Clare’s way of living the Gospel was not Saint Francis’ way, yet she left a profound mark on the life of the Church through her own form of ministry.
Prayer
Gracious God, each of us has our own ways of spreading the message of Christ.
Our sister, Clare, whose name means light, devoted herself to prayer for the
sick and infirmed who came daily to her door.
Help us to remember that each act of love for the sake of others,
no matter how big or how small, helps to bring about the kingdom of God.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Savior.
Amen.
Reflection
For some, the life of Saint Clare may seem rather unappealing, spending her days inside the modest dwelling of Sam Damiano with her sisters in silence, going about the daily tasks of praying, cleaning, gardening, and other chores. It was the perfect vision of Clare’s quest for simplicity, of stripping away anything that could come between her and Christ.
In this day and age of what seems like constant noise and distractions, though, this way of life probably seems completely unachievable and undesirable. But to Clare, this way of life made perfect sense. It was the manifestation of her ideal life, stripping away all things that could detract from fully focusing on Christ.
Clare’s way of living the Gospel was not Saint Francis’ way, yet she left a profound mark on the life of the Church through her own form of ministry. We may not all be called to go out among the people. For some, their impact may be more interior—praying for others in need, caring for those who are quietly suffering, quietly serving the Church. Regardless, they are helping to serve Christ.
Consider this…
- If you were called to ministry, what would it look like? Would you be more like Clare or Francis? How would you, in your own way, share the good news?
- Given your personality, what are some ministries that would be a good fit for you? What skills would you bring to the table?
- Do you think that because Clare’s ministry was not as visible as Francis’ that she is often overlooked? How did Clare change the Church and the world in her way?
In Clare’s Own Words
“Live and hope in the Lord, and let your service be according to reason.”
