and firmness of Purpose |
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and firmness of Purpose |
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One thing you will find out about Saint Clare as you read and pray over her life and that is
her firmness of purpose. When Clare made up her mind to do something, she stuck to it. At
eighteen she decided to follow Saint Francis - the costs were enormous, the risks were great, but
she had made up her mind and she went for it.
Saint Clare was the first woman to write a rule for woman. How did she do it? Well, actually she did it by refusing to accept the ones the Popes wrote for her! Not such an easy matter in itself, but she knew what she wanted for herself and her sisters and so she did not back down. She wanted to live a life of poverty, the same life that was given to Saint Francis. Unheard of for women the Popes insisted, women needed protection,they needed security, they needed ... . It took Clare her whole life - but on her deathbed, Pope Innocent the IV appproved the rule she wanted and it was placed in her hands where she kissed it many times. Saint Clare, we ask you to fill us with this same conviction of purpose to follow the dreams and visions that have been given to us. Help us to abide in the present - but never to lose sight of the goals we are striving for. Help us also, to encourage others, our family, our friends and all our loved ones to wait, and pray and trust ... because as it says in Sirach, "Has it ever been known, that anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed?" |
