The spirit behind St Francis and St Clare’s passionate and single-hearted following of Christ is expressed well in the following:
“Francis and Clare’s founding charism was characterised by their deep relationship with God-Creator, with the crucified Christ, and with the Spirit; a relationship of freedom and equality, with all the brothers and sisters, without distinction. Clare’s Rule and writings are a powerful witness to her sisterly love and concern for all her sisters, and ‘to build up a bond of unity among them’. Francis’ relationship with creation was truly one of brotherhood and sisterhood, and has marked history.”
“Francis and Clare’s founding charism was characterised by their option for ‘Lady Poverty’ which was expressed in their identification with the poor Christ, and for Francis, with the poor: the marginalised, the outcast in his society, especially the lepers. Their minority stance had social implications, for they moved away from the ‘centre’ to the periphery. Francis, by being inserted among the poor, challenged openly the political, social and economic power structures.
Francis and Clare’s founding charism was characterised by non-violence and peace, which for them was a way of life, and expressed in their relationships. They were peace-givers and peace-makers. Francis’ greeting to all peoples was: “Pace e Bene.” This greeting of peace and goodness was a wish and an invitation. He sincerely wanted all those whom he met to have peace in their hearts and to experience only goodness…. It is said of Clare that she reflected peace through all that she said and did in her community at San Damiano.”
(Excerpts from ‘Living Justice – As Artisans of Peace’ Franciscans International publication)
St Francis of Assisi
St Francis was born in Assisi in about 1182. The son of a wealthy cloth merchant, it seemed that Francis had everything going for him. He was the popular ‘leader’ of the youth of Assisi and led a life of privilege, wealth, parties, dance and song. His dream was to become a ‘Knight’ – off to the crusades to win a war and perhaps a lady’s heart! However, while fighting against the neighbouring town of Perugia, Francis was taken prisoner and a year in an horrific prison gave him time to reflect on his life. After trying again to become a knight, Francis had a profound spiritual experience. In the small church of San Damiano in Assisi, as he prayed for guidance in front of an image of the crucified Christ, Francis heard the Lord asking him to ‘Rebuild my Church for it is falling into ruins.’ This was the beginning of an amazing journey for Francis.
After much searching and praying Francis knew he was called to something radically different and he embraced with passion and joy the call of the Crucified Jesus to leave all and follow Him. As a young man Francis had an abhorrence of lepers but after encountering, and embracing, a leper on a road outside Assisi, Francis knew with a deep certainty he was to embrace the Gospel life and serve Christ in the most vulnerable and poor.
Towards the end of his life he wrote: “When I was in sin, it seemed too bitter to look on lepers, and the Lord himself led me among them and I showed them mercy. And when I left them, what had seemed bitter to me was changed into sweetness of mind and body.”
Eventually, others joined Francis, both men and women wanting to live his radical form of Gospel life, some as brothers and others within the context of their married or single lives. At the heart of Francis’ spirituality is right relationships – with God, with all our brothers and sisters, especially the most vulnerable and poor, and with all of creation.
It was written of Francis by St Bonaventure that: “In beautiful things St Francis saw Beauty itself, and through God’s vestiges imprinted on creation, he followed his Beloved everywhere, making from all things a ladder by which he could climb up and embrace Him who is utterly desirable.” Francis is the patron saint of ecology and the environment.
In 1223, while praying on the mountain of La Verna, Francis prayed the following:
“My Lord Jesus Christ, I pray you grant me two graces before I die: the first is that during my life I may feel in my soul and in my body as much as is possible the pain which you, dear Jesus, sustained in the hour of your most bitter passion. The second is that I may feel in my heart, as much as possible, the excessive love with which you, O Son of God, were inflamed with for us.”
(3rd Consideration of the Holy Stigmata from the Little Flowers of St Francis)
God’s response to this prayer was to physically mark Francis with the image of Christ crucified – his hands, feet and side were pierced and bled. We call this the Stigmata. These wounds remained with Francis for the rest of his life. In his Letter to the Whole Order Francis had written: “Hold back nothing of yourself for yourself, so that He who gives Himself totally to you, may receive you totally.” On the mountain of La Verna Francis did indeed hold back nothing of himself, and he became totally one with Christ – his Beloved.
St Clare of Assisi
St Clare was from a noble Assisi family and her life would have been carefully mapped out for her. A good marriage into another noble family would increase the power and wealth of her own. However, Clare, in response to a call deep within her own heart and going against all the norms of her class and the society of her day chose a different path for herself. Her reputation as a young woman of prayer and a love for the poor was known throughout Assisi and to St Francis himself. With encouragement from Francis, who saw Clare as someone who shared his dream, Clare made the courageous decision on the night of Palm Sunday 1212 to leave behind the prestige and wealth of her family and follow Francis and his brothers in a radical Gospel life of voluntary poverty, prayer and commitment to Christ Crucified. Clare, known as The First Franciscan woman, lived Francis’ ideal of Gospel life in her own unique and authentic way. Others soon joined Clare at San Damiano Monastery in the valley outside the walls of Assisi.
Clare also offers us a radically different vision for leadership in the Church – a leadership based on inclusion, service, humility and compassion. Clare washed the feet of her sisters and cared for them in their sickness. She believed in drawing on the wisdom and insight of all her sisters in relation to all aspects of their community life. The effects of her life of prayer, humble service and her intimate relationship with Christ, reached far beyond the walls of the monastery to the wider society and world.
As FMDM sisters, Clare continues to inspire us as Franciscan women today by her example and words. Clare invites us and her sisters “to be a mirror and example to others” (Testament of St Clare). She invites and guides us into a deep and intimate relationship with Christ as she encourages us to “gaze, consider, contemplate and imitate” Christ. (Clare’s 2nd letter to Agnes of Prague).
