Ave Maria Meditations
St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)
Feast Day is August 11th
In the year 1240, St Clare saved her sisters and her convent from plundering hordes of Saracen mercenaries through the miracle of the Eucharist. As the Saracens were placing ladders against the walls of the convent she placed a monstrance containing the Eucharist in the sight of the men while she lay prostrate before Jesus and prayed. Here is an account of the incident from The History of Saint Clare, Virgin, written by Tommaso da Celano:
“By imperial order, regiments of Saracen soldiers and bowmen were stationed there (the convent of San Damiano in Assisi, Italy), massed like bees, ready to devastate the encampments and seize the cities. Once, during an enemy attack against Assisi, city beloved of the Lord, and while the army was approaching the gates, the fierce Saracens invaded San Damiano, entered the confines of the monastery and even the very cloister of the virgins. The women swooned in terror, their voices trembling with fear as they cried to their Mother, Saint Clare.
“Saint Clare, with a fearless heart, commanded them to lead her, sick as she was, to the enemy, preceded by a silver and ivory case in which the Body of the Saint of saints was kept with great devotion. And prostrating herself before the Lord, she spoke tearfully to her Christ: ‘Behold, my Lord, is it possible You want to deliver into the hands of pagans Your defenseless handmaids, whom I have taught out of love for You? I pray You, Lord, protect these Your handmaids whom I cannot now save by myself.’ Suddenly a voice like that of a child resounded in her ears from the tabernacle: ‘I will always protect you!’ ‘My Lord,’ she added, ‘if it is Your wish, protect also this city which is sustained by Your love.’ Christ replied, ‘It will have to undergo trials, but it will be defended by My protection.’ Then the virgin, raising a face bathed in tears, comforted the sisters: ‘I assure you, daughters, that you will suffer no evil; only have faith in Christ.’
Upon seeing the courage of the sisters, the Saracens took flight and fled back over the walls they had scaled, unnerved by the strength of she who prayed. And Clare immediately admonished those who heard the voice I spoke of above, telling them severely: ‘Take care not to tell anyone about that voice while I am still alive, dearest daughters.’”
Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.
–Saint Clare of Assisi
He, Christ, is the splendor of eternal glory, “the brightness of eternal light, and the mirror without cloud.” Behold, I say, the birth of this mirror. Behold Christ’s poverty even as he was laid in the manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. What wondrous humility, what marvelous poverty! The King of angels, the Lord of heaven and earth resting in a manger! Look more deeply into the mirror and meditate on his humility, or simply on his poverty. Behold the many labors and sufferings he endured to redeem the human race. Then, in the depths of this very mirror, ponder his unspeakable love which caused him to suffer on the wood of the cross and to endure the most shameful kind of death. The mirror himself, from his position on the cross, warned passers-by to weigh carefully this act, as he said: “All of you who pass by this way, behold and see if there is any sorrow like mine.” Let us answer his cries and lamentations with one voice and one spirit: “I will be mindful and remember, and my soul will be consumed within me.” – from a letter to Bl. Agnes of Prague from St. Clare of Assisi
Litany of St. Clare
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ, hear us;
Christ, graciously hear us.
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 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 thePoor 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
St Clare, pray for conversion of the world to Christ and His Church–and for Christians to realize the immense gift Jesus gave us in the Eucharist. It is precisely because the world has lost its faith in Jesus and the Eucharist that we now face the suicidal depopulation of the West and the ensuing invasion of Islam. Only through the eating of the flesh of the Son of God will we carry Jesus life within us and bravely command every evil to flee our midst.
St. Clare of Assisi
Patron Saint of TV
