A special Franciscan moment during this Jubilee Year of St. Francis was a procession in honor of St. Clare on our Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Motherhouse grounds on the vigil of the feast of St. Clare August 10, 2026. Francis and Clare walked with us.
The prayer time began in Sacred Heart Court focusing on St. Clare’s love for her bridegroom. Carrying an image of the saint, candles and flowers, we then processed past our rose garden before stopping to praise God with more flowers in bloom near Silver Lake and on the east lawns.
“The Lord gave us Francis as founder, planter and helper in the service of Christ and in those things we have promised to the Lord and to Francis. He too was always solicitous in word and deed to cherish and take care of us, his plant. So I commend and leave my sisters, both those present and those to come, to the successor of Francis and to all the brothers of his religious family. I ask them to always help us to progress in serving God and above all in the practice of holy poverty.” -St. Clare’s Testament
Our Lourdes Grotto was a must stop praying with St. Clare to our Blessed Mother.
“Hail, O Lady, holy Queen, Mary, holy Mother of God: you are the virgin made church and the one chosen by the most holy Father in heaven whom He conscrated with His most holy beloved Son and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, in whom there was and is all the fullness of grace and good, -St. Francis’ The Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary’
The journey continued along the front drive of our Motherhouse to our oldest cemetery at the grave of Mother M. Gabriel, one of our beloved foundresses who died on the vigil of St. Clare.
From there we prayed our way to Chiara Convent.
“O Clare, on whom God has bestowed so many gifts! Bright even before your conversion, brighter in your ‘yes’ to Jesus Christ, ever brighter by the manner of your entire life with God! You shone forth in life, after death you radiate.” -The Bull of Canonization)
The night prayer concluded with St. Clare’s own blessing and some light-hearted community fellowship.
“May the Lord be with you always; And wherever you are, may you be with Him always. Go forth without fear because you have a good escort on your journey. For He who created you loves you.” -Blessing of St. Clare
