“I bend my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that through the prayers and merits of the glorious and holy Virgin Mary, His Mother, and of our most blessed Father Francis and all the Saints, the Lord Himself Who has given us a good beginning will also give the increase and constant perseverance to the end. Amen”
Testament of St. Clare no. 23
Mother St. Clare
Saint Clare , Her name means “Light” or “the shining one”.She is the mother of our Order which she called the “Order of the Poor Sisters”, now known as the Order of St Clare or the Poor Clare Sisters.
She lived in Assisi, central Italy, in the 13th Century and was inspired to begin her religious life by the example and advice of St Francis , a fellow citizen of Assisi who had been converted to a life of total poverty , following Jesus , spreading the love, peace and joy of the Gospel everywhere.
She chose to lead that Gospel life in the monastery of San Damiano where, very soon, many young girls and ladies came to join her. From the cloister, the light of her holiness shone and spread and a great number of monasteries were founded through Italy and other countries.
Today the Poor Clare Sisters are in all continents of the world and number around 20,000. In Africa there are about 35 monasteries.
Who we are
The Order of St. Clare whose members are known as Poor Clares (or Sisters of St. Clare) has been in existence for more than 800 years.
Poor Clares or Daughters of St. Clare are nuns whom God in his Mercy has called to embrace the Life of the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, following in the footprints of St. Clare who, in her own turn took St. Francis of Assisi as “planter and mentor” in her total self-offering to Jesus Christ who is the WAY to the Father.
Like our Mother and Foundress, St. Clare of Assisi, we desire above all else to imitate the way of simplicity, humility and poverty as we were taught from the beginning of our conversion by Christ and our blessed father Francis” (Test.56-57)
Our Life of Prayer
We live a life wholly centered on prayer. Hidden with Christ in the cloister, we keep watch in silence and love, bringing the joys, sorrows, and needs of humanity to him in prayer and everything we do and think about.
Daily Liturgy
Select date
Tuesday of the Sixteenth week in Ordinary Time
Book of Micah 7,14-15.18-20.
As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs.
Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency,
And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins;
You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.
Psalms 85(84),2-4.5-6.7-8.
you have brought back the captives of Jacob.
You have forgiven the guilt of your people;
you have covered all their sins.
You have withdrawn all your wrath;
you have revoked your burning anger.
Restore us, O God our savior,
And abandon your displeasure against us.
Will you be ever angry with us,
prolonging your anger to all generations?
Will you not instead give us life;
and shall not your people rejoice in you?
Show us, O LORD, your kindness,
and grant us your salvation.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12,46-50.
Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you."
But he said in reply to the one who told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"
And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
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