Monday, August 11, 2014

"To be near God is my happiness." Psalm 73

 One of my favorites of Maria's time with the Poor Clares 10 years ago already!  She is watching us leave after we had a visit with her... she was on the other side of the enclosure and is closing the doors as we walk away.  She bathed in LIGHT while Jesus reaches out to us over her shoulder.  Today is the feast day of her Patron Saint - St Clare.  Maria chose her when she was confirmed as it is close to her birthday in 3 days, but then it was crazy cool how St Clare became very important to her in a few years.  After studying in Rome for a year, Maria felt called to the contemplative life away from the distractions of the world.  She entered the Poor Clares about 3 hours away in Sauk Rapids, and stayed there about 5 months until she discerned out.  Those were some very powerful months for Maria and her family!  We continue to call the Poor Clares for prayer when our needs arise!
Another self-portrait we were allowed to have as Maria discerned with the Poor Clares!  She found great power in the Stations of the Cross that they had around the property.  When she returned home she made me some for our grove!
Today in morning prayer they used the 73rd Psalm after explaining - "Saint Clare embraced St Francis' joyful love for poverty as a means of entering into profound communion with Christ crucified.  Her nuns, the Poor Clares, are renowned for the penitential austerity of their lives and the joy of their spirit."
This Psalm really grabbed me in the light of knowing the Poor Clares and witnessing their joy and knowing of the times of prayer day and night including mass each day and hours of adoration of Jesus in the monstrance!  Also recalling the reminder of our intimate relationship with Christ and His Bride, The Church, through our ability and gift of receiving Jesus, Body, Soul, and Divinity each week in the Eucharist!

 Maria in Assisi while studying in Rome - she fell in love with St Francis and St Clare, and spent as much time as she could in Assisi!
Psalm 73
I was always in your presence;
You were holding me by my right hand.
You will guide me by your counsel
and so you will lead me to glory.

What else have I in heaven but you?
Apart from you I want nothing on earth.
My body and my heart faint for joy;
God is my possession for ever.

To be hear God is my happiness.
I have made the Lord God my refuge.
I will tell of all your works
at the gates of the city of Zion.
 At least 3 of these girls are now nuns!!!  The picture of Maria is because she was in, and they were discerning... Sister Elizabeth is now a Nashville Dominican.  Susan is now Little Sister Hallel with the Community of the Lamb, and Emily is now Sister Faustina!  The other two could possibly be sisters too, but I do not know them.  Yes!  Young women are answering the "call!"
Therese has a heart for the poor - she makes cards and puts money in them to hand out to the beggars and homeless they encounter!  St Clare embraced poverty as does Hallel and her order!  The Community of the Lamb live among the poor.  In Hallel's latest letter to us she describes the area they are building as part of the Little Monastery they are building for someone with no place to stay to find some temporary shelter.  The Community here also built a small place and have had a family living with them that had no where to go.  Hallel was very moved to see that not only was this for the poor, but was being built by the poor for the poor.  "It is so evident that the Lord wanted this to be built, because we have had a lot of help coming from those that are in need themselves.  It is a beautiful thing to see the poor building this for the poor." 

Therese with her ministry to the poor!
St. Clare, model of sanctity and simplicity, pray for us! We especially ask her intercession for all who share her name.
I can always depend on Fr Barron to have a beautiful image for the Saint for the day!  St Clare is always depicted with the Eucharist with which she defeated an invading army.  She held it up after deep beseeching prayer and the enemy fell away!
Jesus, we are forever blessed to have The Poor Clares in our lives and hearts and souls!  We are deeply touched and blessed by our time sharing our Maria with them.  They continue to be close and prayerful family, and when we are in need of powerful prayers - we call on them.  They always answer their phone, unless they are in prayer, with such JOY and wisdom and love.  How can they not, when they spend their lives in your presence whether at work or the hours spent with you in prayer and worship?  They radiate YOU!  They joined us in our prayer army for Patrick and for John... we were given the strength to let go and Trust!  Jesus is in control in the midst of the storm!  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Yes, Maria was called to marry her Joseph... soon to expect their 6th child!  They are blessed with 4 of them here with them!
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke - the "crazy-Catholic"
Pic from Dresser Pizzeria
Soon - on Sept 9th - Therese will be a big sister to 3 brothers!  Lord, protect Maria and her little one in her womb.  Happy Feast Day of St Clare dearest daughter, Maria Theresa Clare!
Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me
Danielle Rose - Pursue me
The song Danielle wrote for those considering religious life at the time she did for about a year.  Danielle is now out and married and expecting her first child as well as an amazing Catholic music missionary!
http://daniellerose.com/
St. Clare of Assisi is one of the first followers of St Francis. Having refused to marry at 15, she was moved by the dynamic preaching of Francis. He became her lifelong friend and spiritual guide. At 18, she escaped one night from her father’s home, was met on the road by friars, and in the poor little chapel called the Portiuncula, she received a rough woolen habit, exchanged her jeweled belt for a common rope with knots in it, and sacrificed her long tresses to Francis’ scissors. He placed her in a Benedictine convent, which her father and uncles immediately stormed in rage. She clung to the altar of the church, threw aside her veil to show her cropped hair and remained adamant. Sixteen days later her sister Agnes joined her. Others came. They lived a simple life of great poverty, austerity and complete seclusion from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order (Poor Clares). The nuns went barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat and observed almost complete silence. (Later Clare, like Francis, persuaded her sisters to moderate this rigor: “Our bodies are not made of brass.”) The greatest emphasis, of course, was on gospel poverty. They possessed no property, even in common, subsisting on daily contributions. When even the pope tried to persuade her to mitigate this practice, she showed her characteristic firmness: “I need to be absolved from my sins, but I do not wish to be absolved from the obligation of following Jesus Christ.” In the convent of San Damiano in Assisi, Clare served the sick, waited on table, washed the feet of the begging nuns. She came from prayer, it was said, with her face so shining it dazzled those about her. She suffered serious illness for the last 27 years of her life. Her influence was such that popes, cardinals and bishops often came to consult her—she never left the walls of San Damiano. Francis always remained her great friend and inspiration. She was always obedient to his will and to the great ideal of gospel life which he was making real. A well-known story concerns her prayer and trust. She had the Blessed Sacrament placed on the walls of the convent when it faced attack by invading Saracens. “Does it please you, O God, to deliver into the hands of these beasts the defenseless children I have nourished with your love? I beseech you, dear Lord, protect these whom I am now unable to protect.” To her sisters she said, “Don’t be afraid. Trust in Jesus.” The Saracens fled.
St Francis and St Clare, pray for us!  They are also patron saints for Hallel's Community of the Lamb as Fr Jean Claude, their founder is Franciscan!
Remember that this sweet Jesus is in the Tabernacle - St. Therse Daily Inspiration http://bit.ly/1rT0wfJ
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