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.
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