Clare of Assisi

Today the Church remembers Clare of Assisi, the daughter of a wealthy family, attractive, and in a word, she had it all. Nevertheless, once she met Francis of Assisi, who had given up everything to follow Christ, she too heard the Gospel’s call to sell all that she had and to come and follow Jesus.

Her family and friends protested, but she remained steadfast, and soon, other women joined her. She became the head of a religious order of women called the Poor Ladies of St. Damian. The order’s practices were austere and they lived according to the rule established by Francis for his brothers. As succinctly put by Lesser Feast and Fasts, “Clare herself was servant, not only to the poor, but to her nuns.” Lesser Feasts and Fasts at 290 (1980).

Clare served her community as leader for forty years. Her biographer said that Clare “radiated a spirit of fervor so strong that it kindled those who but heard her voice.” Id.

She died in 1253 having devoted herself to a servant ministry and followed Christ by giving all that she had to the poor.

Clare's life is a challenge to all of us who are distracted by the world with its constant lure to a life of the constant acquisition of things. Clare, who had it all, gave it up in order to follow Jesus. Although it is unlikely that we can or would do the same, the collect of the day reminds us where our hearts should be:

O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty might be rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of this world, that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant Clare, may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.