- Sister Mary Clare, the former Elizabeth Bailey, was the first Poor Clare to die in the United States on this day in 1879.  Mother Maddalena relates:
Father Ambrose, a Franciscan Father, of Columbus, Neb., came that day to Omaha on January 21^st. When he got out at the depot, he felt as though some person was physically urging him to come along. He said to himself, there must be something for me to do here. He was almost a stranger in the city, and had no idea as to where we lived. Wonderful to say, yielding to the influence that was guiding him, he walked straight into our house on Burt street. Seeing our poor invalid on the point of death, he knew at once what was required of him. God wished to give our dear child the grace to make her solemn vows before departing from this world, a great grace indeed, as it is considered a second Baptism. Fr. Ambrose addressed her a few words on the subject, and then asked her if she was ready to take her vows. She expressed her willingness with the greatest joy, and pronounced the formula of the solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, according to the form of life given by S. Francis and by S. Clare. She had hardly uttered the last word, when she inclined her head, and closed her eyes. Her beautiful soul, cleansed and purified by the sacrifice she had just made to God, had left the body, and gone to heaven to enjoy an endless reward, and intercede for us before the throne of the Most High.  (See also January 23^rd, 24^th, 25^th)