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August 11
St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)
Invitation to Worship
The God of Love and virgin’s crown: Come, let us adore!
We make the Sign of the Cross over our lips as we begin.
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
How blest are you poor, alleluia!
~ Yours is the reign of God, alleluia!
ST. CLARE Hymn
Gaze upon the Lord of love,
gaze upon his face of grace;
gaze upon the living One
who holds you in close embrace.
Gaze upon the Lord of love,
gaze upon his coming poor
from the highest of the heav’ns
to our lowly earthly shore.
Look upon his loving way,
look upon his open heart,
look upon his sacred cross,
from death’s dust to bring new start.
If you learn from suffering,
If you open to life’s pain,
and allow your heart to weep,
then with him you’ll always reign.
Gaze upon our Lord’s dear cross,
and the wounds of each day’s love,
Gaze upon his life, and know
splendors of God’s heav’n above.
Text: Adapted from St Clare of Assisi and the Irish Province OFM; Tune: THE CALL 7777 R V Williams (1872-1958)
PSALMODY
Antiphon
The realm of heaven is promised and given by the Lord Jesus only to the poor:
for those who cling to temporal things lose the fruit of love.
Psalm 111/112
Happy are those who love God
and delight in the whole of Torah!
Their children shall be blest,
strong and upright in the land.
The households of the just will flourish
their integrity stands firm forever.
A light shines from them for others
for they are generous, merciful and just.
The good lend freely to others
and conduct their affairs with honor.
They never waver from doing what is right
their justice is remembered forever.
They do not fear evil news
with strong hearts they trust in God.
Steadfast and without fear
they will watch the wicked crumble.
Open-handed they share with the poor;
their integrity stands firm forever.
this strength will bring them honor.
But hatred devours the wicked
who grind their teeth and depart;
their hopes all turn to ashes.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
The realm of heaven is promised and given by the Lord Jesus only to the poor:
for those who long to temporal things lose the fruit of love.
READING First Letter of St. Clare to Blessed Agnes of Prague
You know, I am sure, that the reign of heaven is promised and given by the Lord only to the poor: for the one who loves temporal things loses the fruit of love. Such a person cannot serve God and Mammon, for either the one is loved and the other is hated, or the one is served and the other despised. You also know that one who is clothed cannot fight with another who is naked, because the one is more quickly thrown who gives the adversary a chance to get hold of clothing; and that one who lives in the glory of earth cannot rule with Christ in heaven. Again, [you know] that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the reign of heaven. Therefore, you have cast aside Your garments, that is, earthly riches, so that You might not be overcome by the one fighting against You, [and] that You might enter the reign of heaven through the straight path and narrow gate.
English version by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM CAP & Ignatius C. Brady, OFM –
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Though my flesh and my heart may fail,
* God is my strength and my portion for ever.
V. I count all that this world offers as worthless, that I may gain Christ and be found in him. *God is my strength and my portion for ever.
V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
The blessed Clare denied herself and took up her cross,
following Jesus, who emptied himself for us.
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
The blessed Clare denied herself and took up her cross,
following Jesus, who emptied himself for us.
Intercessory Prayer
May we place our minds in the mirror of eternity;
May we place our souls in the splendor of glory;
May we place our hearts in the figure of the divine substance;
Through contemplation, may our entire being be transformed into the image of the One in Whose image we were created.
May we experience what the friends of God experience when they taste the hidden sweetness that God alone has kept from the beginning for those who love.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One and God of endless Compassion, you are the praise of all your saints and the joy of all creation. We rejoice today in the fellowship of your blessed servant Clare and we give you thanks for her love of poverty and devoted service to the poor and for her legends which continue to delight and inspire us. Fill us with life and light, and give us perseverance to serve you all our days; For yours is the power and glory of love now and forever. Amen.
From the Final Words of St. Clare
May we go calmly in peace, + accompanied by our Divine Escort;
for the One who created us has sent the Holy Spirit
and has always guarded us as a mother guards the child who loves her. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.