“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
Monday of the Eighteenth week in Ordinary Time
Book of Jeremiah 28,1-17.
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Within two years I will restore to this place all the vessels of the temple of the LORD which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took away from this place to Babylon.
And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the LORD. 'for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'"
The prophet Jeremiah answered the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people assembled in the house of the LORD,
and said: Amen! thus may the LORD do! May he fulfill the things you have prophesied by bringing the vessels of the house of the LORD and all the exiles back from Babylon to this place!
But now, listen to what I am about to state in your hearing and the hearing of all the people.
From of old, the prophets who were before you and me prophesied war, woe, and pestilence against many lands and mighty kingdoms.
But the prophet who prophesies peace is recognized as truly sent by the LORD only when his prophetic prediction is fulfilled.
Thereupon the prophet Hananiah took the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, broke it,
and said in the presence of all the people: "Thus says the LORD: 'Even so, within two years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, from off the neck of all the nations.'" At that, the prophet Jeremiah went away.
Some time after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
Go tell Hananiah this: Thus says the LORD: By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke!
For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: A yoke of iron I will place on the necks of all these nations serving Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and they shall serve him; even the beasts of the field I give him.
To the prophet Hananiah the prophet Jeremiah said: Hear this, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, and you have raised false confidence in this people.
For this, says the LORD, I will dispatch you from the face of the earth; this very year you shall die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.
That same year, in the seventh month, Hananiah the prophet died.
Psalms 119(118),29.43.79.80.95.102.
and favor me with your law.
Take not the word of truth from my mouth,
for in your ordinances is my hope.
Let those who fear you turn to me,
those who acknowledge your decrees.
May I be wholehearted toward your laws,
that I may not be put to shame.
The wicked hope to destroy me,
but I pay heed to your decrees.
From your ordinances I turn not away,
for you have instructed me.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 14,22-36.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once (Jesus) spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."
He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."
After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
To receive the Gospel every morning in your mailbox, subscribe here: dailygospel.org
