St. Clare, continued

...Clare is the passionate lover of the poor, crucified Christ, with whom she wants to identify absolutely.

Clare fixed her eyes on the poor and crucified Christ.

She puts it thus in one of her letters: "Look upon him who became contemptible for you, and follow him, making yourself contemptible in this world for him. Your Spouse, though more beautiful than the children of men, became for your salvation the lowest of men, was despised, struck, scourged untold times throughout his entire body, and then died amid the suffering of the cross.... Gaze upon him, consider him, contemplate him, as you desire to imitate him. If you suffer with him, you shall rejoice with him; if you die with him on the cross of tribulation, you shall possess heavenly mansions in the splendour of the saints, and in the Book of Life your name shall be called glorious among men."

~Bl. John Paul II, Address of 8/11/93

Dear Jesus, my Crucified Lord and Redeemer, may I, like St. Clare, have eyes only for you!  Amen.

P.S.  Ave Maria!  The above image of St. Clare comes from the Web site for the Ty Mam Duw Poor Clare Colettine Community in Wales.  This site exudes the utter joy of St. Clare and her sisters who are called to be "spouses of the Holy Spirit."  Be sure to scroll down the various pages as sometimes there's a good amount of white space before any material appears.