St. Clare, pray for us – a model for the discerning heart…In Conversation with Sr. Joan Mueller

Summary: (http://www.discerninghearts.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Sr.-Joan.jpg)Enter into the life's story 0f St. Clare's life by listening to one of the best storytellers I know...Sr. Joan Mueller.  She is enthralling!!! St. Clare of Assisi...how I love her so.  Cofoundress of the Order of Poor Ladies, or Clares, and first (http://www.discerninghearts.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/St_Claire_of_Assisi-244x300.jpg)Abbess of San Damiano; born at Assisi, 16 July, 1194; died there 11 August, 1253.  I can't even begin to describe the effect St. Clare has had on my life.  My relationship with her goes so deep that any words I could come up with would not honor her as I wish I could.   The best DVD I have ever seen on the life of Clare and Francis is (and I've seen them all) the newest distributed by Ignatius Press.  (http://www.ignatius.com/promotions/clare-and-francis-movie/)(http://www.discerninghearts.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Clare-and-Francis.jpg)Clare is protrayed as a woman in love with Christ, not a starry-eyed hippy pining over Francis.  And she gets equal time...finally. This film is perfect! (http://www.discerninghearts.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Peacemakers1.jpg)If you 'd like to see her life summed up in a quick read try here. (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/St._Clare_of_Assisi) - I should share this little story of my own.  In 2007, I had a chance to visit Assisi...I just wanted to be near St. Clare.  I didn't plan it, but my hotel ended up being right across the street from St. Clare's Basilica (it seems wrong to call it a street, it's width is so small).  Really early one morning, I just couldn't sleep so I got up and began walking around outside of the Basilica.  No one was out, all the shops closed, the sun was just coming up.  On a whim I thought I would see if the doors of the church were open (thinking to myself  of course they wouldn't be), but to my surprise they opened.  So I entered.  No one was around.  I saw steps leading down to a lower level.  I stepped over the rope blocking the entrance (boorish American that I am) and walked down.  The path led down to an area that had a display of relics, like clothing and other items (I assumed (http://www.discerninghearts.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/St.-Clares-crypt-300x200.jpg)they were Clare's) and then I turned around and saw something incredible...the crypt of St. Clare.  It stopped me in my tracks, so much so that I had to remind myself to breath again.  I quietly walked over to the enclosure grates that blocked off getting any closer.  I knelt down, and I just started to weep...I just couldn't help it.  It was so quiet, it was such a gift.  I began to pray. I brought to St. Clare all the petitions I held so deeply in my heart.  And when that was done, silence filled the space. After about 10 minutes, out of nowhere, I could here the sound of the Poor Clare Sisters in the distance chanting their morning prayers.  I knelt at that spot, for a good 30 minutes or so, all alone with St. Clare.  I then got up, praised God for this special moment and left the basilica.  She's been with me, in a special way, ever since.  St. Clare, pray for us. (http://www.discerninghearts.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/St.-Clares-Basilica-300x200.jpg)   (http://www.discerninghearts.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/8308-st-clare-with-the-scene-of-the-sieg-giuseppe-cesari-300x242.jpg)   (http://www.discerninghearts.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/St.-Clares-interior-200x300.jpg)