Saint Clare: Loaves for the Journey - The Bread of the Kingdom of God
[Kneel]
P: Who is the Bread of the Kingdom of God but He who says, “I am the living Bread come down from heaven?”
(St. Augustine)
All: We adore You, most holy Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all Your churches which are in the whole world, and we bless You, because byYour holy cross You have redeemed the world.
P: Happy are they who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
(Rev. 19:9)
All: His bride has made herself ready.
(Rev. 19:7)
P: When the sisters believed their mother was at the moment of death and the priest had given her the Holy Communion of the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sister Filippa saw a very great splendor about the head of Clare. It seemed to her that the Lord’s Body was a very small and beautiful young boy. The holy mother received with great devotion and tears.
(Proc. Can. IX)
All: His bride has made herself ready.
(Rev. 19:7)
P: The third day before her death, Clare began to commend her soul by saying: “Go in peace, because you will have a good escort. The One Who created you has infused the Holy Spirit in you and then guarded you as a mother does her littlest child.”
(Proc. Can. XI)
All: That glorious escort was not standing afar off. Turning to her grieving sisters, she asked, “Do you see the King of glory Whom I see?”
(Life #46, Proc. Can. XI)
P: And, behold, a multitude of virgins in white garments entered, all of whom wore gold garlands on their heads. One more splendid than the others (that is, the Blessed Virgin Mary,) moved toward the bed where the spouse of the Son was reposing and, bending most lovingly over her, gave her a most tender embrace. A mantle of the most remarkable beauty was brought by the virgins and the body of Clare was covered and the bridal bed was decorated.
(Life #46)
All: It was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
(Rev. 19:8)
P: Blessed is that passing from this vale of tears that became for her the entrance to a blessed life.
(Life #46)
All: The Lord has been with me on my journey, giving me bread to eat and clothing to wear.
(cf. Gn.28:20)
READING [Sit] (Rev. 14:1, 4; 21:22. Other Scripture Readings may be used.) Then the Lamb appeared in my vision. He was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him were the hundred and forty-four thousand who had His name on their foreheads… They were pure and followed the Lamb wherever He goes. I saw no temple in the city. The Lord, God the almighty is its temple – He and the Lamb.
PERIOD OF SILENT PRAYER HOMILY
[Kneel]
P: Christ will have His spouse sit down with His angels and chosen ones, will minister to her, and offer her the bread of life and the meat of the Lamb that was slain on the cross.
(St. Bonaventure)
All: “Blessed are those who will eat bread in the
kingdom of God!”
(Luke 14:15)
P: Now in place of the farewell meal she is rejoicing at the table of the heavenly citizens. In place of the coarseness of ashes she is decorated with a robe of eternal glory and is blessed in the heavenly kingdom.
(Life #46)
All: Alleluia! The wedding day of the Lamb has come.
(Rev. 19:7)
P: “Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
(Rev. 5:12)
All: Alleluia! The wedding day of the Lamb has come.
(Rev. 19:7)
Final prayer : [Kneel] P: O Mother Saint Clare,* P. and All: your holy life radiates its light to guide us on the way to Christ. Teach us to love Him as you did. O beloved saint, teach us to believe, as you did, that in the Blessed Eucharist we find Jesus, who dwells here in our midst.
You now follow the Lamb wherever He goes: speak to Him of our troubled spirit. Ask Him to heal us, body and soul, and to wash away our sins in His precious Blood.
(Pause for silent reflection and petition)
P: O handmaid of Christ,* P. and All: look with compassion on all who call on you for help. Remember the needs of our family, our loved ones, and all those for whom we pray. Defend us from everything that would endanger our Holy Catholic Faith, especially in these times of confusion, scandal and division. Give us unity and peace in the Church and in society. We ask that our pleas will become a canticle of petition ascending from your pure heart to the Heart of Jesus, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.