The mission of St. Francis of Assisi was to serve Christ and promote the truth that disciples are called to give over their entire lives to him. During his ministry, Francis felt called to expand his followers to include a female branch. He knew that their witness and faith would change hearts. “Come and help me in the work of the Church,” Francis would say. He predicted that there “will be a monastery of ladies through whose fame and life our heavenly Father will be glorified throughout the Church.”
That prophecy became true through the life of St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253). As a teenager, she refused to marry according to the wishes of her parents.. She was so moved by the preaching of St. Francis that she desired to give her life to following Christ.
Even against the forceful apprehension of her family, she remained steadfast in her vocation. Clare lived her entire life inside of the walls of the San Damiano convent. And yet, countless members of the Church hierarchy sought her advice. Her words and life showcase the truth that simply following Jesus, living a life of prayer, and serving the weak allows one to become like Christ.
In my research for my first book, Let Us Begin: Saint Francis’s Way of Becoming Like Christ and Renewing the World, I was deeply moved by the conviction and faith of Clare. The premise of the book is that the way of St. Francis—of radically following Jesus– is the way to a deeper revival of faith in our world. He was convinced, and so was Clare, that one’s commitment to his or her own ongoing conversion was the most important aspect of one’s life. If all Christians were firm in their love for Jesus, the entire world would be renewed.
St. Clare’s writings focused on giving God everything you have because no one is more important than Him. This appeared to be the chorus of her entire life. Viewing her words and living by them can help propel us to live with the vision of St. Clare as well.
The totality of her faith can be seen in her words about what is most important in life: “Love God, serve God; everything is in that.” Her words served as a reminder to me that love is total. You cannot love someone halfway. Love requires everything of the lover. Even more so, the lover does not count or desire to measure his or her love for the beloved. The only thing that matters is that they care for and are present with the one they love.
Clare lived this way with Jesus. That is why, along with her bad health, she never left her convent. Everything that she needed in life was present there because she only needed Christ. To be with him in prayer was everything. That encounter with Jesus pushed her to accept the circumstances of her convent as her calling in life. She was remembered for her attentive care for her sisters and was known to literally wash their feet.
Clare did so because she loved Jesus. She noted that “We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.” We know that we become what we eat. We also know that we become like the ones we spend time with. St. Clare of Assisi has pushed me to consider this on the spiritual level. What do I love the most in life? What do I spend most of my time thinking about and doing? Those are the things that will shape my mind and heart and if the answer to those questions is not my relationship with Jesus, then I am not loving him completely.
Contemporary men and women may read these lines and hold that such a life is not possible. It is too radical and not reasonable. St. Clare and St. Francis reveal that what needs to change is our concept of following Jesus, not the demands of Jesus himself. Clare reminded those around her about the words of Jesus regarding eternal life. She said, “Never forget that the way which leads to heaven is narrow; that the gate leading to life is narrow and low; that there are but few who find it and enter by it; and if there be some who go in and tread the narrow path for some time, there are but very few who persevere therein.”
Her words are rooted in the words of Jesus (Matthew 7:13-14). They are also rooted in the truth that love requires everything of us. That calling ought not to scare us, however. Because, as Clare knew, the more we give ourselves to the Lord, the more he will provide us with the grace to love and live like him. So today, adopt a St. Clare vision. Love and serve him alone, and don’t be surprised that he forms you into the saint you were made to be.
Image of St. Clare, St. Teresa, and St. Catherine: Anónimo castellano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
