“Do not be disturbed by the clamor of the world, which passes like a shadow.”
—Letter to Ermentrude of Bruges
As a member of the noble class, St. Clare had the finest goods available to her—clothes, food, shelter. Yet she often shunned those possessions and shared what she had with the less fortunate. She understood that God was found not in worldly possessions but rather in our character and how we treat others. Many of us can fulfill not only our needs, but also many of our wants. The challenge is remembering that material goods and the clamor of the world often do not feed our spirits, which is most important.
Gaze | Consider | Contemplate | Imitate
Clare is aware of the immense potential of the human person as image of God, as she writes, “Indeed, it is now clear that the soul of a faithful person, the worthiest of all creatures because of the grace of God, is greater than heaven itself.” Yet she also knows the human person’s ability to efface God by wrongful choices, as she continues in her letter to Agnes, “. . .since the heavens and the rest of creation cannot contain their Creator and only the faithful soul is His dwelling place and throne, and this only through the charity that the wicked lack.”
On one hand Clare makes the astonishing claim that the human person can possess the Creator since “the faithful soul is His dwelling place and throne,” and then she tells us how—through charity. It is love that makes us “possessors of God” or makes us like God, for God is love, and only love can possess love. –from Clare of Assisi: A Heart Full of Love
Prayer
St. Clare,
Remind us that
the many things we surround ourselves with
often do not fill our spirits.
Only God can do that.
Amen.
27 thoughts on “Lent with St. Clare: Saturday after Ash Wednesday”
The beauty of the catholic church.
Thanks for sharing such guiding message to God’s people.
St. Clare pray for us ????????????
The more I learn about St. Clare, the more I appreciate her. So, “only love can possess love?” How valuable a tidbit of information that is. I also remember the saying, “Evil attracts evil.” Gosh, I wonder to what extent I can get closer to my true nature here in this life of mine with the short time I have left due to my not getting any younger. Maybe I need to pray more.
I pray that my heart may always be filled with God’s love, so that I may be one with Him in my thoughts, my words and my actions.
St. Clare, pray for me and my family that we may share God’s love more and more with the people of God. Amen
Thanks Saint Clare for what I need to do this Time of Lenten introspection to be a better Husband, Father, Grandpa and Great Grandpa. To think more of others than myself and become a better member of my Parish and Community.
Shunning the attraction os worldly pursuits and dedicating my time and energy to what is important Spiritually attaining Eternal Salvation.
Amen
I believe Clare came from a noble class but I did not know this continued to be a part of her lifestyle?
Gaze, Contemplate, Consider, and Imitate is so energizing in my spirit and I give thanks for Clare’s spirit guidance. pat forster. osf
I find these reflections are just long enough to give you plenty of time to meditate afterwards and absorb the main message being put across,
Thank you so much,
Alice Conway
very nice.god bless you
With gratitude for these messages …..for insight into the personhood and writings of St. Clare.
I am participating in a prison ministry for mostly young mothers “ Hannah’s Gift”. Please pray for these women and their families.
May God bless these mothers and you for serving them.
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Great
Thank you
Only love can possess love….a beautiful thought to dwell upon today.
Beautiful food for thought! Thank
Everyday I enjoy these little parts of St Clare’s. They a short enough for me to remember during the day. Thank you for enhancing my Lenten experience.
Thanks
I believe I get the meaning of ‘only love can possess love’ BUT the use of the word possess is conflicting for me. I am having a hard time seeing love as a possession. I guess I need more time “contemplating and considering:.
Maybe possess is too strong a word. Maybe hold…only love can hold love. I agree possess is more like owning and love is like spirit.
Your point is well taken re: the verb possess. It seems to contradict the spirit of love.
G-d is love. But for me in this world love is not loved.As such with ashes we received let us All increase our prays for the backsliding to stop and for the Holy Spirit to direct us in our actions ,so that we can honor G-d by living out the life He destine for you and I.
G-d Bless.
Amen! Glad to see you back RL , I appreciate reading your reflections.????????✝
Such a beautiful reflection on the rites of St. Clare. Only love can possess love. How profound and such good for meditation.
Such a beautiful reflection on the rites of St. Clare. Only love can possess love. How profound and such food for meditation.
I thank God every day that my Holy Mother St. Clare guides me every day along with all our Franciscan advocates who walk God’s eternal path. May God’s creative love sustain us. Thank you for the beautiful meditation .
On one hand Clare makes the astonishing claim that the human person can possess the Creator since “the faithful soul is His dwelling place and throne,” and then she tells us how—through charity. It is love that makes us “possessors of God” or makes us like God, for God is love, and only love can possess love. –from Clare of Assisi: A Heart Full of Love
St. Clare was inspired to turn the world around and upside down with both this quote and her nature touched by our Lord himself.
Seems that a few here have feelings/opinions about this quote and what makes us “possessors of God” . He does live in the Tabernacle of our hearts in the form of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to us at Baptism and in Confirmation, what a gift!
We are possessors of gifts; but if we return them, desecrate the gift within us, or use our freewill to go against our Lord then we can no longer possess the gift He gave us in his mercy and sacrifice. God is Love , but if we do not take care of our relationship with Him, we walk away from Him, we damage our own body , or even say I can do things my way rejecting the Bible and the church to pick and choose like a breakfast buffet we draw a line and walk away….then the Holy Spirit isn’t accessible any more.
St. Clare challenges us today to rethink our definition of the word possess or possessor. We no longer have to think of it in earthly terms or pagan terms. This may be a Holy Moment from God . We may for just one moment, through the writings of St. Clare,get to see the possibility of how our Lord thinks.
“This sentence caught my attention: “The challenge is remembering that material goods and the clamor of the world often do not feed our spirits, which is most important.”
I remind myself daily “don’t get lost in the temporary”.
St. Clare help me to be closed to Jesus.
Jesus, let me see with your eyes,
hear with your ears,
speak with your tong,
think with your mind,
love with your heart,
that’s all I want.