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True piety and devotion to God

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Rich

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Aug 11, 2022, 3:13:06 AM8/11/22
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True piety and devotion to God

The Lord warns his disciples of self-seeking glory - the preoccupation
with looking good and seeking praise from others. True piety is
something more than feeling good or looking holy. True piety is loving
devotion to God. It is an attitude of awe, reverence, worship and
obedience. It is a gift and working of the Holy Spirit that enables us
to devote our lives to God with a holy desire to please him in all
things (Isaiah 11:1-2).

<<>><<>><<>>
AUG 11 – ST CLARE OF ASSISI, OSC

(1194-1253), VIRGIN

“Go forth without fear, Christian soul, for you have a good guide for
your journey. Go forth without fear, for He that created you has
sanctified you, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother.”
– Saint Clare, on her deathbed in 1253

Saint Clare was born in 1193 in Assisi to a noble family. Before her
birth, her mother received a sign that her daughter would be a bright
light of God in the world. As a child she was already very strongly
drawn to the things of God, praying fervently, devoutly visiting the
Blessed Sacrament, and manifesting a tender love towards the poor.

When she was 18, she heard St. Francis preaching in the town square
during Lent and she knew at once that God wanted her to consecrate
herself to Him. The next evening, Clare left her house at night, ran
to meet St. Francis and his companions at the church they were staying
in, and shared her desire to follow him in his way of life. He
received her, gave her his tunic, cut off her golden locks, and sent
her to a Benedictine convent, because she could not stay with the
brothers. Her younger sister Agnes soon joined her and the two had to
resist much pressure from their family to return home.

When Clare was 22, St. Francis placed her in a small house beside the
convent and made her superior, a post she should serve for the next 42
years of her life until her death.

The ´Poor Clares’ as they came to be known, lived an unusually austere
life for women of the time, walking barefoot around the town begging
for alms, wearing sackcloth, and living without any possessions,
completely dependent for their food on what was given to them. But the
emphasis of their lives was, and still is, contemplation.

Many young noble women left all they had to take on the poor habit of
Clare and the order grew rapidly, with houses being founded all over
Italy, all of whom took St. Clare as their model and inspiration.

Clare’s reputation for holiness was such that the Pope himself came to
her deathbed in 1253 to give her absolution, and wanted to canonize
her immediately on her death, but was advised by his cardinals to
wait.

Claire died in absolute tranquility, saying to one of the brothers at
her side “Dear brother, ever since through His servant Francis I have
known the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I have never in my whole
life found any pain or sickness that could trouble me.”

by Matthew
https://soul-candy.info/category/august/page/3/


“Totally love Him, Who gave Himself totally for your love.”
— St. Clare of Assisi

“Rejoice and be glad that so great and good a Lord, on coming into the
virgin’s womb, willed to appear despised, needy, and poor in this
world, so that men who were in dire poverty and in great need of
heavenly nourishment might be made rich in Him.”
--St. Clare of Assisi

Bible Quote:
Light is risen to the just, and joy to the right of heart. Rejoice,
ye just, in the Lord: and give praise to the remembrance of his
holiness.
(Psalms 97:11-12) DRB


<><><><>
Prayer of St. Clare

I look up and I behold the Lord,
Clare says to me,

Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him,
I put this more simply: behold, hold, enfold.

I behold the Lord
I see His outstretched hands
I see the blood from His wounds.
I see the love in the eyes of Jesus.
I see His gracious acceptance of me.

Jesus has come out of the tomb –
He still has the scars,
but now they are glorious, with the glory of heaven.
Still looking at the Lord, I reach out and touch Him.
I hold the Lord – and I am held in His love.

Love enfolds
It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me.
I am secure in the Lord.
I can look out, now, through the Lord’s eyes.
I can see the world as He created it, in His mercy,
I can see my sisters and brothers with His love,
and I can worship the Father through the eyes of the Son
in the Love of the Holy Spirit.

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