The Brightness of Eternal Light

“Gaze upon Him,

consider Him,

contemplate Him,

as you desire

to imitate Him.”

- Saint Clare of Assisi

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Saint Clare of Assisi calls each of us to a greater awareness of our Lord Jesus Christ present and active in our lives.  Clare was attracted to the ideals of Saint Francis:   his inspired preaching about God, poverty and love.   She was drawn to spiritual matters.  She intensified her prayer life.  She also embraced a life of poverty, yet one that was rich in works of charity and piety, which in turn attracted other women to join her as the Poor Ladies or Poor Clares.  The sisters’ daily life consisted mainly of prayer and penance, but all this was flavoured with the serenity of women who have joyfully chosen to follow Our Lord in poverty.

Saint Clare is indeed a “light that would enlighten the world” just as her expectant mother was told by a voice from heaven as she was praying for strength and serenity during her delivery.    

May this holy woman inspire and guide each of us to focus on Christ, our Light, and to share His Light with others.

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“Happy indeed is she who is granted a place at the divine banquet, for she may cling with her inmost heart to him whose beauty eternally awes the blessed hosts of heaven; to him whose love inspires love, whose contemplation refreshes, whose generosity satisfies, whose gentleness delights, whose memory shines sweetly as the dawn; to him whose fragrance revives the dead, and whose glorious vision will bless all the citizens of that heavenly Jerusalem.  For he is the splendor of eternal glory, the brightness of eternal light….”  

- from a letter by Saint Clare to Blessed Agnes of Prague

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“Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.”

- Saint Clare of Assisi

Sunset View from Assisi

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