In anticipation of the Feast of St Clare of Assisi on 11 August, Friar Michael Goh offers this song of praise to Clare, founder of the Poor Clares and the first woman to compose a monastic rule.
Clare Favarone year eleven ninety-three born
Was six years old when Francis joined
Rebelling crowd to Assisi castle walls torn
Forcing flight to Perugia Clare’s family gone
Light and darkness colliding clouds
Assisi and Perugia in warring fight
Bernardone and Favarone on opposing sides
Like Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare later writes
Francis on violence path took
Honour and glory for knightly pride
Against Perugia on warhorse, he rode
Captivity instead of victory gain
Clare in a compassionate step found
Story tells of her in Perugia’s darkness shine
Clare with mother to Assisian prisoners found
Not just with food but refreshing hands
As peace finally came a return to Assisi set
Both Bernardone and Favarone on homebound reset
New journey and stories mutual tell and met
Of two lovers intertwined with Christ and Cross
Francis in turn of event
Answered God’s call to rebuild
Turned his life up-side-down
For a hand-to-mouth in God’s goodness life
Clare’s eyes on Francis gazed
Considering her heart’s desire taste
With God a contemplative move
To join Francis in imitate resolve
On Palm Sunday, in darkness flight
Over a death’s threshold crossing plight
On a downward spiral path, a guiding light
Met Francis with haircut made
Over time she moved from place to place
First to the Benedictine monastery she made
Where her uncle forcefully came
But left when sanctuary was made.
Up to a holy women’s commune in the hill next
Where Catherine her sister running came
A solid rock stood before uncle’s claim
A new name of a gentle lamb, Agnes now taken
To San Damiano Clare and Agnes finally take
With other women knocked for entry made
Poor Ladies of Assisi established with aid
Clare’s mother and last sister entry follow late
Church made Clare abbess for security thought
But poverty privilege instead Clare sought
Standing amongst sisters in mutual being
A mother, a sister, and a spouse in living
As mother, Clare not ruled but nourishing
As sister, washed feet of sisters returning
As spouse, Christ a bridegroom loving
In total mind, heart, soul, and being
As a budding flower in the garden
Sun and moon, Francis and Clare
A brother and sister to each
A fiery scene explodes whenever met
Clare in own pace and steps walked
Along the steps Francis treaded
See, consider, contemplate, and imitate
In the manner only a woman intimate
In the bridal chamber of her garden
A mirror stood as a cross garment
Of the bridegroom, crucified poor
Into this mirror she gazed, it spoke
The Crucifix that speaks mirrored
Clare to venture into life’s border
To see poverty and simplicity offered
As treasure dug and recovered
The Crucifix that speaks mirrored
Clare to move to consideration
The surface of her being and call
Of sweet humble participation revealing
The Crucifix that speaks mirrored
Clare to draw into contemplation
Of a God with outstretched arms
Whose depth blood of love outpouring
The Crucifix that speaks mirrored
Into Clare to hear the Cross, the Mirror
Not just see reflection but a reflector be
A mirror and example to all in being
A mirror and example, Clare bravely be
Stood firm before Church for poverty free
And before the Saracens with protecting stand
With conviction and the Host in her hand
A guiding light, Clare can clearly write
To Agnes of Prague, letters, beauty bright
Call to forward in swift pace going
Light steps and feet unswerving moving
Twelve fifty-three, the year of farewell bidding
With Sister Body Death as Lady-in-waiting
With final Canticle sung not in quiet night
Clare slept now in graceful delight
Clare of Assisi, companion of Francis
Little known and seen draws deeply me
To a little brother, mother, and spouse being
In this Red Dot of another San Damiano living
To this life and song again I sing
May grace, love, and peace be your song
To what your Cross and Mirror may call
Be mother, sister-brother, and spouse to all.
Clare, clear and light
Guide us on our way delight
With Father, Son and Spirit be
into faith, hope, and love eternally. Amen.
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