Clare's Fourth Letter to Bl. Agnes of Prague

St. Clare of Assisi is truly one of my favorite saints. I love Clare dearly and turn to her more frequently than any other saint in heaven. Her example of faithfulness, love, surety and strength in of her vocation, and motherly tenderness towards her sisters, her spiritual daughters, those who lived with her at the time and those who were to come for centuries after her death in 1253, inspires me like no one else.

It was she who actually led me to Francis and the Franciscan way of life -- ususally it's the other way around, people are most often drawn by St. Francis and then meet Clare through his stories. I don't recall exactly how I came to know and became so captivated and..aptured by St. Clare -- perhaps it was through a magazine or newspaper article way-back-when, but whatever it was, I am grateful. Meeting Clare, learning more and more about her, then Francis and all of the Franciscan Family has had a tremendous, profound, and very deep impact on my life and my faith.

August 11th marks the Feast Day of St. Clare in the Catholic Church. More often than not, I spend the evening of the 10th in prayer and remembrance of Clare's passing from this life with the Poor Clare Sisters in Bloomington, MN. This Franciscan tradition, the Trasitus of St. Clare, is beautiful, solemn, and sweet. The following day is a joyful celebration of this beloved spiritual mother of countless women in Poor Clare Monasteries throughout the world and all the Franciscan Family of women and men in the three orders founded by St. Francis: the First Order, the order of men who embrace the Franciscan way of life as priests and brothers; the Second Order, the order of women who live a monastic life in the way of St. Clare; and the Third Order, the broadest order that includes men and women, lay and vowed religious. More will be written about these various religious orders, but for today, I want to share from the Fourth Letter of Saint Clare to Blessed Agnes of Prague for your prayer and reflection.

"Happy indeed is she who is given the grace of sharing this holy way of life, of clinging to it with every fiber of her being. The whole court of heaven never ceases to admire the beauty of this way. Love for it is exhilarating, to behold it renews our strength; its loveliness fills or soul; to reflect upon it brings new insights; its fragrant odor will bring life to the dead; all citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem will rejoice over it, for it is the spledor of eternal glory, the refulgence of eternal light, a mirror without blemish.

Look in this mirror every day, O queen and bride of Jesus Christ. Keep gazing at your image reflected in it so that you may be clothed and adorned with the flowers of all virtues as becomes the daughter and chaste bride of the Most High.

In this mirror by the grace of God you will be able to observe blessed poverty, holy humility and love beyond the power of words to describe. As you gaze into it you behold the poverty of him who was laid in the manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. What wondrous humility! The king of angels, the Lord of heaven and earth, is laid in a manger. Continuing your gaze you note the countless toils and sufferings he endured to redeem the human race; you discern also the ineffable love which made him willing to die a most shameful death on the cross.

When this mirror is hung on the wood of the cross it admonishes all passers-by in these words: All you who pass by, look and see whether there is any suffering like my suffering (Lamentations 1:12). As he thus calls out to us in his sufferings let us reply in unison: "I recall it, Lord, over and over again, and it leaves my soul downcast within me." In this way, queen of the king of heaven, you will glow with ever greater love.

Moveover, as you meditate on the indescribable delights and riches and enduring honors Jesus offers you, and as you sigh and long with all your heart, cry out to him with love: Draw me; we will follow you eagerly (Song of Songs 1:4), heavenly bridegroom. I will run and not grow weary (Isaiah 40:31) till you bring me into the banquet hall, until your left hand is under my head and your right embraces me and you kiss me in loving welcome. As you meditate in this way remember me, your poor mother, and know that I have inscribed your happy memory deeply on the tablets of my heart considering you dearer than all."

St. Anthony of Padua

Yesterday, June 13th, was the Feast Day of St. Anthony of Padua (1191-1231), one of the Catholic Church's most popular saints around the world.

Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal, became an Augustinian priest, but later joined the Order of Francis of Assisi, the Friars Minor. With the permission of Francis himself, he taught his brother friars theology and was known as having a great knowledge of the sacred scriptures. It became evident that Anthony was a great teacher and a great preacher and he touched and healed the hearts and souls, minds and bodies of many in his lifetime, becoming known as a wonder-worker and a truly holy man of God. Anthony served others in a great public ministry, but he was also a contemplative, who often went into seclusion for deep prayer and communion with God.

Here is one of my favorite quotes of this great saint:

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves. It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions.

Saint Anthony's Blessing

Behold, the Cross of the Lord!
Begone, all evil powers!
The Lion of the tribe of Judah,
The Root of David, has conquered!
Alleluia, Alleluia!

A Prayer to Saint Anthony for Assistance in Finding a Lost Article

Saint Anthony,
perfect imitator of Jesus,
who received from God the special power of restoring lost things,
grant that I may find (mention your petition), which has been lost.
At least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind,
the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss.
To this favor I ask another of you:
that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God.
Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good.
Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure,
eternal life with God.
Amen.

The More Popular Prayer/Rhyme for Anthony's Assistance:

Tony, Tony,
come around,
something's lost
and must be found.

Over the years, I have called upon St. Anthony for his help and interecession in finding a good number of things and he has never failed me yet -- and some of the items were found in the most unusual of places and circumstances. While it is sometimes joked about or made a little fun of, as if it were a superstition, I can tell you from my own experience that St. Anthony can truly come to our assistance and I am very grateful.

Anthony is well-represented in art over the centuries and he is celebrated by Catholic Christians the world over. There is a special and efficatious Chaplet of St. Anthony that is prayed most often in the form of a novena and his sermons have just recently been published by the Messenger of St. Anthony. For a more detailed life of St. Anthony of Padua and information on his sermons, go to: http://www.saintanthonyofpadua.net/portale/santantonio/sa.asp.

Over the years of reading a great deal of Franciscan spirituality, spiritual practices, history, and lore, I am not very well read about St. Anthony, but I do still consider him a friend and I value his friendship. I hope you get to know him a little better, too.

Pax et bonum!

May is Mary's Month

Both St. Francis and St. Clare had a special devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus. During the month of May the Catholic Church honors Mary in a special way and so I thought this an appropriate time to share a prayer of Francis and advice given by Clare, honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. There is much richness here for our prayer, reflection, and meditation. O Happy Month of May!

A Greeting to the Virgin Mary

Mary, we greet you!

Holy Lady, Queen and Mother of God,

you are the virgin who has become the Church;

chosen by the most holy Father in heaven,

consecrated by him as a temple

with his beloved Son and Consoler-Spirit;

in you was and resides the fullness of grace,

the One who is all goodness!

Hail, God's Palace!

Hail, God's Tabernacle!

Hail, God's House!

Hail, God's Garment!

Hail, God's Handmaid!

And hail, all you holy virtues

poured into the hearts of the faithful

through the grace and light of the Holy Spirit,

to turn us from our unbelief

into God's faithful servants!

-St. Francis of Assisi

From Clare's Third Letter to Agnes:

May you cling to his most sweet Mother,

who gave birth to the kind of Son

whom the heavens could not contain,

and yet, she carried him

in the tiny enclosure of her sacred womb,

and held him on her young girl's lap.

- St. Clare of Assisi

St. Francis' Prayer Before the Blessed Sacrament

One of the traditions of the Catholic Church is that each month is dedicated to a specific devotion for our prayer and meditation. Since we have just celebrated the passion, death, and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Easter was yesterday as I write this), and as April is the devotion dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, which is the true presence of Jesus in the form of consecrated bread, made present at every Mass and which is present in the tabernacle in every Catholic Church throughout the world, I thought it fitting to offer the following prayer of St. Francis for this month's reflection.

Saint Francis’ Prayer Before the Blessed Sacrament

We adore you, O Lord Jesus Christ,
in this church and all the churches of the world,
and we bless You,
because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.
Amen.

This is a simple prayer to memorize and to pray whenever visiting -- or even when walking, biking, or driving past -- a Catholic Church.

Happy Easter!
Happy April!
Happy Spring!

Prayer Before the Blessed Sacrament

One of the traditions of the Catholic Church is that each month is dedicated to a special and particular devotion. As we have just celebrated the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as April is the month dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, I thought it fitting to offer this prayer of St. Francis for our reflection this month. It is:



Saint Francis’ Prayer Before the Blessed Sacrament



We adore You,O Lord Jesus Christ,

in this Church and all the Churches of the world,

and we bless You,

because by Your holy Cross

You have redeemed the world.



Amen.

St. Francis' Prayer for Discernment

Most High and glorious God,

enlighten the darkness of my heart

give me true faith,

certain hope,

and perfect charity,

Lord, give me insight and wisdom

so I might always discern

and carry out

Your holy and true will.

St. Francis' Prayer Before the Crucifix

Most High, glorious God,

enlighten the darkness of my heart

give me true faith,

certain hope,

and perfect charity.

Lord,

give me insight and wisdom

so I might always discern

and carry out

Your holy and true will.

Amen.

This beautiful and simple prayer was the prayer that Francis prayed before the San Damiano Crucifix, the very crucifix that spoke to Francis, telling him to "go, and rebuild my church." This is a profound prayer, asking God's favor to show us the way he would have us go, a perfect prayer for discernment. The challenge is for us to listen for and respond to the answer we hear in our hearts, the one spoken to us by that "still small voice" within.