Franciscan Spirit Blog

Lent with St. Clare: First Thursday

Cross inside a purple heart

“Let the love you have in your hearts be shown outwardly in your deeds.”
—The Testament of St. Clare

Since St. Clare of Assisi and her sisters never left the convent of San Damiano, it seems this directive could be challenging. Yet Clare still showed her love outwardly through her letters and through service to her sisters. Her life is a perfect example that acts of love don’t have to be grand and flashy. Sometimes the best way to show our love is through simple, small acts that show how we feel.

Gaze | Consider | Contemplate | Imitate

Probably the most frequent visitors came needing help and prayers. The sisters were sought out when need arose in Assisi and nearby towns. The ordinary remedies and skills of more than one sister would be in constant demand. The monastery’s origins as a hospice revived as friars and others came there for healing and restoration. While we will look closely at the healing ministry of Clare later, it is enough to say that the reputation of San Damiano was a magnet for those in need.

From serious conditions of body and soul to the normal childhood emergency—like the small boy with a stone stuck in his nose—Clare and the sisters were a “go to” font of expert help. Sometimes the need was for prayer, advice, and admonition. A marriage in trouble, a battle threatened, a family quarrel to solve—all petitions would find wise counsel and ardent prayer offered generously.

What prayers would you bring to Clare and her sisters? —from Light of Assisi: The Story of Saint Clare


lent with saint clare

Prayer

St. Clare,
From within the walls of San Damiano
you found a way to reach out
and spread your message of love to others.
May we use that example as a reminder
that great love can be shown in simple ways.
Amen.



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13 thoughts on “Lent with St. Clare: First Thursday”

    1. Lord Jesus Christ, our hearts is cold. Make it warm, compassionate, and forgiving towards all, even those who do us harm. May we only think and say what is pleasing to you and be of kind service to all we meet. Amen.

  1. ST Paul gave us the true meaning of love. Love is patient and kind it is not jealous it is not pompous is not inflated is not rude it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoice with the truth it is forgiving.
    Let’s pray for G-ds grace in an effort to live a life imitating Jesus Christ – Blessed be His Holy Name-focusing not on self -because the Lord is in control of that – but on others with loving kindness.
    Father as you have help the Saints , help us also to remain in your company.
    G-d Bless.

    1. Mike Reininger

      Someone asked my former parish priest why he became a priest. He said because he couldn’t become a nun.

      After hearing Sr. Margaret Carney and seeing other women religious, I wonder why more young women today are not seriously considering becoming nuns. It’s not as if they are tens, or anything, let alone even an eight, on the grading scale of beauty. They need to be more realistic and choose the better portion as Mary in the Gospel did, as compared to Martha.

  2. MAY OUR MOST HOLY LORD GOD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL TO KEEP US ALL INFORMED OF EVERYTHING THAT IS TO SERVE HIM. AMEN..

  3. Praying for a close friend and her husband that they are able to communicate and work together in fulfilling each other needs.

  4. I need prayers said for my dead husband who could forgive ev
    eryone but himself. He died of an accidental overdose. I know he believed in and loved Jesus. The evil one played with his mind and spirit constantly. His name is Barry.
    Thank‐you all

    1. Angela, prayers are up for Barry. I’ve had former students who have also died of drug overdoses. I will include Barry in my rosary ???? when I think of them. May peace beyond our understanding be yours. Love Jay

    2. I am so sorry for your loss Angela, my deepest condolences to you and prayers for your husband Barry!.????????✝????

      Eternal Rest Grant Unto him O LOrd,
      Let Perpetual Light Shine upon him
      May his soul and the souls of the faithfully departed
      rest in the peace of Christ
      Amen

  5. Sr Margaret Thank You for sharing all you have learned from researching St. Clare’s life work , we have such intimate details now about why she was inspired and the importance of being obedient to the church. For both men and women take vows to be obedient to the church and even the Pope.
    This Lenten program unites well with the talks from Father Chris Alar from the Marian Fathers at Divine Mercy Shrine.
    I have so much to learn in my faith yet! I am a cradle Catholic with generations of my family instilling in me my faith beliefs and teaching me about Catholicism , but I needed to be a willing participant and fully engaged. I wasn’t always that way ….as I grow older and live through crisis in the secular world with my husband I lean into my faith ever more! When I was young I participated in my faith out of respect for them , out of curiosity, out of a need to belong to something bigger than me….but not all those are the right reason. These Lenten experiences are here in just the right moment for me????

  6. There is one thing I really appreciate about St. Clare and her Franciscan sisters,the chose their life to serve others and be obedient as a bride to her bridegroom…God himself.
    I admire that each one resided in the monastery at Assisi ,never needed to leave and so many sought them out for all kinds of help. What an inspiration for those of us who are unable to take vows such as to the Franciscan order, but are also in a place in life where we are on hold and unable to leave where we reside or not go out without assistance . We can still choose to follow in the footsteps of St. Clare who models how to care for others who God brings to you. For we are all made to serve one another, some do so in unconventional ways.
    I gave found God brings the people He believes I can be a disciple to and encourage in faith to my door, through a phone call, in a meeting at the doctors office, into my in box or through social media. Today we have it so much easier to serve God as he is now able to be at all ends of the earth through the use of technology and media.
    The life St. Clare role modeled by giving of herself and giving her wealth away are even more possible today for ALL of us. She worked to make a way for women who wanted to serve the Lord , but her inspiration through a union of heart and mind with St. Francis makes it possible for all individuals as well as the religious community.

  7. As someone with chronic illness who struggles physically, this is an amazing reminder that I have worth & things to contribute.
    I constantly need that reminder.

  8. heavenly father, help me, You knows my pain, You always know what was happened because You see everything a most hidden corner , I come with a broken heart, Father, You knows how long I have waited a reconcilitation for me and him. God if you deign, please God soften and touch damianus aditya christie heart for me. I can’t touch his heart, but Lord you can. please bless those who hate me, don’t let their hatred on I made them proud. God you be able to do all things. you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. please make this miracle happen for me     

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