Much like a stone thrown into water extends ripples, Clare’s holiness helped spread the vision of Saint Francis.
Prayer
Creator God, your handmaiden, Clare, kept her heart affixed to Jesus and his Gospel.
Help us to keep our eyes on the Lord and let the witness of our lives
bring his Gospel to others. Inspired by her example,
allow us to become vessels as Clare was in your service.
We ask all things through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Reflection
Clare’s life was one devoted to service. Everything she did—leaving her family, following Francis, living a life of poverty, establishing the Poor Clares—all of that was done to serve God. Christ was the beacon of her life. We can recount the many events of her life, but we must always remember that at the heart of them was her love for the crucified Christ and how she could bring his message to others.
Much like a stone thrown into water extends ripples far and wide, Clare’s holiness and faith helped spread the vision of Saint Francis to many—even to this day. Each woman she joined in community with, each brother of Francis that she counseled, each cardinal or pope she challenged, each was changed as a result of Clare’s living example.
It is a good reminder to us that at the heart of all we do, we must remember to keep our focus on the greater mission of serving Christ in our lives. May we all be such devoted followers of Christ that we are able to touch even just a fraction of those Saint Clare has.
Consider this…
- What does being of service to others mean to you? When you give of your time and talents, how does it make you feel? Was that curtailed because of the pandemic? In what other ways can you give back?
- Saint Clare shut her door to nobody. Those who came to her for help were given attention. Could you be so giving in your day-to-day?
- How can you be a source of comfort to those around you? In what ways can you share your light?
In Saint Clare’s Own Words
“Love God, serve God; everything is in that.”
