Vocation Retreat Notes: St. Clare's Call from Jesus in the Eucharist

During this 800th anniversary year celebrating St. Clare's joining St. Francis in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, young women participated in a February 17-19, 2012 Franciscan Vocation Discernment Retreat at the  Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity's Motherhouse. Find here a listing  of some of the weekend's prayer resources and activities.
  • Friday Evening: reinactment of the Palm Sunday liturgy when St. Clare received her palm from Bishop Guido, as well as what happened that night when she left her home walking to meet St. Francis and the friars and began her own life given totally to the Lord with the Benedictine Nuns and eventually at San Damiano.

  • Letter to the Entire Order: Let everyone be struck with fear, let the whole world tremble, and let the heavens exult when Christ, the Son of the living God, is present on the altar in the hands of a priest! O wonderful loftiness and stupendous dignity! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity. The Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under an ordinary piece of bread! Brothers and Sisters, look at the humility of God, and pour out your hearts before Him! Humble yourselves that you may be exalted by Him! Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves, that He who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally.

  • St. Francis' prayer: We adore you, Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all your churches throughout the world, and we bless you, for through your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.

  • St. Clare's Third Letter to Agnes of Praque: Place your soul in the brilliance of glory! Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance! And transform your whole being into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation! So that you too may feel what His friends feel as they taste the hidden sweetness which God Himself has reserved from the beginning for those who love Him.

  • Lk 10:42: But because one thing is necessary.
  • Rm 12:1: You have offered yourself as a holy and living sacrifice.
  • 1 Cor 10:16-17: Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ! Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

  • St. Clare of Assisi blessing: Go forth in peace for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for He who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you my God, for having created me.




Comments

Anonymous said…
It brought into better focus a very beautiful possibility for my life. It would be a great gift and honor if this is what God intends for my soul.
Anonymous said…
Renewal of desire and interest and awareness of the role and significance of the Eucharist in our lives
Anonymous said…
It opened doors and gave me hope.
Thank you for sharing these very valuable resources. I have used cited some of the same sources in our Lenten Musings day of recollection coming up March 2 and 3. Looks like it was a powerful time of prayer and reflection.