“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
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Guardian Angels - Memorial
Book of Exodus 23,20-23.
Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him.
If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.
"My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out.
Psalms 91(90),1-2.3-4.5-6.10-11.
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions he will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge.
You shall not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,
nor the plague that ravages at noon.
No evil shall befall you,
nor shall affliction come near your tent,
for to his angels he has given command about you,
that they guard you in all your ways.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18,1-5.10.
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.
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
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