Today, August 11
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Clare was born in Assisi, about the year 1193. At the age of 18 she heard a sermon by Francis of Assisi and committed herself to a life of gospel poverty. On the evening of Passion Sunday 1212, she secretly left her home and went to the place where Francis lived with his community. Before the altar in the little church, she received the habit from him and went to live in a nearby Benedictine convent.
Clare was joined by her younger sister Agnes and others, and the small community moved to San Damiano, near Assisi. Soon after, Clare's mother and sister Beatrice also joined them. In 1215, Clare was made abbess of the Poor Clares and the women modelled their life on the ideals of St Francis. Such was their zeal for austerity that they did without shoes, slept on the ground and never ate meat. Before long, other houses were founded in several European countries.
Francis taught that all his friars' needs should be met solely from daily contributions. It was Clare's greatest desire that her community also practise radical poverty. This remarkable charism has continued to be a challenge for both orders.
For 40 years Clare was abbess and never wavered from caring for her community or from assisting Francis. Greatly revered and respected as a "new leader of women," she received papal approval for her own Rule the day before she died - the first rule for religious life written by a woman for women. She was credited with many miracles and was canonized just two years after her death.
©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.
Readings of the Day
Book of Ezekiel 2,8-10.3,1-4.
The Lord GOD said to me: As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you: be not rebellious like this house of rebellion, but open your mouth and eat what I shall give you. It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me, in which was a written scroll which he unrolled before me. It was covered with writing front and back, and written on it was: Lamentation and wailing and woe! He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat. Son of man, he then said to me, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.
Psalms 119(118),14.24.72.103.111.131.
In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches. Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors. The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Your decrees are my inheritance forever; the joy of my heart they are. I gasp with open mouth, in my yearning for your commands.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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 humbles himself 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.”
Daily Reflection
The Good Lord has no need of us. If He commands us to pray, it is because He desires our happiness—and because our happiness can be found nowhere else. When He sees us approaching, He inclines His Heart low toward His little creature, like a father who bends down to listen to his small child speaking to him. In the morning, we must act like the infant in its cradle: the moment it opens its eyes, it quickly looks to see if it can spot its mother... There are two means by which to unite ourselves with our Lord and secure our salvation: prayer and the sacraments. All those who have become saints frequented the sacraments and lifted their souls to God through prayer.