“We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.”
—St. Clare
For most people, love carries some sort of romantic connotation. Love, though, is much broader than that. A shining example of that is Clare’s love for Christ. She and Francis also had very loving relationship. Yet neither of those fit the traditional definition to which we often default. Lent is a perfect time for us to delve into the deeper meaning of this emotion.
The challenge we face is to seek out that deeper meaning and the ways in which we can manifest it in our lives.
Gaze | Consider | Contemplate | Imitate
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!
Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance!
And transform your entire being into the image
of the Godhead Itself through contemplation.
Clare’s words remind us of Jesus’ command: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). What Clare indicates is that to love God with your whole mind, soul and heart is to contemplate God, and contemplation cannot take place apart from transformation: Thus, Agnes is to place her mind, soul, and heart in the “mirror of eternity.”
I wonder how many of us look on the cross as the “mirror of eternity”—a reflection of eternity in the crucified Christ. We rarely think of eternity hanging on a cross unless of course we understand that eternity is God, God is love and God’s love is expressed in the crucified Christ. For that is what Clare says: The mirror of eternity is the crucified Christ. God is revealed as all-embracing, outpouring love in the figure of the crucified Christ who is the splendor of eternal glory, the brilliance of eternal light and the mirror without blemish. In the cross, we see a reflection of the eternal God who is the fullness of love. –from Clare of Assisi: A Heart Full of Love
Prayer
St. Clare,
Help us to go deeper into
the true meaning of what it means to love and be loved.
Out of that reflection, may we discover ways
to share that love with others.
Amen.
9 thoughts on “Lent with St. Clare: First Sunday”
Where may I find more and deeper guidance in the mirror of eternity?
For me another word for love is give. Just not the giving of oneself to others but also allowing others to exist and flourish. Love is unconditional if not then if conditions are not met then loves goes. Yes the commandments commands us to love G-d , our neighbors , and the stranger. Giving of oneself is what challenge us in living a holy life.
Psalm 34 ask who is the one with passion for life loving everyday and seeing good.
G-d Bless.
This reflection about true LOVE is very inspiring. May the Spirit of Christ enable us to live according the tenets of GOD’s Love.
????♀️????♂️Raising hands to heaven above because therein lies our Love!
We love because He loved us first .????
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on St. Clare of Assisi’s reflection.
You can try reading the book Sr.Margaret wrote for more about St. Clare.
Sister Margaret’s video clips are outstanding. I recommend her book on
Clare entitled Light of Assisi.
To be like Clare sounds impossible. I myself show love to anyone especially elderly people. On my eyes these people deserve so much more in Gods eyes. I love being called to help them with prayers, sharing thoughts, you can always learn something new from them. I travel quite far afield to visit. I love a priest very much as my friend who helped my late husband then myself. He helped after that when my son died too. I am never lonely so much love to give especially to Our Blessed Motherxx
What Clare indicates is that to love God with your whole mind, soul and heart is to contemplate God, and contemplation cannot take place apart from transformation: Thus, Agnes is to place her mind, soul, and heart in the “mirror of eternity.”
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!
Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance!
And transform your entire being into the image
of the Godhead Itself through contemplation.
Either of these quotes would make beautiful meditations to delve deeper into this Lenten season, but pairing these meditation with our Reparations of Fasting, Almsgiving and Prayer will intensify our relationship with Jesus as we walk with Him through the difficult moments of His ministry.
Love can be tough as well as tender . St . Clare is providing a guide for us to live in every moment for Lent and beyond????????????
Love to me is give onself to other in need. Is to follow the words of Christ in the GospelÈ Everything you do for one of this person who are my brother it is for me that you did it. For me this is true love See Christ on the face of each person in need