one of total inclusion so much so that he called all things animate and inanimate his Brothers and Sisters. ‘Brother Sun and Sister Moon.’ He became Clare’s lifelong friend and spiritual guide.
More drama – at 18, Clare escaped from her father’s home one night, was met on the road by friars carrying torches, and in the poor little chapel called the Portiuncula received a rough woollen habit, exchanged her jewelled belt for a common rope with knots in it, and sacrificed her long hair to Francis’ scissors. This act of humility, submission and shedding of self is powerful enough, but to do it out of her love for God is such a witness.
Francis placed her in a Benedictine convent, which her father and uncles immediately stormed in rage. Clare clung to the altar of the church, threw aside her veil to show her cropped hair, and remained adamant. She had made a choice to live a simple and Godly life.
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. At age 21, Francis obliged Clare under obedience to accept the office of abbess, one she exercised until her death.
One of the interesting things about the ‘Religious life’ is that the monks and nuns don’t go around trying to persuade other people to join them. Their example of putting Christ first becomes the attraction. Francis went about preaching and teaching, but Clare stayed in the convent praying and being close to God. In their different ways they both drew people to Jesus.
The Poor Ladies (Later to become the Poor Clares) 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 Clare 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.”
To many this sounds like a harsh and hard life, full of self imposed austerity, and feeling of guilt. But in reality of course it is a life dedicated to those mystical moments we get when we follow the example of the psalms ‘Be still and know that I am God’.
People who are not drawn to it consider it oppressive. Those who chose it find it liberating. My experience of both Franciscan and Benedictine communities is that they are places full of laughter, deep joy, a sense liberation, and a closeness to God.
Contemporary accounts glow with admiration of Clare’s life in the convent of San Damiano in Assisi. She served the sick and 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—Clare herself never left the walls of San Damiano.
Francis always remained her great friend and inspiration. Clare 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. 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 defenceless 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.
We had a Franciscan studying with us at university. I remember having a conversation with him about celibacy. Me being young, with Italian blood rushing through my veins, I didn’t understand where he was coming from.
He said, ‘Well you can fall in love with your girlfriend, and have a great time, but I can fall in love with everybody.’
Monastic life isn’t for everyone, and community living can, of course be hard. But there is something very inspiring about being in the company of people who have dedicated their life to prayer and discerning the presence of God.
Let me finish with a couple of interesting little bits. Clare is the Patron Saint of People with Eye disorders, and Television!
And a Prayer and a Blessing.
Her famous prayer
I come, O Lord, unto Your sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul. As I hope in You, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Your holy mountain. Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to You, that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Your 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.
Blessing
What you hold may you always hold.
What you do, may you always do and never abandon.
But with swift pace, light step and unswerving feet,
so that even your steps stir up no dust,
Go forward, the spirit of our God has called you.
How cool is that Blessing!
As ever,
Fr Marcus
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