Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin

READINGS

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

R. (103a)  How sweet to my taste is your promise!

In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise! The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

R.  How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Your decrees are my i=heritance forever; the joy of my heart they are

.R.  How sweet to my taste is your promise!

I gasp with open mouth, in my yearning for your commands.

R.  How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Gospel Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost."

REFLECTION

St. Clare of Assisi was that humble little child that Jesus spoke about. Early in her life, she was committed to prayer. When she was 18 years old, she heard St. Francis preach and asked him to help her "live according to the Gospel."

Clare left her home at the age of 18 and went to a chapel in Porziuncula, where she professed her life to become a bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. Francis cut Clare's hair and replaced her elegant clothing with plain robes. She left the area and went to the Benedictine nuns in San Paolo. She felt joy and solitude there.

Clare's father found her in San Paolo and tried to force her to return home, but she refused and revealed that her hair was cut and she was a bride of Christ.

Francis sent Clare to the Benedictine nuns. The sisters stayed there until the convent was built next to the church of San Damiano.

More women joined them to become consecrated to Jesus Christ.

All the women wanted to live with no money. Clare became the Abbess of San Damiano. They lived barefoot, with no money, and prayed. Clare wrote the rule for the order and was the first woman to write a monastic rule. They became known as Clare's Order of Poor Ladies.

Clare’s faith in Jesus was firm. During a time invaders threatened to enter the convent. Clare prayed to her Heavenly Father for protection. Then weakened by sickness she brought out the Blessed Sacrament to the gates of San Damiano and the enemy fled. Her trust in the Lord was like a little child!

After Clare's death, the Order's name was changed to the Order of Saint Clare.

Let us pray that we may become humble and trust in the Lord as St. Clare.

Let us pray for all priests to be humble and holy. Here is our PAPA Prayer for Priests.