Once,
during an enemy attack against Assisi, the fierce Saracens invaded San
Damiano, entered the confines of the monastery and even the very
cloister. Fainting in terror, their voices trembling with fear, the
sisters cried out to their Mother, St. Clare. What happened next was
recorded by the Franciscan friar, Tommaso da Celano:
“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.’’”
The miracles
performed during her life by this first spiritual daughter of St.
Francis were indeed numerous. Her confidence in her divine Spouse was
total and unconditional. Having once renounced all earthly possessions
for love of Him, she tenaciously thwarted every attempt – even by
several well-meaning popes – to mitigate the absolute poverty she and
her religious sisters had so willingly embraced. After St. Francis’
death in 1226 and until her own in 1253, Clare continued to hold fast to
the counsels St. Francis had given her and to direct the order in the
true spirit of its founder: total renunciation of all earthly
possessions and an unconquerable faith and confidence in Divine
Providence.
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
St. Clare of Assisi
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