St. Clare - The Light of Assisi
On August 11, the church, especially the Franciscan movement, celebrates the feast of St. Clare of Assisi (1193/94-1253), first woman companion of St. Francis and Mother of our Poor Clare Sisters.
As a young aristocratic woman, Clare was inspired to follow the radical new Gospel life heralded by Francis, settling at the little church of San Damiano in Assisi in 1212; she and her sisters lived there for the next 40 years. For a brief biography of St. Clare, see our blog: https://www.franciscantradition.org/blog/feast-of-st-clare-jdwmly
Clare reminds us that we become what we love and what or who we love shapes what we become. If we love nothing, we become nothing. We must be transformed into the image of the God who gave himself totally for us. We must become vessels of God's compassionate love for others.
You may enjoy the following brief reflection by Margaret Carney, OSF, author of the popular biography: Light of Assisi: The Story of St. Clare (Franciscan Media, 2021).
A blessed feast of Clare to all!
Dominic Monti, OFM
Professor of Franciscan Research in the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University
Dominic V. Monti, OFM, is a Franciscan Friar of Holy Name Province (USA) and currently professor of Franciscan Research in the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University. He devoted the greater part of his ministry to teaching the History of Christianity, in particular the history of the Franciscan movement. He has contributed two volumes to the Works of St. Bonaventure series and is author of Francis & His Brothers, a popular history of the Friars Minor.