Clare of Assisi (July 16, 1193 or 1194 – August 11, 1253, born Chiara Offreduccio was one of the first followers of the better known, Francis of Assisi, whose statues decorate many gardens.
She was born 11 years after Francis who was born as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in 1181 or 1182 and died in 1226 around age 45. Clare lived 27 years after the death of Francis, when she was age 59 or 60.
Chiara, like Francis, rejected the life of nobility enjoyed by her parents, and followed Francis in his love of poverty and ministry to the poor. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, and spent most of her life living in the rugged rock walls of San Damiano Monastery. She attracted other women in the Franciscan tradition, and, near the end of her life, wrote their Rule of Life. Her Rule is the first known to have been written by a woman for women. When she died at the age of 60, her spirituality was firmly rooted and many other communities of religious women carried the spirt of Saint Clare around the world. In honor of her, the order of Poor Ladies was renamed the Order of Saint Clare, which is commonly referred to today as the Poor Clares.
Clare’s spirituality is contemplative and monastic. She often spoke of what she called “the privilege of poverty.” She adhered to the Christian vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. She is considered to be a mystic.
Her feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is celebrated on August 11th.
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
One of her popular prayers - Place your mind before the mirror of eternity - has been spread across the world and with a variety of translations and adaptations. It is based in Clare’s spirituality of the “mirror of eternity.”We use this version before Mass in our parish, at the end of the rosary.
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!
Place your heart in the figure of Divine Substance!
And transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation.
Most high, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart,
and give me, Lord: a correct faith, a certain hope, a perfect charity, sense and knowledge, so that I may carry out your holy and true desires.
Amen.
English version by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM CAP & Ignatius C. Brady, OFM
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!
Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance!
And transform your whole being into the image of the Godhead Itself
through contemplation!
So that you too may feel what His friends feel
as they taste the hidden sweetness
which God Himself has reserved
from the beginning
for those who love Him.
Amen!
Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration - Tonopah, AZ
We are blessed to have a community of Poor Clare nuns not far from us at Our Lady of Solitude Monastery in Tonopah, Arizona. It is nestled in the desert north of Interstate 10, accessible by six miles of dirt roads. Contact them for directions before you go visit them. You are welcome to join them for daily Mass and other public events.
Saint Maximilian Kolbe Fraternity
We have a local community of the Secular Franciscan Order that meets in our Saint Clare of Assisi Parish Hall. Their members come from around the Phoenix region. If you are interested in finding out more, click the button. Also, be sure to look for their announcements in our parish bulletin. They are happy to talk to you and explore the possibility of you participating in the fraternity.
Blessing by Saint Clare
(From Clare’s second letter to Agnes of Prague)
Clare:
What you hold, may you always hold.
What you do, may you always do and never abandon.
But with swift pace, light step, unswerving feet,
So that even your steps stir up no dust,
may you go forward securely, Joyfully and swiftly, on the path to prudent happiness,
Not believing anything, not agreeing with anything
That would dissuade you from this resolution
Or that would place a stumbling block for you on the way,
So that you may offer your vows to the Most High
In the pursuit of that perfection To which the Spirit of the Lord has called you.
May almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Prayer to Saint Clare
O glorious Saint Clare!
God has given you the power of working miracles continually
And the favor of answering the prayers of those
Who invoke your assistance
In misfortune, anxiety and distress.
We beseech you, obtain for us from Jesus,
Through Mary, His Blessed Mother,
What we beg of you so fervently and hopefully,
If it be for the greater honor and glory of God
And for the good of our souls.
Amen
Clare’s Dying Words
(Clare’s words to her sisters as she was dying)
“I bless you, now while living and after my death, as much as I can and more than I can, with all the blessings which the Father of mercies has bestowed and continues to bestow upon his spiritual sons and daughters both in heaven and on earth.
Always bear love to me, to your own souls and to all your sisters. Be careful always to observe what you have promised the Lord. The Lord be with you always; and may you be with him always and in every place.”
(Clare spoke softly to herself as she was dying)
Clare: “Go forth without fear, for you will have a good escort for your journey. Go forth, for he who created you has sanctified you. He has protected you always as a mother does her child and has loved you with a tender love. Blessed be you, my Lord, who have created me.”
Turning to one of her sisters, Clare asked:
Clare: “Do you see the King of Glory, whom I see?
Clare thus went forth from her earthly life to the life of heaven, and exchanged the poverty of this life for the glory of eternal life. She was the first of the Poor Ladies and led many souls through penance to life. May her intercession also lead us, her sisters and brothers, to the kingdom of the blessed.
Litany of Saint Clare (Version 1)
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven. R/. Have mercy on us!
God, the son, Redeemer of the world, R/.
God, the Holy Spirit. R/.
Holy Trinity, one God, R/.
Holy Mary, Queen of Virgins, R/. Pray for us.
St. Clare, chosen of Christ. R/.
St. Clare, lover of chastity. R/.
St. Clare, vessel of holiness. R/.
St. Clare, prayerful daughter of St. Francis. R/.
St. Clare, morning light. R/.
St. Clare, Mother and Foundress of the Poor Clares. R/.
St. Clare, humble follower of Christ. R/.
St. Clare, faithful imitator of St. Francis. R/.
St. Clare, humble servant of the servants of Christ. R/..
St. Clare, brilliant light of holiness. R/.
St. Clare, wonderful helper in need. R/.
St. Clare, full of joy. R/.
St. Clare, poor with the poor. R/.
St. Clare, rich in merit and grace. R/.
St. Clare, loving spouse of the Crucified. R/.
St. Clare, seraphic adorer of the Blessed Sacrament. R/.
St. Clare, mighty protector of Assisi. R/.
St. Clare, mirror of patience in suffering. R/.
St. Clare, comforter of the ill and infirm. R/.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.
Pray for us, St. Clare. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
O God, who inspired St. Clare of Assisi to shine her light
on the Gospel and live a life of uncompromising fidelity,
grant that through her merits and intercession,
we may walk in the path of righteousness in this life
so as to enjoy the life that will never end.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Litany of Saint Clare (Version 2)
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Virgin Mary, Protectress and Advocate of the Franciscan Family; R/. Pray for us.
Holy Father Francis; R/.
Holy Mother Clare; R/.
St. Clare, spouse of the Crucified; R/.
St. Clare, adorer of the Blessed Sacrament; R/.
St. Clare, mirror of the Gospel; R/.
St. Clare, light reflecting the Light of Christ; R/.
St. Clare, first among the Poor Ladies; R/.
St. Clare, advocate for the poor; R/.
St. Clare, little plant of St. Francis; R/.
St. Clare, vessel of humility; R/.
St. Clare, exemplar of chastity; R/.
St. Clare, servant and handmaid of the Lord; R/.
St. Clare, lover of the Cross of Christ; R/.
St. Clare, footprint of the Virgin Mary; R/.
St. Clare, daughter and glory of the Church; R/.
St. Clare, mother of the Franciscan Family; R/.
St. Clare, discerner of God’s most holy will; R/.
St. Clare, model of ongoing conversion; R/.
St. Clare, woman of constant prayer; R/.
St. Clare, guardian of the privilege of poverty; R/.
St. Clare, spark of evangelical zeal; R/.
St. Clare, protector of God’s people; R/.
St. Clare, servant of her sisters; R/.
St. Clare, received at death by a choir of virgins; R/.
St. Clare, censer of sweet perfume filling heaven and earth; R/.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Let us pray:
O God, who in your mercy led St. Clare to a love of poverty, grant, through her
intercession, that, following Christ in poverty of spirit, we may merit to contemplate you one day
in the heavenly Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with
you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.