THE HEART AND THE CROSS: THE LIFE OF ST. CLARE OF THE CROSS, OSA (PART 3)

The time came for Clare to receive her first Holy Communion, she would finally receive Jesus Christ who is present in the Eucharist. Unfortunately, she forgot to bring her veil due to much excitement to receive Christ in the Eucharist. Giovanna did not allow Clare to receive Communion because she has no veil. Clare cried and prostrated herself in front of the altar and asked forgiveness to God. The Child Jesus appeared to her and embraced her and kissed her forehead. Clare was immediately filled with joy because the One she wishes to accept and embrace, Christ comforted Clare by embracing her. Clare forgot to wear her veil again in Holy Communion and once again denied to receive Holy Communion. After the Mass, she proceeds to her cell and there she cried and poured her sorrow to the Lord Jesus. Suddenly, the Lord appeared to her wearing priestly vestments and He was surrounded by angels. The Lord gave Clare His Body and Blood in the form of bread and wine.

     The Spirtual communion of St. Clare of the Cross, OSA

The Establishment of the new Hermitage

The hermitage of Giovanna became very popular especially Giovanna and Clare because of their holiness. May young women seek admission to the hermitage. The hermitage that Damiano built has only eight members: Giovanna, Clare, Adriola, Thomasia, Marina, Paula, Illuminata and Agnes. The hermitage building is very small and cannot accommodate the increasing number of members in the hermitage. They made an option of enlarging the hermitage or building a new one. The sisters prayed to God for guidance and right discernment. Their prayers rises to heaven and Giovanna saw a vision that God wants them to built a new hermitage. The sign was that Giovanna would see a big cross and on its foot are beautiful young ladies. Giovanna looked outside the window and saw a big cross with many precious stones and on its foot were beautiful young ladies. The spot where she saw the sign was the former site of the Convent of St. Catherine of Alexandria. Giovanna immediately informed the sisters and her confessor about the sign. But persecution came to Giovanna because many people doubts her sanctity and some even told her that she's just elevating herself by making a religious Order. Many persecutions came but Giovanna did not lose hope. Giovanna gathered the sisters and discussed the plan to establish the new hermitage. A majority of votes declared that a new hermitage would be established.

In 1282, Damiano died leaving the hermitage building undone. It has no roofing to protect them from the hostile environment. Clare was fourteen at that time. The sisters had a hard time living in the unfinished hermitage. 

Clare was assigned as the collector of Alms

In the year 1284, Clare was 16 years old at that time. The nuns in the hermitage sustain themselves by working inside the hermitage like gardening, where they also get their food and plants to sell. Three years after, the number of nuns in the hermitage grew to twenty. Giovanna asked a miracle to God with the nuns' help. Giovanna and the other nuns decided that there would be one in their community who would collect the alms for them. The nuns find it difficult to volunteer because they are cloistered religious and not used to begging in the streets like the Dominican and Franciscan friars.

Clare volunteered to collect the alms, but Giovanna rejected her desire because Clare is still young and wants her to be with her inside the hermitage. Clare approached her confessor, Fr. Mariano de Coliforito. Fr. Mariano approved Clare's desire to collect the alms and the Bishop also agreed upon Fr. Mariano's consultation. Giovanna finally allowed Clare to collect the alms and Clare prayed on the foot of the cross and thank God for allowing her to collect the alms. Clare asked Giovanna's blessing upon living the hermitage and prayed to God that she would not violate the policy of the hermitage like looking straight in the eye a man. Clare is accompanied by Marina, a sister in the hermitage. They would go out of the hermitage with their habits and a veil covering their face and barefooted. They knock the doors of the homes they pass and ask for food and once a generous donor gives them food or anything that would help the nuns and Clare would kiss the ground and thank the donor. Clare does not enter the house of the donors when she collects the alms.

THE HEART AND THE CROSS: THE LIFE OF ST. CLARE OF THE CROSS OF MONTEFALCO, OSA (PART 2)

The oldest portrait of St. Clare of the Cross, OSA

The Life of St. Clare inside the hermitage

Clare began to be very obedient to the rules inside the hermitage. There are seven rules to follow by the sisters in the community and Clare was very obedient to them. What are these rules? 1. Their minds must always be focused on God; 2. Never look at a man straight in the eye so that they may preserve their chastity; 3. Be obedient to their Superiors; 4. Observe Holy Silence at all times; 5. Avoid any imperfections; 6. Humble themselves by reflection; and 7. Never eat meat or any food that would delight their taste. Some of it are very hard to follow but Clare obediently obeyed them as a sign of sacrifice and love for the Lord.

One evening, Giovanna woke up at midnight to pray at the oratory, Giovanna asked Clare to accompany her in prayer and told her to sit in one of the chairs in the oratory until Giovanna gives her the permission to leave. Another evening, Giovanna woke up at midnight to pray and Clare accompanied her as usual. After praying, Giovanna forgot to give permission to Clare who was still sitting in the oratory because her Sister did not gave her the permission to leave. That is one example of Clare's obedience.

Clare became obedient also to her sisters in the monastery especially during collection of food and alms outside the hermitage. When asking for alms, she wears a habit made from wool that the sisters wear when not doing their chores.

Clare also lived a life of sacrifice. When Clare was twelve years old, she walks inside the hermitage barefooted. During the late hours of the night, while her sisters are asleep, she flogs herself sometimes until she's severely wounded. She sleeps on the floor even though she has a bed or sometimes she would sleep on a chair while resting her head against the wall. She always fast, like for example she eats only a small portion of bread at consumes tasteless soup and drinks water only. Clare performs this act of penance to that she could be very close to God and to imitate also the sufferings of Christ that caused our salvation.

One time, Clare violated the rule of the grand silence of the hermitage when she talked to their mother, Iacopa without the permission of her Sister Giovanna. She made penance by walking barefooted in the snow and prayed one hundred "Our Fathers".

Clare also wants to see and experience the Passion of the Lord. During the canonical hours when the Divine Office is said, she sees the passion of the Lord. The following are the timeline of what part of the Passion St. Clare sees:

5:00am - The Lord being scourged

6:00am - Pilate presents Jesus to the crowd (Ecce Homo)

9:00am - Jesus carries the Cross to Calvary

12:00nn - Jesus is nailed to the Cross

3:00pm - Jesus dies on the Cross

5:00pm - Jesus is taken down from the cross

8:00pm - Jesus is buried