Titles of Clarity
A week of pieces for the feast of Saint Clare of Assisi. Newsletter for August 14, 2026
“O Clare, endowed with so many titles of clarity!” effused Pope Alexander IV in a bull of canonization for Clare of Assisi issued in 1255. He named these titles as they revealed themselves through the various stages of her spiritual life: “Clear even before your conversion, clearer in your manner of living, exceedingly clear in your cloistered life, and brilliant in splendor after the course of your mortal life.”
Clare’s feast on August 11 prompted thought and reflection on this companion of Francis and co-foundress of the Poor Clares, the Franciscan order of nuns that follows Clare’s monastic Rule—the first such Rule known to be written by a woman. In honor of her feast, we’ve been presenting throughout the week prayers, reflections, and historical accounts of her charisms of clarity and holy poverty, her “mirroring” of Christ in such a way as Thomas Merton would describe 700 years later: “Christ in us must be liberated, by purification, so that the ‘image’ in us, clothed anew with light of the divine likeness, is able connaturally to recognize the same likeness in another, the same tendency to love, to simplicity, to unity.”
As I’ve had the privilege of reading through these pieces, it is this image of clarity that keeps coming up for me: the clarity of the familiar metaphor, sourced from Saint John of the Cross, of the soul as a window translucent to the light of God; or of Aquinas’s claritas, the inward luminosity that he defined as one of the three aspects of beauty along with integritas (wholeness) and consonatia (harmony). It is the clarity of the cool-running stream that holds our reflection still even as it flows imperceptibly past, much as Clare’s mirror of Christ centers us within the movement of time—Ed.
A Prayer and Pledge for the Feast of St. Clare
Inspiration from our friends at the Franciscan Action Network: “Centuries before modern democracy took hold, Clare built a thriving community grounded in social equality and shared leadership. Today, as we take loving action in the world rooted in the gospel and the Franciscan tradition, may we draw inspiration from St. Clare’s fearless leadership, radical commitment to equal dignity, and enduring vision of a democratic, compassionate community.”
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Clare of Assisi: A Heart Full of Love
Ilia Delio, OSF, on how Clare “saw the poverty of God as a fountain—a love that brings us into being, sustains us, and yearns for us”: “If God’s own life is a ceaseless self-emptying, a pouring out of love that holds nothing back, then to become poor is simply to become like God. When someone asked how we center ourselves in the love of God, Clare’s answer was disarmingly simple: become poor. Poverty is not primarily the absence of possessions, for Clare. It is dependence—the willingness to need others, to let go of our stubborn insistence on independence and control.”
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The Road to San Damiano
Patrick Carolan traces the history of Clare’s spiritual development: “Clare understood that God is not an abstract concept but a living reality of love. She believed that transformation into our Christ-nature is expressed in the language of imitation: ‘We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become,’ she wrote. ‘If we love things, we become a thing. If we love nothing, we become nothing. Imitation is not a literal mimicking of Christ, rather it means becoming the image of the beloved, an image disclosed through transformation. This means we are to become vessels of God’s compassionate love for others.’”
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Flipping the Tables
The latest episode of Flipping the Tables, a podcast about Catholics working for peace and justice hosted by journalist, activist, and author Colleen Shaddox, is now available. Colleen interviews James Robinson about his new book, Beyond Factory Farming: A Contemplative-Prophetic Approach to Food (Orbis Books). A perfect listen for this week of Saint Clare, with Franciscan observations on the sacramentality of creation interspersed throughout. Robinson is director of the Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit at Iona University.
And stay tuned for upcoming episodes of our Tomorrow’s American Catholic podcast, including interviews with author, theologian, and columnist Dan Horan; Lynn Anamasi of the SOAP Project, an organization dedicated to preventing human trafficking; and author and expert on the women’s diaconate, Phyllis Zagano. Also, a nice milestone to share: our episode with Fr. Carl Arico became our first to surpass 1,000 downloads! Thanks to Fr. Carl and to all of our guests who have helped us dream of “tomorrow’s American Catholic” together.
Upcoming Retreats
A reminder that Br. Mark D’Alessio is leading the annual Mary Oliver retreat at Wisdom House (229 E Litchfield Rd, Litchfield, CT 06759) on August 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. Cost is $85, with lunch included. To register, click here. For information about overnight accommodations, call Wisdom House at (860) 567-3163.
Br. Mark has also announced two additional retreats coming up this autumn: “The Birth of Wonder and the Science of Awe” will be held from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20 at Mercy by the Sea Retreat Center (167 Neck Road, Madison CT 06443). This contemplative weekend explores “awe” and “wonder” as gateways to spiritual awakening, healing and meaning. Drawing from mystics, depth psychology, and neuroscience, participants will discover how wonder can deepen empathy, calm the nervous system, and reconnect us with the mystery of life through meditation, reflection, and contemplative practice. Further information, including registration and overnight accommodations, is available here.
In October, Br. Mark will offer an online book study and contemplative practice journey, “Walking the Beauty Way: Indigenous Native American Wisdom and Franciscan Contemplation,” hosted from Mercy by the Sea. Participants will read and reflect together on selections from Rev. Randy Woodley’s book Becoming Rooted, engaging its teachings in community through dialogue, meditation and lived spiritual practice. The group will meet on the evenings of October 15, 22, and 29 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. ET. Further information and registration is available here.