As a brief Lenten reflection, I share with you an excerpt from the Rule of St. Clare (1253) on the way in which the Sisters are to be corrected within the community. This particular section offers sage insight for all Christians, particularly during these remaining days of Lent. As you most likely know, St. Clare’s way of life, her Rule, was the first religious rule written by a woman and approved by the Church. Clare fought for the approval of her Rule throughout her entire life and saw it finally approved by the Pope just before she died. Modeled after St. Francis’s way of life, Clare’s Rule is an example of Christian living that all can look to for guidance, even if you are not called to a cloistered way of life.
Let them direct their attention to what they should desire above all else: to have the Spirit of the Lord and Its holy activity, to pray always to Him with a pure heart, and to have humility, patience in difficulty and infirmity, and to love those who persecute, blame, and accuse us, for the Lord says: Blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. But whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.
