On 11 August the Franciscan Family celebrated the feast of St Clare, a light that shines brightly in the hearts of Franciscans today. During the Angelus, Pope Francis greeted the Poor Clares: “I address an affectionate thought to all the Poor Clares, and especially to those of Vallegloria, with whom I have a beautiful friendship.”
In Indonesia, the Minister General also took part in the celebration. In his homily, after commenting on the Sunday Gospel, he recalled Francis: “His life can tell us something about the desert, about work and about love. Above all, it can tell us something about love for Christ and for the poor.” He added: “Clare, like Francis, saw in the Eucharistic bread the humility and simplicity of God. And this is true! Bread is a very simple thing, but it can change lives. May it be so for us today! May the Lord give you peace.”
In the Basilica of St Clare in Assisi, the Eucharist was presided over by the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who in his homily recalled the words of Pope Francis on 11 August 2021, when he urged people to imitate the example of St Clare, “a shining example of those who knew how to live their adherence to Christ with courage and generosity.”
Cardinal Parolin also urged people to follow the example of Saint Clare, who made a radical choice of poverty born of love: “She is a model for life in our society, which is marked by consumerism, that is, the unbridled pursuit of the satisfaction of needs, induced by the pressure of advertising and social imitation, with the inevitable economic waste and pollution, and by hedonism, which considers pleasure to be the supreme good of man and the sole purpose of life.”
At the end of his homily, the Cardinal called for prayer for peace: “From Assisi, on the occasion of this feast, I would like to launch a strong prayer and appeal for peace throughout the world. As the Holy Father has repeatedly said, war is a defeat for everyone and benefits no one.”
Read the homily of the Minister General: Italiano – Español - English
Read the Letter of the Minister General for the Solemnity of St Clare
