By “one of your Poor Clare sisters”
Like so many of you, the Poor Clare Sisters in Sauk Rapids have been accompanying the diocesan All Things New initiative with prayer and sincere interest. The desire to share that interest and heartfelt participation has welled up in our hearts over these months and so here we are spiritually joining our hearts and hands with all of you as we walk together this path of Area Catholic Community restructuring.
As you know, St. Clare, the first female follower of St. Francis of Assisi, embarked on something altogether new when she snuck out of her paternal home on Palm Sunday night in 1212 to follow Francis’ Gospel of life. Sneaking away from home is nothing new, but following after Francis, the merchant’s son turned beggar/itinerant Gospel minstrel, was certainly unexpected of her. After all Clare was an attractive, intelligent, upper class woman whose hand in marriage was sought by more than one dashing suitor. Yet she renounced her social status of nobility in order to be a poor virgin embracing the poor Christ. She left all for “the pearl of great price” and “the one thing necessary,” thus becoming free to dedicate herself to Christ and his mystical body.
As the ACC restructuring process continues, it seems fitting that we, as Poor Clares, present in the diocese since 1924, share our story of leaving all behind for “the one thing necessary” and “the pearl of great price” in order to dedicate our lives to prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ. The words St. Clare wrote centuries ago to Agnes of Prague are equally loved by her daughters today:
“I consider you to be a co-worker of God himself and a support for the weak members of his ineffable body.”
In our day, we use the term mystical body of Christ. In Clare’s day, she used ineffable body. Yet Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and he still desires co-workers in his vineyard.
Poor Clares walk in the footsteps of Clare, supporting the Church, local and universal, through our life of poverty, chastity and obedience. Our special vow of enclosure enables us to be totally dedicated in prayer and contemplation to Christ’s ineffable body throughout the world. The sisters pray daily for the needs of all and in a special way, for our diocese. All are welcome to join us in the monastery’s public chapel for eucharistic adoration prior to the daily 7 a.m. Mass. We also invite you to join the sisters in prayer as co-workers helping to build the kingdom of God today:
“O Holy Spirit of grace and truth, we beseech you to bless our bishop, his clergy and those among whom they labor, that God may be glorified by the conversion of the erring and the saving of many souls. Send down your blessings, O Lord, on our relations, our benefactors, friends and enemies. Protect all our leaders, help the poor, the prisoners, the afflicted, the travelers, the sick and the agonizing. Enlighten the unbelievers and bring back those who have gone astray. Almighty and merciful God, we beseech you to defend this city and all your people, to keep them in peace, to guard, preserve and look down upon them according to your infinite mercy. Amen.”
Submitted by the Poor Clare sisters of Sauk Rapids
Pictured above: Poor Clare Mother Mary Matthew Tomczyk displays Poor Clare medals that the sisters have prayed over and have been blessed by Father Matthew Crane. The medals are meant to support those working on the All Things New planning process. (Photos courtesy of the Poor Clares)
God’s blessings to all the good works of the Poor Clares.