August is the month of St. Clare! Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Sister Caritas Strodthoff, Sister Anne Turba and Sister Mary Ann Spanjers joined other Franciscans and the public at a recent inspiring presentation by author Jon M. Sweeney. The event entitled “Listening to Clare of Assisi” was held at the Motherhouse of the School Sisters of St Francis in Milwaukee. 
The author shared five themes from the life of St. Clare: Embracing Christ, Clarity, Life and Poverty, Listening with the Heart and Adoring Christ with one’s eyes. He discussed in each theme, how strength and vulnerability were interwoven throughout Clare’s life.
Clare’s desires to gaze, imitate and desire are ways to develop more of a heart like Jesus, but they are slow activities that need one’s lifetime. He closed by quoting Clare’s last words before she died, “Blessed be you O God for having created me.”
As we celebrate the feast of St. Clare on August 11, we use her words to pray with other women of faith today:
What you hold, may you always hold,
What you do, may you always do and never abandon.
But with swift pace, light step,
Unswerving feet,
So, so that even your steps stir up no dust,
May you go forward
Securely, joyfully, and swiftly,
On the path of prudent happiness…
-St. Clare of Assisi, The Second Letter to Agnes of Prague
